Greyhound racing is building up to a huge weekend with two Category One finals - at Romford and Central Park - plus the quarter-finals of the English Greyhound Derby.
The Coral Coronation Cup Final takes place at Romford on Friday with the Arena Racing Company Kent Silver Salver Final at Central Park on Saturday, the same night as places will be up for grabs at Towcester in next week's semi-finals of the Star Sports/TRC English Greyhound Derby. We're reaching crunch time in the Classic.
Thoughts on all those events to come. However, the open-race bandwagon rolls back into Hove tonight with the action on Sky Sports Racing and Attheraces.
Feature event on the card is the final of the Coral Summertime 500 Standard Trophy and it looks a high-quality affair after three cracking heats seven days ago.
Preference is for the powerful Wasted Monday (8.07) over the well-drawn Ower Mystery, with Belinda Green's runner set to follow up an impressive heat success, overcoming a missed break to burst through off the second bend and quickly settle the issue. He has the edge on the clock, albeit any hold-ups would let in the red jacket.
Burrows Sapphire (7.33) caught the eye behind Ower Mystery in the heats of the Coral Summertime 500 last week and can shine in heat two of the Coral 500 Standard Trophy. Jason Heath's runner finished full of running then and could take some holding with a clear run though, although supporters will not want Nine Percent to get too far ahead.
The latter was beaten by Newinn Benni (7.16) last week and the form of that particular contest looks solid and Derek Knight's runner is tough to oppose in heat one. He has built a cracking strike-rate already and looks well pitched outside given a vacant trap inside.
There is every chance well-drawn Fire And Ice could be above average judged on sprint trials and the newcomer deserves huge respect in his maiden bow. However, the value might be Jason Heath's Hopes Ompaloompa (8.41) on his form behind Droopys Display recently and he also has scope for improvement third time up.
Hove Hotties
Newinn Benni (7.16)
Burrows Sapphire (7.33)
Wasted Monday (8.07)
Hopes Ompaloompa (8.41)
