Bockos Doomie is unbeaten in 11 races at Hove. He is a best priced 4-5 (Skybet) to make it 12 when the six runners go to traps for next Saturday’s Coral Sussex Cup Final.

But the Patrick Janssens trained white and black had to pull out all the stops to catch the gallant Killeacle Gus on a heavy Hove circuit.

Janssens said: “The going was very poor, but the track were doing their best putting down more sand after such a lot of rain. Doomie just gets the job done. He could have found himself in trouble at the first bend but he let the one go clear and then went inside it as it coursed the hare up the backstraight.

“Although the going was heavy, he has come out of the race okay. As far as the final is concerned, it is a good class field. I would have preferred trap one, but am not moaning about the three.”

Tommys Panther was marginally quickest on a night where strong finishers came out best.

Other betting: 11-2 Tommys Panther (Bet365), 6-1 Distant Village (Hills), 10-1 Killeacle Gus (Hills), 14-1 Fight The Power (Paddy Power), 16-1 Drahbeg Dash (various).

Troy Firebird (t5) makes the early running in the second Sussex Cup semi final, with eventual winner Tommys Panther (t3) on the inside and runner up Distant Village (t6) out wide. Photo: © Steve Nash

DRAHBEG DASH (t6) lands a 33-1 shock in the third Sussex Cup semi final from Fight The Power (t1) Photo: © Steve Nash