Final night is here. The category one, Coral Olympic over 515 metres concludes tonight. The remaining six greyhounds will battle it out for their name on the trophy and £10,000 winners cheque for connections to go alongside greats such as Ballyregan Bob Along and Droopys Buick.
Along with the showpiece final there are four supporting finals for our enjoyment. Two of those are category two in the shape of the Coral Brighton Belle and George Curtis and Ballyregan Bob memorial over 515 and 740 metres, both worth £2,500 for only two runs.
The Kathleen Kis memorial trophy and the Christmas Cracker Sweepstake make up the other finals. A night not to be missed. For our enjoyment I have endeavoured to find out more about five greyhounds on the supporting card.
Towcester trainer John Mullins tries his Scurry Gold Cup finalist Signet Goofy at Hove for the first time tonight in the Coral British bred puppy in the opening race at 6.09pm over 500 metres. The January ’20 whelp showed he has early when he reached the final of the Scurry Gold Cup at Perry Barr in October over 275 metres. In that final the son of Magical Bale and Forest Natalee finished fifth after early trouble. Since that final he has won at Towcester over 500 metres which bodes well going into tonight’s race over the same distance.
John on him said: “He’s getting a lot better and stronger now. All being well he’ll be our derby dog next year.
“Hove is a hard 500 metres. We’ll see how he gets on; we hope he will get it. He has lots of early especially against four bend dogs. Ideally, he will have to lead.
“He has trap six and I don’t worry about something I don’t have control over, but I’ll be happy with trap six in next year’s Derby final!”
William Hills are top price 6/4 for the Scurry Cup finalist to win at Hove at the first time of asking.
Romford trainer David Mullins knows what it takes to be a sprinter and tonight tries his Matts Malibu around the Sussex track for the first time in the Coral Sprint at 6.28pm over 285 metres.
The son of Droopys Jet and Matt Marine has established himself on the sprint scene with wins at Perry Barr, Newcastle, Nottingham and Towcester. Last month at Towcester he reached the final of the Sovereign Stakes over 270 metres. In that final he finished fifth to kennel mate Shrewd Call.
David on him said: “He’s a natural sprinter. He normally likes a look around a track, but we entered him the National Sprint at Nottingham but was eliminated in the first round.
“He didn’t produce his best at Towcester but still made the Sovereign Stakes final. On his day he is as good as anything in the country over two bends.
“He is an established sprinter and 285 metres at Hove will be no problem for him. He has trap three and that is perfect for him.”
Betfred are top price 9/2 for the Sovereign Stakes finalist to take the spoils.
Central Park trainer Matt Dartnall knows what it takes to win around Hove having previously won the Olympic, Brighton Belle and Ballyregan Bob with his charges, Ballymac Ruso, Away Shelly and Blue Bee. Tonight, he tries his Distant Bolt over 695 metres; his longest distance to date at 6.58pm.
The August ’18 whelp is not completely stepping into the unknown as he has won over 682 metres in a maiden race at Swindon earlier this month. The son of Sparta Maestro and Lemon Abigail does have track experience with a race over 500 metres early last year and a sprint trial over 285 metres back in June.
Matt on him said: “He won well at Central Park over 642 metres in an S1. After that we took him to Swindon over 682 metres. He was impressive in that maiden against maiden dogs.
“695 metres is at the top end of his staying capabilities and the race is maybe a bit too good for him with lots of established stayers. Southfield Code looks the one in that race. He is possibly a bit in between graded and top class opens.
“He has a good draw though; we are happy with that.”
Matt on his other runner, Permanent Smile said: “He has a good draw. It is a very competitive race with very good dogs in it. He was unlucky not to qualify for the Olympic. He could take advantage of his draw in one.”
William Hills are offering 3/1 for him to add to his maiden victory at Swindon earlier in the month. Permanent Smile is generally available at 9/2 to win the Olympic consolation over 515 metres at 7.18pm.
Scala Omeara for Romford handler Nathan Hunt is making his Hove debut in the duplicated Coral Sprint over 285 metres at 7.36pm. Although the February ’19 whelp has not been at Hove before he is no novice over sprint trips. The son of Droopys Jet and Scala Masie has won at Romford, Monmore and Towcester over 225, 264 and 270 metres. At home track Romford he has won twice in A1 graded races and twice in opens over 400 metres showing he can do it over short four bend trips as well.
Nathan on him said: “He has never been at Hove before but runs well at tracks first time around. He tends to break well first time out. He seems to go better fresh at a track.
“He does stay 400 metres at Romford but decided to drop him back to two bends as he is better over sprint trips. He has had three races over 225 at Romford and is unbeaten over that distance.
“He has trap four and that is probably his best trap.”
Corals are top price 5/1 for the pacey sort to win at Hove at the first time of asking.
David Mullins tries his Crystal Emblem at Hove for the first time tonight in the ‘lucky last’ at 9.43pm over 500 metres. Tonight’s trip will not cause the August ’19 whelp any problems as she has won over 575 metres at home track Romford in S1 and open race company. The daughter of Out Of Range ASB and Droopys Ant has also won twice over 400 metres in A3 graded affairs. In her last race at Romford when winning her 575 metres open race she was marked ‘awkward’ by the race stewards. Since then, she has had two trials at Harlow and has shown that was hopefully a one-off.
David on her said: “She was awkward at Romford I have no complaints about that. It definitely wasn’t anything more. She got a bit bored at Romford. Since then, she has had a couple of trials at Harlow and has been spot on. We will keep switching her about.
“She can run, there is no doubt about that. She is in a difficult race but should take to Hove. Trap two is okay for her.”
Corals are a standout 12/1 for her to win the ‘lucky last’ tonight.
