JONATHAN HOBBS: Two outstanding competitions, one fantastic card. We’re talking about the start of the Coral Sussex Cup and Coral Regency at Hove and 12 cracking races.


Two outstanding competitions, one fantastic card.

We’re talking about the start of the Coral Sussex Cup and Coral Regency at Hove and 12 cracking races – with the cream of the crop of stayers and four-bend stars including Bockos Doomie, who is among the leading contenders for the Derby.

Patrick Janssens’s runner has never been beaten at Hove and will be fancied to win tonight from the red-box and is the one to beat outright in the Sussex Cup, while Antigua Fire looks good for ante-post wagers in the Regency.

Let’s look at tonight’s races.

6:09: Fight The Power and Droopys Cannon will have a real battle for the inside. The latter is a tight railer so will look to get across and there could be a tussle, especially if Rockmount Ozzy also traps well. Seamus Cahill’s Forest Alan is strong and consistent – and picks up any pieces.

Play: Forest Alan

6.28: Another Sussex Cup heat and plenty of pace again inside with Sidaz Jet and Sophies Man. However a midfield draw can work for King Lennon – Liz McNair’s dog ran in a far tougher race last week behind Smallmead and is a consistent competition dog, strong-running if able to turn handy.

Play: King Lennon

6.43: King Sheeran is a multiple big-race winner and has a cracking record at Hove. The draw in six catches the eye and this Sussex Cup heat is weaker than his prep race last week – the stripes draw is a big advantage, too, to the McNair runner. Killeacle Gus is an ex-Hove runner and will look to lead inside.

Play: King Sheeran

6.58: Antigua Fire is tough to oppose as the Regency kicks off. He’s a powerful big-race winner, who caught the eye big-time last week behind Southfield Code and will improve. The draw keeps Mark Wallis’s dog out of trouble hopefully and he might prove too stronger for the talented Roman Empire.

Play: Antigua Fire

7.18: Zascandil could be the answer to this Regency heat. Kevin Boon’s dog was highly tried last week behind Southfield Code and Antigua Fire, so this is a drop in class as such. He wasn’t disgraced then and, given an impressive defeat of Skilful Sandie here in March, is more than capable to beat Colemans Flyer.

Play: Zascandil

7.38: Another Regency heat where Affleck Lady catches the eye. Patrick Janssens’ runner is no spring chicken now but remains a top sort and should soon bowl along in front given the chance. Sonic Stormi will improve for his trial here and is interesting stepped up in trip. He could escape the pack.

Play: Affleck Lady

7.58: Bockos Doomie is tough to look beyond, both in this Sussex Cup heat and outright. The Janssens runner defends an unbeaten record here at Hove and won a hot race last week. He breaks well at times and his all-round speed is superb. Droopys Addition can raise his game with a lightning start.

Play: Bockos Doomie

8.17: Smallmead has made a real splash in her short career. She’s won 4 of her 5 starts and John Mullins’s exciting bitch put a good field to the sword last week. The same red-jacket draw helps again tonight and she might get first run on Sparta Master. The latter is top notch and a powerful sort. Great race, great match-up.

Play: Smallmead

8.38: A trappy and competitive Sussex Cup heat where the likes of King Dylan, Ivy Hill Skyhigh, Tommys Panther, Nans Dream and Mottos Moon will all have there supporters. However the David Mullins-trained Troy Firebird will soon be on the march outside and can continue his rampant rise up the ranks.

Play: Troy Firebird

8.54: Back to the Regency now and Southfield Code has won 7 of his 10 starts and remains a stayer on the rise for Kevin Hutton. His all-round speed is top-notch and the draw should suit again. Respect to Schooldays at a price here. He’s recently up in trip and could surprise with a start.

Play: Southfield Code

9.12: David Mullins’ Piemans Noelle could be a tough nut to crack if able to blaze the trail. She wasn’t beaten far at Central Park last week without ever dominating, but might here in the Regency heat. Passing Stranger is a good stayer who will keep on for the places, but the blue jacket might have flown.

Play: Piemans Noelle

9.28: The finale now and the Tom Levers-traIned Beechgrove Bell sparkled on her return last week and should come forward. She starts well and, with a slower trapper inside in Affirmed, could take this race by the scuff of the neck, although expect the Perry Barr dog to soon battle back and get busy.

Play: Beechgrove Bell


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