Sheffield full of doubles on Sunday

Four trainers with an Owlerton brace

William Hamilton has picked up plenty of winners at Sheffield of late and added another two yesterday afternoon. One of those was Grantstown Cross who was winning for the fifth straight week, adding another smart time to his credit as he continues in some of the best form of his career.

The other winner for the kennel was Carrick Fergie who showed the best early pace to take a win over 500m. He is less than two months away from his fifth birthday, but is still showing plenty of zip against dogs less than half his age. 

Another trainer who has been hot of late is Diane Henry with Savanaregimental picking up taking a third win in his last four starts. He is a very strong stayer over 660m and has turned a little bit handier the last couple of times than can often be the case with him.

Grouchos Cossie was winning for a second week for Henry, finding his feet well in recent starts. A litter brother to two Derby finalists in Ballymac Duffle and Ballymac Ralf, he was the one from the group to get his head in front across the weekend.

Two sprint races went to Carol Weatherall including the smart Born Racer coming back.to form. It was his first run at the track so it was not a surprise to see him a little slow to stride but he paced up well to grab the lead heading for home before running out a comfortable winner. 

There were some big priced winners on the card with Weatherall grabbing a 10/1 scorer with Scooby Matilda. She is in good form at present, adding to a win at Nottingham on Monday to pick up a double within the week.

Esther Driver was the trainer to pick up the longest prices as a double, a 150/1 brace courtesy of Saleen Stunner and Some Hiker.  The first named took an early lead before digging to having been headed to get his head back in front again at about the three-quarters mark.

The latter was a 10/1 winner at Nottingham back in the middle of May, winning in his first race since he became a veteran at the start of the month. This is a track that he knows well having been with Rose Draper in the past.

There was a winner for Kelly Hodson at Towcester on Saturday night, adding another in the opening race on the card with Romeo Cobra. A lot of his winning has come in bunches, adding to a success last week so it would be no surprise if he were to win again next Sunday.

Stephen Naylor was on the scoresheet with Alien Glen who produced a decent run over 480m, dipping under 28 seconds. He quickly took control of a puppy contest from the lids opening to get himself off the mark at the fourth time of asking. 

The final race of the night went to Lisa Stephenson courtesy of Musical Prince. He got up in the dying strides to deny Hodson a top and tail double as her Walls Partner looked to have timed his challenge well to take the lead up at around the three-quarters mark.    

Holloway makes Star Pelaw trip worthwhile

It's a fair old trek from Ricky Holloway's kennels to Star Pelaw but with a hurdle on the card it was worth it with the track record holder Mickys Tribute overcoming a slow start to get his head in front and make it a perfect 3/3 at the venue over the four flights. 

Razldazl Royco was sent there without a look but he had brought his trapping boots with him and was always well in control of his rivals. He has lost his form of late at his home track of Hove so it will be interesting if he can find his confidence back on the south coast again.

As has been the case all year, there were some very smart times in the sprint contests with Vixons Cocktail leading the way for George Walker. She has some solid graded form at the track, getting herself off the mark in an open with a very smart 14.42. Popper Geecee made it a double on the card for Walker later on in the evening.

Next in with a 14.46 was Ken Kennedy's Bitzer Maloney. A quick break and a wide draw saw him avoid trouble inside of him and left the way clear for him to pick up his fourth win from his last five starts. He has just turned veteran at the start of the month but continues in flying form.

The other sprint on the card went to Marymount Joy for Matthew Watson. She was another to take advantage of the striped jacket on the card, backing up a D2 success on her most recent outing.

Performance of the night over 435m was from Glenhead Sam. He was the final one of the six winners to start from trap six, producing a flying 5.40 split on his way to a 25.61. He flew clear to score by four and a half lengths for Neil Chapman who has enjoyed plenty of success at the track this year. 

The final race on the night went to Glenn Foot's Travel Safe. She was one of five winners on the card to sport the red jacket, using away and gone tactics herself to take the race to her opponents within a few strides. Her early gets continues to be a potent weapon.

Cheryl Ingham took the other race on the card with Swift Yawn getting the job done over six bends. She was another who went around in front and never looked like coming back to her field.