The Steel City Cup from Shefield is the highlight of Sky's coverage tonight. All the action is live on Sky Sports 3 from 19:30 with the big race due off at the usual 21:45.
Speed Figures
T4 - Blonde Dino 100
T1 - Frisby Foxwatch 79
T2 - Affleck Elite 74+
T5 - Centaur Marine 67+
T6 - Farloe Niall 61
T3 - Stepaside Storm 43
Blonde Dino is clear on the figures and the bookies have priced him up accordingly. I think he'll need a bit of luck tonight as he'll have to come through dogs to win. Frisby Foxwatch is next best and is well drawn in the red jacket. Harry Crapper's bitch is capable of leading and if there's trouble in behind she could hang on. Charlie Lister's dogs always have to be feared and his Affleck Elite is capable of improving on the times he's posted so far though he too will have to come from behind.
Skydogs Tissue
Using the speed figures as a basis and adding a bit of tweaking for the draw and likely pace I've come up with the tissue below -
11/10 Blonde Dino, 9/2 Frisby Foxwatch, 15/2 Centaur Marine, 10/1 Affleck Elite, 12/1 Farloe Niall, 16/1 Stepaside Storm
Blonde Dino is the obvious favourite but at a best priced 8/11 he's no value. Centaur Marine is interesting at 11/1 with Sporting Bet given that I have him at 15/2. Chris Allsopp's blue is likely to be at the head of affairs with Frisby Foxwatch early on but I just have the feeling he'll be closed down on the run for home.
Overall this is a tight one to call with nothing stading out as a value bet. If pushed to have a wager it'd be on Affleck Elite who has been put in a match bet Farloe Niall with most of the layers. Both these dogs will be out the back early on but I expect Charlie Lister's charge to stay on the better and the 10/11 available with Sporting Bet is just about value.
Good luck if you have a bet.
