HOVE and Oxford roll out the red carpet for a host of canine stars tonight as the finals of the Premier Greyhound Racing Regency, Coral Sussex Cup and BetGoodwin Pall Mall are all down for decision.
A trio of top-class Category One competitions make it a must-watch Saturday via the Premier Greyhound Racing/Attheraces service and SIS - with bumper crowds expected at both tracks as £40,000 in win prize-money is up for grabs across the two venues, with the Regency final at Hove the richest event of the night.
Won last year by the much-missed Space Jet, Ballymac Taylor is attempting to emulate her feat of winning both the Dorando Marathon at Towcester on Derby final night and the Regency and her off-the-pace style could raise the roof.
However, the percentage call is Nathan Hunt's Cooladerry Dust (8.41) to pace up round the outside and unleash the middle pace which took him impressively to the front at the third bend when overhauling Queen Georgia in the semis. That was a performance out of the top-drawer and earns the Coronation Cup runner-up the vote.
Huge respect to the rest of the field, however. Bubbly Scorcher and Baywatch Bullet both produced the goods in the semis and will look to get away, while Ballymac Taylor's litter brother Haka Carlo is at the top of his own game just now and will battle away from the get-go. Lightfoot Falcon is capable of a slick exit and therein lies his best chance.
The £10,000 Sussex Cup final is a corker with Droopys Clue (8.07), the reigning Greyhound of the Year, and Romeo Command, the 2023 Derby runner-up, set for an almighty duel potentially. Both are powerful front runners, but such has been the St Leger winner's four-bend efforts of late that Seamus Cahill's runner gets the nod - narrowly.
Once again, the overall line-up is classy with kennelmates Clona Uriel and Newinn Benni both attempting to make all, while Uncle Freddie continues to run well in defeat and is always thereabouts - at a price generally. Wasted Monday makes his second Sussex Cup final and could be poised to take advantage if the crowded inside.
The other Hove finals could see Matt Dartnall's Distant Cara (6.59) pace up into a winning position in the Coral Dual Distance Trophy, while Richard Rees's Not So Slow (7.33) has the all-round pace to shine in Coral Sussex Cup Sprint Trophy.
Pick of the other races are last year's Sussex Cup winner Candolim Monsoon (6.42) for Derek Knight in the Coral Sussex Cup Consolation after his fastest heat success a fortnight ago and Mark Wallis's well-drawn Coonough Crow (7.49) in the Premier Greyhound Racing Regency Consolation.
Oxford's BetGoodwin Pall Mall Final offers £10,000 to the winner and a place on a great roll of honour, too. Back on the Calendar last year when Links Maverick struck gold, tonight's line-up oozes speed and overall quality - and only the best will do.
Long Fellow won the Puppy Collar final last year over C&D and looks to be coming to the boil nicely, but clearing Richie Taberner's Aero Sacundai (8.26) might not be easy and the Monmore raider definitely has first-run potential.
However, any mistakes and others will pounce, with Droopys Hanover catching the eye in defeat in the semis last week, while the underrated Wrighty will not be giving up in behind - he does have a break in his locker, which would be interesting. Newcastle's Madabout Pack could go bingo from the boxes, while Eze battles on and is never far away.
Other Oxford fancies are Diane Henry's Towcester record-breaker Savana Jackpot (8.43) in a cracking marathon, while Chris Hamblin's up-in-trip Savana Top Cat (9.01) could get away over six bends given a plot draw inside.
Hove Hotties
Candolim Monsoon (6.42)
Distant Cara (6.59)
Not So Slow (7.33)
Coonough Crow (7.49)
Droopys Clue (8.07)
Cooladerry Dust (8.41)
Oxford Options
Aero Sacundai (8.26)
Savana Jackpot (8.43)
Savana Top Cat (9.01)
