JONATHAN HOBBS: Towcester have consistently staged some of the best greyhound racing in 2021 – and today is no different, with a major final in the BGBF Puppy Cup Final and two semi-finals of the 1st Containers Marathon Trophy.

The Category One British-bred competition offers the biggest prize on the card, but the marathon semis will attract more attention given the St Leger champion, Dorando winner and the reigning Greyhound of the Year are all in action again!

Let’s have a look at the pick of the races – before casting an eye on tonight’s superb Arc Kent Derby Final at Central Park.

Towcester

3.11: The first of the supporting opens on a superb card might go to Alien World. Frank Gray’s dog has the early pace to lead these and could escape at the turn to reverse form with Detroit. Expect in-form and hat-trick seeing Frostys Ten to be running on again.

Play: Alien World

3.28: Aayamza Dream could be tough to hold in what is just her fourth UK start. A bitch with solid Irish lines, a fast recent 35.22sec Romford trial clearly shows huge ability. This 712m maiden is a drop in class compared to the St Leger she was running in.

Play: Aayamza Dream

3.48: The first of the 1st Containers Marathon Trophy semi-finals looks a cracker. Alaskan Dawn and Burgess Elite can cut out the early running, but the likes of Droopys Jungle and Savana Volcano will be powering home and the latter gets the vote. The Diane Henry-trained bitch featured in that red-hot heat against Space Jet and Aayamza Royale last week and is taken to confirm the form.

Play: Savana Volcano

4.08: The final of the BGBF Puppy Cup Final for British-breds has been contested over the 470m trip, with the shorter run to the turn. That could help Signet Denver’s cause given the red-jacketed runner is due a better exit and might get first run off the second bend.

Play: Signet Denver

4.28: The second of the 1st Containers Marathon Trophy semi-finals looks another cracker. St Leger winner Space Jet made a huge impression on her marathon bow in the heats last week and improvement is possible, back-running Antigua Lava will not be easy after her faster heat success last week. But improvement from last week to likely and Matt Dartnall’s bitch gets the vote. Aayamza Royale will, of course, not be far away!

Play: Space Jet

5.08: Aayamza Lexie is getting better with each run after season and will take off soon. However, another one or two runs might be need to bring her on, and Savana Poncho can bounce back. Diane Henry’s charge is a good early pacer on his day with a 29.59sec best time standing out.

Play: Savana Poncho

5.28: Salacres Pippy can confirm form with Savana Scrappy and Southfield Code here. A better exit from the four-box puts her in the picture and thereafter she might be tough to hold, with improvement still possible from Peter Harnden’s bitch after a break.

Play: Salacres Pippy

Tonight’s card at Central Park is also top class with the Arc Kent Derby Final at Central Park where Antigua Storm (8.17) might be the value call against the top-class pair of Brookside Richie and Hilight Arkle.

The last-named pair are both unbeaten heading into the decider – and both have beaten the BresBet Yarmouth Derby champion – but the runner-up on both occasions showed pace without quite nailing it. Antigua Storm has scope for better.

Good luck all.

@Hobbsy67