Parker and Heath take Hove Cat Ones with Flare and Smoke

Cover photo from Hove Stadium X feed others from Gary Garner

Flare and Smoke set Hove alight

There are few greyhounds in the country who deserved a Category One title more than Sean Parker's Droopys Flare. Last night at Hove, she finally got crowed a staying champion in the Coral Regency.

With five railers in the final, the potential for it being messy was clear but she managed to find her path through, powering herself to the front when it was required and slipping three and a half lengths clear come the line. It was a win that was all the most impressive given how hard it was to come from behind on the night.

She is very much the one to beat in the big six-bend competitions at present, with the possibility of her taking on Droopys Rated over 715m in the St Leger at Dunstall Park a mouthwatering prospect if the two sets of connections decide that is the path they wish to take. 

Croydon Rory lost nothing in defeat in finishing second. He had been unable to get himself quite hold the front with Bonus Bullet for Belinda Green coming away the best on the inside, but Jamie Kingsley's relative newcomer to the UK racing scene has shown himself to be a super smart type. Fabulous Heka was fourth for Patrick Janssens while fourth bend trouble saw Paul Young's Bella Bullet and Seamus Cahill's Unthinkable out of the contest. 

Cahill had the pair at the top of the betting for the Coral Sussex Cup, but it was Jason Heath's Smokestack Saxon who showed the best pace to the opening bend to give himself an unassailable lead as those behind found trouble at the turn.

The winner has only had seven starts for Heath, winning five of them, and he won't turn two years old until October. There is still a huge amount of untapped potential there, and now he needs to go and show that same level of form away from Hove. If he can, then he has all the tools to win more of these top level finals. 

Copney Queen shows the best of her form when she is on the bunny, but she ran a cracker in second despite being denied that lead. Young's charge can be a leading player in the Premier Greyhound Racing Oaks at Dunstall Park. 

Third was Cahill's Moving Force who found himself last early on, and was always fighting an uphill battle after that. He failed by a short head to grab second, staying on well late in his third Cat One decider. Oaks finalist Raebella Bullet had her nose in front at the line the first time around but others just paced to the bend a hair better, finding herself the worst of the trouble. Green's Behemoth and Cahill's Blackstone Opera whipped the field in. 

It was expected that Richard Rees would take the Cat Two sprint final on the card but with Shadow Storm rather than his kennelmate Avarua Lake. The innermost draw was the winning ticket, showing enough pace to go to the bend with his Rees-trained counterpart, and even though the official margin was only half a length, there was never any doubt that he was going to see Shadow Storm off.

The opens kicked off with a win for Young's Gav Nificent in a puppy contest. He has shown some flashes of absolute brilliance in his short career to this point, including on his most recent start when kicking off the Dunstall Park centenary meeting with a victory. Last night he took control of the inside early on before kicking clear off the second bend. 

Janssens was on target with Fabulous Aria who took the consolation race for the Sussex Cup. She showed the best speed to get to the front at an early stage, and from there on, there was no chance of catching her. Her time was just 13 spots slower than the Sussex Cup itself. 

Early pace was also the weapon of choice for Derek Knight's Alien Chieftan who pinged out on the rails to take a 500m contest. Janssens's Romeo Tomcat was the hot favourite but he missed the break from the striped jacket and then found trouble while the winner was already away and gone from the one box. 

David Dark took the final race on the card with Ballydoyle Eile. She has had a relatively light 2026 when it comes to racing action but has got her head in front in seven of the 11 races that she has contested to this point, a 3.55 split giving her a length lead as they crossed the line for the first time.

One who had really found the winning thread of late is Kingsley's Breffni Una. She only won two of her first 21 starts for the kennel but the lightbulb has switched on now, taking four of her last seven, working her way through A3, A2 and A1 before taking her maiden open last night. 

Gingers Shadow has only had four starts for Patrick Browne to this point, winning a pair of them. He clocked a 3.47 sectional last night to get himself away and gone, following on from a flying 3.40 split when winning an A5 last time out. A half-brother to Irish Laurels winner Magical On Fire and Irish Champion Stakes winner Daleroad Duke amongst others, with this level of early pace, he could have a very bright future.

Another local runner who is clocking some speedy splits is June Harvey's Rapido Benji. He was picking up a third open race win at this track from his last five outings, and while he does look the type who is going to have to turn in front to win, he is giving himself every opportunity of that with his slick breaks. 

A six-bend contest went to Green's Bombshell Bullet who won another horribly messy stayers race. Just seven spots covered the first four home, with the other pair in the race both out of the contest at the opening bend. 

Monmore treble for Wallis

It was a good night for Mark Wallis at Monmore with a treble on the card over three different trips. Forgottotellya arrived fresh off his Towcester track record performance with another fluent success. He had scored by nine lengths on his last visit to Monmore, adding another six plus on this occasion as he took a decent scalp in Headford Dane in the process.

Wallis's sprint win came from Crafty Alejandro who did not need to get anywhere close to his fastest of the year level at this track to take out his race with plenty in hand. He had to check onto the inside from his two slot on the run to the bend before showing his burning pace to sew the contest up before the turn.

Vhagar took a 630m contest on what was a pretty slow track and from behind. so her bare time is best ignored. Visually, she ran way from her rivals by nine and a half lengths, and with just a week to go until the start of the Ladbrokes Summer Stayers, she is a key player in what should be a fascinating contest. 

Wallis was denied a fourth as Maxine Locke's Headford Cian showed huge pace after a crawling start. He flew to the bend and then took off down the back. He stays 480m strong which is remarkable given he made back-to-back sprint finals in the Time Sprint on Derby night and the Arc Silver Salver. 

Nathan Hunt grabbed a victory with Anglesey Milo who used his inside berth well to slip around the opening bend having paced up with Newinn Tonic and Flashing Fender to his outside. He had to miss the final of the Truframe Champion Stakes when off colour but he could have a sneaky each way chance in the upcoming Ladbrokes Gold Cup.

There was another six-bend win from Onceina Lifetime for Kim Billingham-Hine, making it a hat-trick of 630m successes. There are much tougher assignments likely to be on the horizon if connections fancy a crack at the Summer Stayers, but he is in good enough heart to do so.  

The final race on the card went to Craig Morris's Droopys Trade. He was having just his second race since finishing third in the Derby Plate at Towcester, with this on a track as slow as he has ever run on. His early pace won him the day, comfortably in control of the inside from the lids opening. 

Adelinesfirstdog has been in fine form of late for Richie Taberner and continued his run with victory in the first open on the card. This was a third win from his last four starts, steadily putting it altogether as he gains experience, with this only his 10th start for Taberner.

John Campbell takes three at Dunstall

John Campbell was the man to beat at Dunstall Park with Aghaburren Bucko taking the plaudits in a sprint where he dipped under 16 seconds. Runner-up at Monmore last week on his first run from four and a half months off, he clearly has come on plenty for the cobwebs being blown away.

Venetian Nero took the four-bend leg of Campbell's trio of winners, justifying his position in the market as the odds-on favourite by five and a half lengths. His first two starts for Campbell had come in sprints at Hove, and the step up in distance was clearly in his favour, banging out in front and running riot. 

Over six bends, it was the turn of Slippy Des to score for Campbell. He had stepped up in distance for the first time a week prior at Monmore, and this slightly stiffer test over an extra 30m was required, doing his best work late on to grab the money.

There was a double on the card for Kim Billingham-Hine who had Droopys Poker take off late in his 480m contest to come away with the spoils. He is in the midst of a decent spell of form, winning for the third time in his last five starts, with those wins all coming on different tracks, including one over six bends. 

Bandit Paddy was the other winner for Billingham-Hine, one of two to share the shortest-priced scorer on the evening at 4/9. He had made the final of the recent Arc Stayers Cup over track and trip, with this step down out of Category Two company providing him with a very winnable opportunity that he took well enough.

The other 4/9 victor was Nathan Hunt's Scooby Diamond who continued her recent winning ways with a victory over 480m. She has done most of her winning over shorter trips after landing a couple of graded races last summer at Monmore over this distance. Her early pace took her clear of her rivals and with a little bit of scrimmaging behind at he opening bend, she was well clear when it mattered. 

Ruth Lambe denied Billingham-Hine a treble as her Ceejay Sparkle grabbed the front-running Mon Amis by half a length. The winner perhaps benefitted from a look elsewhere last time out, competing in a six-bend contest at Monmore, sharpened up for a return to her home circuit. 

Stellas Smartie took the other open on the card for Esther Driver. He led up those around him easily enough, tracking the leader around the opening turn before picking things up on the inside from the second against the wide-running leader. 

Central Park four-timer for Locke

It has been a bit of a wait for Newinn Jolie to hit the lids in a staying race but she did so at Central Park last night to pick up one of four winners on the card for Maxine Locke. She showed at Sheffield in June when beating a 2025 Derby semi-finalist that she is a smart type when she gets out and on the bunny, doing it for the first time since here.

Turnthemagicon was a very smart winner at Dunstall Park on centenary celebration night and quickly followed that up with a very professional display in a sprint. He made his debut on July 19 last year but this was only his 12th start for Locke, showing that he can live up to his name if he can be kept on track.

There was a return to winning ways for Headford Lily, landing her third win at this track in her last four visits. She had been behind Untold Ariary last week when Dave Lee's charge produced the better of the breaks but with trap exits reversed, the result was also changed this time around. 

A fourth winner came late on the card in the shape of Mystical Batman, The first four home were only covered by half a length at the line in a race where the winner had the lead early on in the piece but had to battle back after being headed to regain the advantage turning for home before having to hold off the late charge of Nick Carter's Ever So Cheerio by a short head.

The shortest-priced winner on the card came for Lauren Sawyer and Zari Aki. A very promising pup, he has won three of his four career races now, showing a smart blend of speed and stamina for a track that has been very slow the last couple of weeks. Stiffer tasks await but he is still a blank canvas, and an exciting one at that. 

Julie Luckhurst has got plenty of successes out of One More Tune since she made her debut in April 2024, picking up a hat-trick of wins over 664m with an open to add to a recent pair of S2 victories. It's the second time this year that she has won three straight, though there was a yawning gap of 20 without a win between the two hat-tricks.

Move Over Eva has plenty of sprint wins to her credit at her home track of Hove, but last night was the first time that Carl Gardiner's charge has got her head in front both in an open race and away from her home course. 

Dan Brabon dominated the graded races with a treble, but he also took an open to close out the card with Swift Youth. He is much better in a straight line than he was around the bends but that pace took him into a challenging position down the back and eventually to the front as they swung for home. 

Doncaster double for Denby

It was a slightly quieter night at Doncaster with just eight opens on the slate with Barry Denby taking two of them, led by Aghaburren Luna. She has absolutely come alive at this track, adding a 483m success to a pair of 450m ones in her last four visits to the track. She beat a decent field on her first start since losing her puppy status.

Skeard Noah had got Denby's night off to a winning start in a 450m race. Still a puppy, this was only his fifth start for the kennels, so there should be more to come from him as well, pacing up well after a steady exit to grab the lead. 450 looks the right trip for now but he shapes like a longer run to the bend in time will suit him better. 

There was a winning return to Doncaster for Newline Kielty after her Newcastle exploits that saw her make the final of the Arc Angel of the North. Darren Golightly's star performer had won her last pair of contests at this track as well prior to heading north, winning her heat and her semi at Newcastle. After only 15 career runs, she is another form the card who should have more to come. 

One who is at the other end of his career now is Keefill Goose, but he showed that he is still very capable of showing excellent form, winning a deep contest from his fellow veteran, Naochra. It was win number 24 in a superb career for Phil Milner, with all of those coming in open company. 

The final race of the evening saw the biggest surprise for punters as Tom Heilbron's Innfield Bucko pinged out to make all of the running in a sprint contest. An A6 at Newcastle is the only other winning piece of form on his card to this point but he looked well suited to a shorter distance. 

Over six bends there was a win for Rose Draper's Cooladerrydancer. Her early pace won her the day, building up enough of a lead early on to hold off the strong late challenge of Greenwell Gypsy and the in-form Jameson Johnny who had rattled off a hat-trick of wins over this 661m distance last month. 

It was a similar story for Superb Morning who gained an early lead in a 483m contest for Darren Fretwell before winning by a neck. He had scored over this track and trip back in April, and landing a top grade contest at Sheffield in the meantime.

Grumpy Kevin took the other open race on the card for Nicola Langley. He led up before moving off a touch at the opening bend to let a rival up his inside, showing good tenacity to run that one back down at the three-quarters mark. It almost left him vulnerable to a finisher but he had just pulled out enough of a lead. 

Foot with a Star Pelaw trio of winners

Glenn Foot was once more the man to beat at Star Pelaw, picking up a treble. Clonlost Dexter was a speedy sprint winner for the kennel, stopping the clock in 14.40. A winner of his sole start in Ireland at Newbridge in June, this was a fine way to introduce himself to Star Pelaw, with better likely to come over 435m.

Another sprint winner was Quivers View who took the first open on the card. She had to do things the hard way, led up by her better fancied kennelmate Tickets Outlaw who had been sent off the 4/11 market leader, she got up in the final stride to deny favourite backers.

Mossend Abbie was the middle leg of the trio, landing a four-bend contest. She got herself to the front early on, with trouble behind her down the back, she comfortably came far enough clear of her rivals to land the money for a third straight success at the venue.

Two better than that is Sunnyside Gurkha who landed his fifth straight success at Star Pelaw for Cheryl Ingham. He was a win machine for Ted Soppitt prior to that, landing career success number 17 on his 42nd start overall.  

An eight-bend contest on the card was also won by Ingham as her Swift Yawn did battle with Ricky Holloway's Razldazl Paloma. The pair both held the lead but it was the former who proved to be the strongest as the race reached halfway.

Holloway had better luck in the hurdle contest (I'm as surprised as you) as Punk Rock Legend picked up the win in a race that was a car crash from start to finish.

Another 'legend' to win on the card was Laylas Legend, picking up a 435m contest for Matthew Watson. He did battle from an early stage with another one of Holloways, proving too strong once they turned for home.

Trapstyle Dopey led home a trap style trio for Jean Liles. She has found the winning thread at a low level at her home track of Towcester of late, adding to that with a comfortable win. 

There was also a winner for Samantha Atkinson as Caseys Jake added to a pair of graded wins over four bends with a six-bend open race success.