JONATHAN HOBBS HOVE SATURDAY: Hove takes centre-stage on SportyStuff TV/RPGTV tonight with another outstanding card featuring the £15,000 Coral TV Trophy Final – albeit the action from Shelbourne Park is none too shabby either!


The Dublin venue hosts the Shelbourne Open 600 Final, the old Guinness 600 event, and Paul Hennessy’s much-experienced Hello Hammond (9.24) gets a tentative vote in a very competitive decider on last week’s semi-final form.

However the action at the Sussex track is concentrated on here with the prospect of a third straight – and record-breaking – TV Trophy success for Aayamza Royale a possibility, although beating favourite Space Jet will not be easy.

Either way, it’s a brilliant card at Hove, so let’s take a look at the pick of the bets.

Hove

6.09: The card kicks off with a kennel sweepstakes final, an open-class contest in all but name. Ballyblack Speed gets the vote for Richard Yeates with a better exit on the cards from the middle to turn the tables on Global Vision. Seomra Razl needs clearing, however.

Play: Ballyblack Speed

6.28: Newinn Tik Tok had no joy in the heats of the sprint event here last week but a sharper start in what is a weaker contest looks on the cards. Patrick Browne’s Golden Sprint runner-up runs strongly throughout and might be sharper for a Crayford spin.

Play: Newinn Tik Tok

6.58: The final of the Coral Sprint Trophy and Ballymac Slapup will have his supporters after a fast-starting impressive effort in the heats, but Crossfield Dusty could go better from the outside for Patrick Janssens. The prolific winner is the best around still on his day.

Play: Crossfield Dusty

7.18: Good to see the Jimmy Jupp Hurdle making a return to the card – a longstanding and cherished event over the sticks. Preference is for Jamie Kingsley’s Seaglass Smokey who could be fresh and well pitched to edge the talented and prolific Nomansland Flyer.

Play: Seaglass Smokey

7.36: The Janssens camp might dominate the Seasons Scaffolding Puppy Cup Final. The former champion trainer sends out favourite Deelish Frankie, who gets the vote with his all-round speed, although a fast start from Romeo Top Gun could seize the lead.

Play: Deelish Frankie

7.56: Droopys Mural looks a pup with a future and might always be pushing for the win here. He’s up against experienced sorts in Doorus Jet and Drumcrow Brent but a recent 29.35sec trial shows what Richard Rees’ youngster is capable of doing.

Play: Droopys Mural

8.17: Another Rees runner Whats Up Eva gets the vote in the Coral Brighton Belle Final after some cracking efforts in heats and semis, although clearing favourite Antigua Cuddles is key. However the all-round speed of the blue box looks tough to hold.

Play: Whats Up Eva

8.54: Time for one of the great races now and the Coral TV Trophy Final promises to be another exceptional affair. The famous competition has been won for the past two years by Aayamza Royale, who will be coming forward for her two runs since a return to the fray. However Space Jet set a new track record for the 955m trip with one of the great marathon runs and a follow-up is on the cards with a clear round. Matt Dartnall’s runner will be led by the likes of Blueberry Bullet and Droopys Senorita, while both Aayamza Royale and recent Irish intake Bockos Brandy have scope for better. Nevertheless having won by over 17 lengths in the heats, Space Jet is tough to oppose.

Play: Space Jet

Good luck all.

@Hobbsy67