A great set of intriguing races await us tonight on Sky from Hove but if that doesn’t get you excited enough, there will be a guest appearance from yours truly: I’m preening myself as I type! I used to love it round here and so what better a place for my send off – let’s hope I can find some winners to tell the locals in the ring and readers of this dog blog alike! Here are a dog’s thoughts:

19:40 – 515m

A fascinating contest to kick proceedings off with strongly fancied for the Sussex Cup outright, Lenson Bob, looking for consolation and to make amends for making a hash of the start in the Semis. In Westmead Adonis, however, he meets the Derby finalist who continues to grow from strength to strength and has enough early to turn at least handy to Bob, and utilise all of his back straight pace over a trip that should be ideal.

20:00 – 740m

A tough distance to assess the claims that a dog has is equalled here by an equally tough group of greyhounds to separate on form and potential: this should be a cracker! As I’m all excited before appearing in front of the cameras tonight I may have become delusional, but the value of Boherna Bridge looks worth enough to take and hope that he can stay the extra distance required. That said, his lead is not guaranteed with Bubbly Swallow’s impressive win in the Produce Stakes (over 480m) and her stepping back up in trip makes her a worthy favourite; do not discount Lets Do This as well who ran well in December in the Ted Hegarty Marathon (when known as Kincraig Jaime) and will stay this distance. In truth, any of these could win this!

20:15 – 515m

Farloe Tango is a dog who is hard to oppose in any race and Lister’s superstar puppy should have too much for these. He showed his character and temperament is right for the game when recovering from a bad fall earlier in the year to win his next race and can assert from any early moves from progressive Kinloch Tiger or the very pacey Ballymac Tobias. Those wishing to lump on though, need to remember Ballymac Eske’s defeat the other day at odds of 1/9: be careful backing pups at odds on!

20:35 – 285m

What an impressive line-up in a sprint even I’d have had my work cut out in back in the day! The rematch of Fernhill Jess and Dynamo Joe should be one to savour but the preference is for the latter who should improve for the sighter where he lost to Jess last week. Jess also faces a potentially hazardous draw with mid-to-wide Pams Tomjo drawn inside her and any mistakes at the boxes can be pounced upon by Joe, who could lead and make-all regardless.

20:50 – 930m

Surely greyhounds weren’t built to run this far! Anyway, this long marathon trip is ideal for Bubbly Capel who is not averse to disappointing followers but showed that she likes it round here when beating similar opponents including the reopposing Aero Gaga in June. Capel thrives the longer the trip and Gaga looks as though his best races these days are over a shorter marathon. Buglys Billie appears to lack gears which is important in these longer races but beware if Maudabawn Jenny is close on the second circuit as she could stay 1000m let alone a ridiculous 930m!

21:05 – 515m

Another Lister superstar appears at the South Coast circuit tonight and should display her stunning all-round pace for a facile success. Step forward Oaks heroine: Silverview Perky. Against the fairer sex she is imperious and it is difficult to see how the likeable Scramble, or the strong Jaytee Monroe can stop Perky recording another impressive win this evening.

21:25 – 695m

St. Leger favourite Freedom Cache returns to a venue he knows very well which includes very encouraging from figures over the 515m distance round this Hove circuit in 2011 (beating none other than Farloe Iceman is a particular scalp). Cache’s running style has become even more laboured over the first four bends this year though which may prove to serve him well in the Leger but one can’t help but feel he will have his work cut out to beat the ever-resilient Express Trend around this C&D. Trend did not seem to take to Sunderland in the Classic but was oh-so-close to winning the Regency round here in June by just being picked up by Mr Chow (who is surely destined for a superb marathon career and got a great run that day) to come an agonising second. She can ping from any box and will most likely set Cache a very stern test this evening that he will have to dig deep to pass.

21:45 – 515m

The Sussex Cup Final is going to be one to savour with last year’s third, Westmead Maldini, and Mark My Words (who beat Maldini in the Summer Stayers Classic) having plenty enough ability to upset the market leaders should they falter. Of the two market leaders, I have a couple of doggie treats on Loughteen Blanco antepost so would love to see him prosper but his draw is a major concern with his mid-running style on the straights and his woeful record from the red box compared to his career statistics. The Classic winner may just come up short against a dog who is nearly as prolific around here as I was and has a plum draw in his beloved trap six: Airlie Impact looks the call from a draw his owners’ must have dreamed of!

So there are a dog’s thoughts on the racing tonight and please tweet me if you have any comments of your own about the races tonight. Right, I’m off to go and have a brush before I appear on the cameras later!

Enjoy the racing (and me),

Jimmy