Thursday night's alright for doubles

Three trainers double up at Hove

It was the Seamus Cahill show early on Hove's Thursday night card, landing the first two winners. Powerhouse Duke got his head back in front in a stayers race, landing a win for the first time since the opening round of the Coral Regency. He beat Regency runner-up Croydon Rory last night, beating that rival to the punch early on.

The opening winner of the night was Cloheena Caelan. He landed a puppy contest with a sparkling turn of foot into the opening bend, turning that into six and three-quarter lengths by the time the line came around. It was win number seven from 13 career starts from the half-brother to Singalong Molly.

There was a Tedushi double for Richard Rees, his pair also picking up back-to-back races as Cahill did. Tedushi Master was the swifter of the pair on the clock, popping out from the innermost box to lead up and never looked back to get off the mark for the kennel.

Tedushi Ted was only making his second career start but had shown that he is a potentially smart type with a flying 29.20 trial last month. He has found things tougher with dogs around him, finding some trouble early on, having to show a decent attitude to get himself to the front on the run-in. He also had the 'honour' of being the widest drawn winner on the night from trap four.

Jason Heath was the third trainer to pick up a double on the card. Burrows Titan was another on the night to take advantage of a rails slot, pacing up well into the opening bend to quickly put the race to bed. It was a fourth open win for him, his third over 500m after his debut win came in a sprint. 

Over six bends, Heath grabbed a win with Minstrels Six. It was a first open race win for the veteran since May, although he had picked up a win over four bends in the meantime. He was unfortunate to draw such a tough Regency heat but showed that he can still get the job done. 

Smokestack Saxon was expected to be a winner on the card for Heath as well but the Coral Sussex Cup winner was unable to find a way past Jamie Kingsley's Sussex Cyclone. The winner had kicked her year off in flying form, picking up three open wins in January before a Central Park success in June. She was another to take the early-paced, railer blueprint to victory on the night.

Despite being a Regency finalist, Bella Bullet had not managed to get her head in front until last night for Paul Young. She is clearly a talented type who hopefully now has plenty of confidence after getting badly hampered in that Category One decider. 

There was another bullet winner as Bonus Bullet landed a 500m contest for Belinda Green. She has strong form herself over six bends, also a Regency finalist, but she is more than capable over shorter as well, finding things working out well having shown the pace to turn handy and picking up Rapido Benji late on.

Another to get on top late on was Derek Knight's Candolim Typhoon. He found plenty of trouble on his way around the 500m but got himself to the front right on the line to pick up the front-running Beachy Bullet and deny Green an earlier winner on the card.

Carl Gardiner picked up a win with Jackpot Blue. Half of the races went to the runner in the red jacket, and he was another of those, showing the best early gears to get the lead at the opening corner. He only scores once in his first 15 starts but has won five of 16 since. 

The final open on the card went to David Dark and Ballydoyle Eile in a 515m contest. It was a third open win in her last five, and an eighth overall, pushing her career strike rate up past 40% in the process. She has been a superb type for connections and looks to still have plenty more success to come. 

Lewi and Harmony both with smart Newcastle times

Stuart Ray landed the quickest winner of the night at Newcastle as Blackhouse Lewi showed plenty of bravery to slip around in front. He had pressure on both flanks heading into the opening bend but drove the corner harder than the rival up his inside to take control of the rails, going on to score in a smart 28.37.

Just two spots slower was Joe Edgar's Fabulous Harmony. She had won her heat of a bitches competition last week, beating fellow Arc Angel of the North finalist Coppice Saphire but Jimmy Fenwick's charge was sent off favourite to get gain revenge. It was not to be with Edgar's runner proving too strong for her rivals late on.

Fenwick was out of luck in a sprint as well as Ballymac Shontae walked out the lids leaving the contest to the pair in the inside traps. It was Crooks Mackemboy who came out on top for Stephen Caile. He was not the sharpest out the boxes himself but paced up well to grab the lead at the opening turn. 

Paul Rutherford took the other open on the card with Drombeg Angel. She took a brave route into the first bend, checking left to go between a pair of rivals, but it proved to be the winning manoeuvre. Heading round with the lead, she never looked like being picked up with her kennelmate Wraysbury Ace chasing her home.  

Bryce lands Valley double

It was an excellent evening for Frank Bryce at the Valley, landing two of the three opens on the card. Both of them turned over odds-on favourites, starting with Lady Devine who showed the best speed to the bend to take control of a sprint contest from the very start. She has now won three of her four opens at this venue.

Over six bends there was a win for Bryce's Baggios Raha. She did things differently, last in the early strides before making rapid progress to go off in pursuit of the early leader Droopys Fearless for Mike Burton.  This was her second open race win, adding to one from the end of July.  

Burton got himself on the board in the sole 460m open on the card courtesy of Face The Storm. He would also have to make up ground from off the pace to land the honours as an odds-on winner on the evening. His last three wins had all come over six bends and he'll have no problem stepping back up to further when required.