JONATHAN HOBBS: Things rarely turn out as hoped for, but this afternoon’s 1st Containers Marathon Trophy Final at Towcester is absolutely the race greyhound fans hoped for when the entries were announced.

It always looked a top-class event, boosted by the entry of St Leger champion Space Jet, rising eight-bend star Antigua Lava, plus those marathon champs Savana Volcano and Aayamza Royale. The former is the Dorando Marathon winner and the latter the reigning Greyhound of the Year and current Regency champion.

Then there was Burgess Elite, who had arrived with a tall reputation from Ireland, and now tried her hand over a trip, plus Matt Dartnall also sent Droopys Jungle along with Space Jet knowing she, too, had scope for better after just a handful of races over a distance.

Well, all have made the final, and we’re set for a stormer!

Before we look at the main event, just some background to the event itself.

One of a host of major Category One events at Towcester this year, the 1st Containers Marathon Trophy has been sponsored by Mitch Brenner’s company. Mitch is one of the founding members of the successful Aayamzaboys Syndicate and just loves the game along with the rest of the team.

No doubt at the track to present the trophy, could his afternoon get even better with victory for Aayamza Royale? It’s possible, albeit will not be straightforward given the huge quality against her – and the fact she’s giving plenty away age-wise!

Let’s have a look at the pick of the races on the card.

Towcester

3.28: Go wIth Paul Young’s Droopys Prunty to strike over this 712m trip. It’s a step up in distance for the Romford raider but 13.68sec (225m), 24.13sec (400m) and 35.41sec (575m) clockings on home soil are times showing plenty of speed and a lead looks likely.

Play: Droopys Prunty

4.08: Time now for the main event – and plenty of ifs and buts. Antigua Lava (Mark Wallis) has won her heat and semi-final in cracking front-running style and posted the fastest clocks each time.

She could dominate again, although Burgess Elite will have the same idea and he’ll also try to stretch them out. Space Jet’s (Matt Dartnall) middle speed at this level is top notch and she, too, gets in the mix quickly and, remember, beat the eight-bend hotpots Savana Volcano and Aayamza Royale in the heats. Droopys Jungle (Matt Dartnall) will keep on, but cannot lead these and would surely struggle to back-run most – especially Volcano and Royale.

And you just get the feeling the last-named pair will save their best for last and, perhaps, Aayamza Royale (Mark Wallis) just has the edge at the moment. The clock suggests that’s the case, albeit Diane Henry’s bitch was all-power in her semi-final victory last week. Whoever gets first run on the other outside in this final might have be successful, especially if they are jostling for position inside. So it’s Aayamza Royale who gets the vote to race handily round the first two bends and take some holding thereafter. What a race!

Play: Aayamza Royale

4.28: The eyes are definitely drawn to Graded Derby champion Deanridge Awesom after his £10K success over C&D recently. However, you would expect the Derby form of Drumcrow Brent (Mark Wallis) to just edge the Crayford raider with a start and a clear.

Play: Drumcrow Brent

5.08: Adeles Duke numbers some cracking wins round at Towcester and could be sharper for a Sheffield away-day. Take Diane Henry’s well-drawn recent intake to scoot clear on the outer and hold sway thereafter, especially given a 29.40sec success here last month.

Play: Adeles Duke

5.28: Great to see top sprinter Loggies Lito back on track and Simon Harms’s dog would win this easily if anywhere near his best. He’s likely to need the run but a 16.06sec latest trial suggests there’s plenty of speed still there – enough to put these to the sword?

Play: Loggies Lito

5.44: Interesting to see Savana Scrappy back down in trip and Diane Henry’s runner could be sharper for the switch. He’s run some decent races over six bends of late and, with a slower breaker next door, paces up handily here. He will not be stopping.

Play: Savana Scrappy

Good luck all.

@Hobbsy67