Tonight’s meeting comes from the south coast and the beautiful Brighton & Hove Stadium.

The feature event is the Coral Sussex Cup, now in its 45th year. It is the track’s most prestigious event over its most widely used distance, 515 metres. The hounds complete one full circuit of the majestic Hove circuit and then face a 60m run to the winning line.

The winner will take around 30 seconds, or probably just under, to capture the £10,000 first prize.

Before the finale, there are seven high class races over a variety of distances.

Race 1  7.11 pm    740m – Almost a lap and three quarters

The first race of the night is over 740 metres, with the traps located in the far right corner of the stadium and the dogs must cover almost a full lap and three quarters. The local trainers don’t take kindly to ‘foreign raiders’ and they send out two of their best hounds to defend local honour. In trap two we have the likely favourite Karlow Turbo, who is also a litter brother to this year’s English Derby winner Astute Missile. Turbo is seldom beaten at his home track though his biggest danger will be his neighbour Maireads Ivy. As the Guru preaches ‘there are times when one might expect uncertainty. . . . and there are times when you shouldn’t ignore the bleedin’ obvious’

Favourite: Karlow Turbo (T2) Outsider: Rylane Dash (T5) Guru Guide: Karlow Turbo (T2)

Race 2  7.26 pm    515m (puppies) – A lap plus the straight

The ‘Droopys’ kennel is located in Portlaw, in the country of Waterford in Ireland and four of the runners in this puppy race were born there. Three still bear the prefix plus Young Lord, who used to be called Droopys Theo. The bookies can see no further than Droopys Opah who will run from trap one. He has won three of his four races to date and will be an odds on favourite. That looks a bit too short for a pup so we will take a chance on the youngest in the field, the 12-1 chance Sporting Dave who is improving with every race.

Favourite: Droopys Opah (T1) Outsider: Wildfire Lord (T3) Guru Guide: Sporting Dave (T5)

Race 3  7.43 pm    515m – A lap plus the straight

The third televised event is named after the 2007 Sussex Cup winner Barnfield On Air. It looks quite an open contest with no runner holding an outstanding chance. The Guru though has a strong hunch for Shaneboy Russell who hasn’t always been lucky with trap draws but looks likely to get a good run here.

Favourite: Shaneboy Russell (T1) Outsider: Clairkeith Jaspa (T3) Guru Guide:Shaneboy Russell (T1)

Race 4  7.59 pm    285m – half a lap

Onto the sprint, which looked complicated enough when this sextet met in their qualifying races, but became impossibly difficult by the racing styles of the six qualifers. (M) stands for ‘middle’ which means those runners would ideally like traps three or four. (W) stands for ‘wide’ which means those runners would ideally like trap six, or possibly trap five. You can see the issues. . . Only one runner has her ideal trap, Brynoffa Jasmin in trap six and although she will be around 8-1, she is possibly overpriced.

Favourite: Walk The Talk (T3) Outsider: Sizzlers Hawk (T5) Guru Guide: Brynoffa Jasmin (T6)

Race 5  8.16 pm    930m – Two and a bit laps

Ribble Atom has probably been the second best marathon runner of her era. The best, Roxholme Dream, isn’t fit and Lord Hesketh’s runner will probably start favourite. However, the Guru fancies a turn-up having been extremely impressed with Clares Kyletaun since his arrival from Ireland earlier this year. He has never raced this far before, but has been extremely impressive and is the obvious danger

Favourite: Ribble Atom (T3) Outsider: Pacey Karnage (T2) Guru Guide: Clares Kyletawn (T6)

Race 6  8.33 pm    515m – A lap plus the straight

The sixth race is a ‘ladies only’ battle and like the sprint earlier, is a tight event made even more complicated by the trap draw – check out the ‘M’s and ‘W’s. The bookies think the two ‘M’s will be least troubled by the draw and make them the leading fancies. There is little between them on their heat form – two hundredths of a second to be precise, which is roughly the length of a greyhound head. The Guru gives Jester the nod purely on the basis that Gem will have to pass her on the outside.

Favourite: Droopys Jester (T1) Outsider: Inislosky Mull (T4) Guru Guide: Droopys Jester (T1)

Race 7  8.51 pm    515m – A lap plus the straight

Another tight race where followers of the obvious, or 1970s punk rock bands might do well for themselves. Clash will probably start as around the 2-1 favourite and he doesn’t look bad value. He has won four of his ten races at Hove to date, and three of the four have come while wearing the black jacket. The obvious danger is King Eden in trap six, though he is not at the peak of his form and might be better swerved,

Favourite: Clash (T4) Outsider: Underground Jet (T2) Guru Guide: Clash (T4)

Race 8  9.08pm    SUSSEX CUP FINAL –  515m – A lap plus the straight

The highlight of the night and a rare chance in a Sussex Cup Final, a female winner. The last one was 11 years ago. Donation has been an absolute revelation since arriving from Ireland. She has won seven of her nine races and will start marginal favourite. Her biggest danger is her next door neighbour, King Kid. When they met in the semi finals, the traps were reversed. It shouldn’t make a great deal of difference. Girl power to rule!

Favourite: Donation (T5) Outsider: Oakfield Caesar (T4) Guru Guide: Donation (T5)