JONATHAN HOBBS: Hove dominates the open-race scene in the UK tonight with the semi-finals of two major competitions live on SportyStuffTV/RPGTV.


The Coral Regency and Coral Sussex Cup are both Category One events and have attracted top-class entries. They are supported tonight by the heats of two other competitions – one for puppies and one for bitches only.

Let’s have a look at another cracking card down the south coast.

Hove

6.09: Brookside Richie looks one of the short-shots on the night given his narrow but impressive win in the Juvenile Classic at Towcester in midweek. David Mullins’ dog has bundles of early pace and should run amok inside to confirm form with Blueberry Bullet.

Play: Brookside Richie

6.43: Trumps Benefit showed good pace at Towcester and, with a clearer run in both heat and semi-final, might have been a player. Carol Weatherall’s dog has his first taste of Hove, but the trip and track shape should suit and he looks a potential improver.

Play: Trumps Benefit

6.58: The first of the Regency semis is an absolute cracker. Look for the early paced battle between Kishlawn Shakira and Blue Tick George with preference for the former on the draw inside her chief rival for David Mullins’ runner. Aayamza Royale will be flying home.

Play: Kishlawn Shakira

7.18: The first Sussex Cup semi-final is a beauty, too. Huge pace inside and the break will be crucial. Hayley Keightley’s Roxholme Sheikh needs to find time on overall clocks, but was impressive to the eye last week in the heats. He leads Tenpin and Bockos Belly.

Play: Roxholme Sheikh

7.36: More six-bend action now and Bo Shine Bullet might have the all-round gears to win this. Mark Wallis’s bitch needs to trap well to match Alaskan Dawn’s speed next door, not to mention Mad Mash Bullet in the black jacket. However the blue box has the edge.

Play: Bo Shine Bullet

7.56: Dannid has chances to reverse form with Bubbly Bollinger. The latter needs to break well from the midfield and any holdups could let in Matt Dartnall’s runner in stripes. He paces up well and might always hold the aces – especially if they crowd inside.

Play: Dannid

8.17: The final Regency semi-final and Skilful Daisy remains an improving stayer. Patrick Janssens’ bitch has the advantage of the rails draw and once in the clear in the heats last week pulled away impressively. Expect a surge of middle pace from Cold As Ice.

Play: Skilful Daisy

8.38: The final Sussex Cup semi and Droopys Addition is tough to look beyond. Gemma Evans’s dog set the fastest time in the heats and a decent exit would soon put these under pressure with kennelmate Newinn Jacko fancied to join him in next week’s decider.

Play: Droopys Addition

8.54: Heat one of the bitches’ event and Droopys Coffee showed good pace at Towcester recently and could cut loose for the Jim Daly camp. Improvevent on a recent sighter is more likely than not. Debutant Ballymac Notoyou looks decent on Irish form.

Play: Droopys Coffee

9.12: Pantone Whisper could run fresh and fast on her return. The David Mullins-trained runner has a superb strike-rate and has returned with some lively Romford trial spins and could set the tempo here, although speedy local Pocket Lola will soon be handy.

Play: Pantone Whisper

9.28: Time for the Hove finale now and Magical Firebird could have the edge here. Kevin Hutton’s bitch has superb all-round speed and moved well in a recent trial over C&D, although needs to step lively with speedy rivals pitched inside her here.

Play: Magical Firebird

Good luck all.

@Hobbsy67