Hove set for semi-final double header
Hove stages a double-header of semi-finals tonight. Both the £20,000 Premier Greyhound Racing Regency (695m) and £10,000 Coral Sussex Cup (515m) reach a crucial stage. There’s plenty for punters to get stuck into this evening.
The stars are aligned and ready to shine – from defending champion Candolim Monsoon and the reigning Greyhound of the Year Droopys Clue over 515m in the Sussex Cup to marathon star Ballymac Taylor and big-race winners Queen Georgia and Coonough Crow over the 695m Regency trip.
Supporting the Category One competitions are the Coral Sussex Cup Sprint Trophy, a Cat Two event over 285m, and the Coral Dual Distance Trophy, a Cat Three with heats over 500m and next week’s final on a gala night by the seaside over 515m.
Here are four of the best to watch out for tonight.
Queen Georgia (6.59) goes in the first semi-final of the Premier Greyhound Racing Regency. She is against Haka Carlo and Coonough Carlo, not to mention the fastest heat winner Cooladerry Dust. However, a lead looks on the cards for Liz McNair’s runner which could see her tough to beat in a great contest.
Newinn Syd (7.49) looks good in the first semi-final of the Coral Sussex Cup. Mark Wallis’s runner won the Eclipse last year at Nottingham as well as running up to King Memphis in the Olympic here. After enjoying no luck at Towcester in the Derby and Derby Plate, he will improve for last week’s heat return.
Wasted Monday could get away in the second semi-final of the Sussex Cup. That said, anything like a handy position for Droopys Clue (8.07) makes Seamus Cahill’s runner tough to beat. He’s a powerhouse of a greyhound over this trip and was all over his rivals off the last bend in the heats waiting for a gap before getting up.
Gary The Arb (8.41) will need every metre of the 500m he faces in heat one of the Coral Dual Distance Trophy. The draw inside can act as a safe haven and Belinda Green’s in-form and strong-running sort might be tough to hold as the race unfolds. He will certainly relish the 515m trip of the final more but might still have too much for his rivals tonight.
