JONATHAN HOBBS: It’s a mouthwatering night for greyhound racing fans on SportyStuffTV/RPGTV with the finals of three major competitions on the show – the Coral Sussex Cup and Coral Regency from Hove – plus the BoyleSports Champion Stakes final at Shelbourne Park.

We are largely concentrating here on the UK card which sees not just the reigning Greyhound of the Year in Aayamza Royale in action in the Regency final, but also the Derby champion Thorn Falcon who goes in one of the supporting contests.

However, Shelbourne Park is also top class – and De Machine gets the value vote in the Champion Stakes decider after his flying finish in the heats.

Deadly Destroyer is a worthy favourite against the fence, but Brendan Matthews’ runner has always had something about him and looked to be coming back to his best after his English Derby tilt. If the gaps open – and it’s an if – De Machine could be bang there.

But let’s get back to Hove and look at the major races on a terrific card.

6.28: A decent sprint and opportunity for Knocknaseed Gem to strike gold. John Mullins’ dog has been running in top-grade Towcester sprints and, if breaking fast for the change of scenery, might be away. He’s a 15.63sec winner at Towcester which catches the eye.

Play: Knocknaseed Gem

6.43: Great to see Kilara Lion back out again and the Derby runner-up will run his usual honest race. However, Jason Heath’s local Seomra Razl came up against Bockos Belly in the Sussex Cup heats but can boss proceedings inside here which makes the difference.

Play: Seomra Razl

6.58: The first of the open-race finals and a great clash between Brookside Richie and Trumps Benefit. Both won the heats well but slight preference is for David Mullins’ red-jacketed who should get first run on the Sheffield raider and that might be enough – just.

Play: Brookside Richie

7.36: A bitches-only final now and Pocket Lola could still be improving for Seamus Cahill. She boasts a great strike-rate anyway and should lead up after overcoming a slight stumble to lead in the heats. A smoother start sets things up for the local?

Play: Pocket Lola

8.17: It’s the final of the Coral Sussex Cup and a chance for Droopys Addition to complete his domination of the event. Gemma Evans’ runner was fastest in both heats and semi-finals and slick exit paves the way again. However any mistakes and the improving Antigua Storm might need no second invitation to put pressure on the favourite inside.

Play: Droopys Addition

8.38: Derby champion Thorn Falcon makes his first appearance since that famous Towcester triumph – and can make it a winning one. This race remembers another former Patrick Janssens-trained champion in Bockos Doomie, so it would be fitting to keep it in the kennel. However, Thorn Falcon must be fluent early with the speed of Tenpin next door and the all-round speed of Bubbly Bollinger against him.

Play: Thorn Falcon

8.54: The Coral Regency Final is one of the races of the year given this superb line-up. Mark Wallis has a huge hand with Greyhound of the Year Aayamza Royale as well as Kent St Leger champion Bo Shine Bullet – and the former is taken to prove too strong. Blue Tick George will look to cut loose, along with Bo Shine Bullet, but they will all be looking over their shoulders to see where ‘Lydia’ is. Twice a TV Trophy champion, she’s a real powerhouse but with six-bend speed, too. It promises to be a great race. Enjoy.

Play: Aayamza Royale

Good luck all.

@Hobbsy67