Tips for the Hove Undercard

There are some decent contests on the PGR Regency and the Coral Sussex Cup undercard. Joe Conneely has been looking over them to find some top tips

6.42

This is the Coral Sussex Cup Consolation. Last year’s Sussex Cup victor Candolim Monsoon will be looking to get back to winning ways having been eliminated behind Romeo Command in last week’s semi-final. He should have the race at his mercy from an early stage if doing things right from lid rise. He can go on to dominate from Never Say No who looks like the biggest danger to Candolim Monsoon.

6.59

The Coral Dual Distance Trophy Final over the extended four-bend trip of 515m. Blarney Roy was impressive in catching Doodlebug Lad over 500m last week so the extra 15 metres should play to his strengths. Expect Doodlebug Lad to lead then it’s where Blarney Roy turns. If he turns handy I would expect the same outcome as last week’s heats over 500m.

7.33

We turn our attention to the speedsters where the likelihood is trap four Not So Slow will go off a short-priced favourite. He was workmanlike in the heats last week but has form over Cree Jo Jo at Towcester last month. Cree Jo Jo broke in front that day, so I have to fancy Not So Slow to do the business. Moustows Mutley is a real credit to connections and in fantastic form but it’s hard to look past Not So Slow.

7.49

The Premier Greyhound Racing Regency Consolation sees a big drop in class for reigning Kent St Leger champion Coonough Crow. She has got her draw in trap one and barring any big mistakes she should take all the beating here. Move Over Ogie in trap three would be the biggest danger to Coonough Crow. He has some solid lines of form including two runs behind Regency favourite Cooladerry Dust over C&D but if Coonough Crow breaks on terms she will have the race at her mercy.

Other Open races tonight

Saturday is a busy night for open racing with Central Park, Doncaster, Monmore and Perry Barr also in action along with the Category One racing from Hove and Oxford. 

Race of the night at Central Park is the 9.11. Half a length separated Droopys Prymtime and Asbo Lenny on July 6. They are drawn the opposite way around tonight with Asbo Lenny back in red. Paul Donovan’s charge has won five of his last seven when on the very inside.

Keefill Maverick missed out on a spot in the Pall Mall final tonight by a length. He can make some sort of amends in Doncaster’s 6.46 providing he clears his kennelmare Droopys Glam on the long run to the bend.

At Monmore, the 7.56 is the can’t miss contest. Derby third Whyaye Man takes on Derby Plate runner-up Kilara Roberto. Five spots separated them on their June bests at Towcester. Will they be as close tonight?

Mt Heyton Boyo steps up to six bends for the first time tonight in Perry Barr’s 9.52. The multiple top-grade winning local shapes as if he is at least worth the try over this far. Among his opponents is Haka Luigi whose litter siblings Ballymac Taylor and Haka Carlo contest the PGR Regency Final tonight at Hove.

Friday Romford recap

Star of the show at the London Road venue was once again Maxine Locke’s Tullymurry Dylan.

The son of Magical Bale produced the second-quickest 225m time of 2024 (behind his own fastest) to land a fourth consecutive win. The drop to sprinting has been the making of the Non Runner Syndicate-owned dog.

There were three times in the 23.80s over the 400m distance, the fastest of which was El Hombre Viejo for Gemma Evans. Not quite an old man at the age of three, his half-brother Droopys Hanover is in the BetGoodwin Pall Mall Final tonight. Hot Rod (23.82, also Gemma Evans) and Romeo Crusade (23.83, David Mullins) were the other fast four bend winners.

Advancement of the bill to ban greyhound racing in Scotland

Although the only greyhound racing venue is the flapping track at Thornton, Scottish Green MEP Mark Ruskell is determined to do away with the dogs north of the border. His bill to ban the sport will go in front of parliament after the recess following a period of consultation. The right to introduce the bill came after 24 MEPs supported the proposal.

The consultation summary states that “The main reason given for fully supporting the proposed ban on greyhound racing in Scotland was the view that racing at speed on oval tracks is inherently dangerous for greyhounds, often leading to significant injury, psychological trauma and death.”

Words like ‘often’ do their usual heavy lifting in these documents from the self-appointed gatekeepers of morality and ethics. Naturally, there are quotes from Blue Cross, the Scottish SPCA etc amongst the 21 organisations that replied to the consultation, all on the anti side of the fence.

Unfortunately, responses from those in favour of the sport were massively outweighed. Back in May the Scottish Government were ‘not persuaded of the need for a ban’ so we await the return from recess to see how this plays out.

Opens

Saturday: Central Park ♦ Doncaster ♦ Hove ♦ Monmore  ♦ Oxford ♦ Perry Barr
Sunday: Crayford ♦ Sheffield ♦ Towcester
Monday: Nottingham ♦ Suffolk Downs