Green lands three at Hove while Burton's stayer produced 2026 best at Valley

Hove treble for Green

It was a strong night for Belinda Green at Hove, with a treble of victories led by her Coral Sussex Cup finalist, Behemoth. His last six wins have all come from the striped jacket and the move back to the widest draw from the orange jacket last week saw him away and gone. He needed that early lead that he stole as Burrows Charm was doing his best work late to close him down.

Away and gone tactics were also the order of the day for Rapido Benji. He has won two of his first three for Green since leaving the June Harvey kennel, just run down late on by Bonus Bullet in the other, and there is no disgrace in that. His early gears are a very potent weapon, and should continue to give connections plenty of fun. 

The treble was completed in the final race of the evening by Ballymac Kinga. What had looked a competitive bitches race prior to going to traps was blown apart early by the winner, getting herself far enough ahead to hold off the pack who were closing on her as they headed for the line.

Richard Rees looked to have a very strong hand in the maiden final with Tedushi Ted and Tedushi Master at the head of the market. The latter had been the quicker of the heat winners but the draw and withdrawal of the six meant that the former looked to have plenty in his favour and justified odds-on favouritism, picking up his kennelmate on the run-in.

Rebel California gave Rees an opening contest winner. She was a notebook dog for many having won an A3 impressively on her Hove debut back in December but she was not seen in race action again until last month. Working her way back up to race mode, she picked up this success on her third run back and can use it as a springboard to go on to better things. 

There was also a double on the night for John Campbell. Venetian Mario kicked things off with a six-length romp. Quickly in control of proceedings from the striped jacket, it was just a second win from his 12 starts, but his other form in the book is of a strong enough standard to think that there are plenty more to come. 

A debut winner for Campbell came from Venetian Ricky. He had shown some smart speed in limited action in Ireland and looked to have been found a decent opportunity on his first start here. First to show on the inside, he quickly put a couple of lengths into his field heading into the first bend, opening that up to three and a half lengths come the line. 

It is a fairly rare occurrence for Droopys Deploy to lead up, but given his class and stamina, when he does, the race is over within a couple of strides. Visually it was a deeply impressive performance, especially as the runner-up Ballydoyle Eile has been in flying form herself of late, and credit to David Dark's bitch who kept digging in to finish well clear of the third. 

Hove on Thursday night was not the target that Ray Peckham had set for Tiffield Tarquin this week, though hopefully an impressive win will have helped offset a small amount of the disappointment of not making the final six for the Select Stakes. He is enjoying another hugely successful year, picking up win number 21 from 44 starts. 

The big surprise of the evening for punters came from Tony Taylor's Kerrs Rancher in a race where the first four home were covered by less than a length. It was his first race since losing his puppy status and having popped out in front, he made his starting price of 16/1 look silly.

Until past halfway, it looked like there might be another 16/1 shock in the very next race as Patrick Browne's Playit Cool Trig took an absolute flier from the lids. He was run down off the final bend by Carl Gardiner's Clairekeith Mary who had followed him around the opening turn, getting herself close enough to challenge from the third bend. 

Maxine Locke was also on the board on the evening with Headford Lily. She had split recent decisions with Seamus Cahill's Dark Madam at Central Park and comfortably made it 2-1 in her favour with a far superior sectional. She has won seven of 10 since the start of July. 

Face The Storm with 2026 fastest at Valley

Face The Storm is finding the 645m test at Valley very much to his liking. Mike Burton's charge has won two of his three starts over the trip, finishing second to Ashway June in the other. It was the best time of the year from that bitch that Face The Storm bettered last night by some 23 spots, though still a fair way short of Burton's Droopys Suprstar who holds the clock at the venue. Quickly in control out wide, he justified his 1/5 starting price with consummate ease. 

A sprint contest went to Walking Nunez who took the same route, quick away and wide for James Danahar. A solid graded sprinter both when with Dalton Smith and now with Danahar, this was his breakthrough in an open class contest at the sixth time of asking.

There were two races over 460m with the quicker of the pair going to David Hunt's Sawpit Signature. The only puppy in the contest, he already boasted an open race win at Monmore on his card, making it four wins in eight starts with a fluent, front-running performance. 

The first open on the night went to Pyro Man for Shaun Gresham. He had returned to race action last week for the first time since Oxford closed when finishing second, stepping up on that level with the run under his belt. He got himself on the front end early, shaping as if there is a little more time to come off the clock with him around here.