Wednesday's early races at Hove set an exciting pace
Wednesday races at Hove started out with a race favourite taking the first race of the day, but then failed to see one make the top three in the next three races.
Frankies Diva, favoured at 7-4, stayed wide from the sixth trap, and took the lead from Raithby Stumpy in the final moments of the 515m race. Stumpy was off to a good start, and led for the entire run until Diva passed him to take the win by a head. Coming in third behind Stumpy was Ringtale Lad by 1¼ lengths with Finding Time just a shoulder behind him. Vodie Blue Demon took fifth, and Guinness Patch looked like he had one too many, coming in sixth.
The second race of the day was also over 515 metres, but a grade up at A9. Soldier Cian had a good start, and took the lead after the first bend until giving it up to Billy on the fourth bend. But the lead was short lived as Call The Boss had punters calling their banks when he took the lead in the final stretch to win the race by a neck over Billy. Cian dropped all the way to fifth after Crossfield Aoife and Guinness Rocket passed him. Rocket, one of Seamus Cahill’s hounds and the 9-4 race favourite, was racing from the sixth trap and stayed wide, but wasn’t able to move up into the top three as he finished in fourth behind Aoife. Fairly Keen took sixth.
The third race had an A5 rating, and was one of the closest races Hove has seen in a while. All six hounds were in the running in the final stretch, and the time difference between first and sixth was only 0.11 seconds. Johns Not Rotten had a visible lead after the third bend, but as the field fought to be in front it became anyone’s guess as to who would emerge victorious. In the end it was Shins Scholes by a shoulder over Casual Conquest with Greenacre Steve another ½ length behind in third. Not Rotten ended up in fourth, and 5-2 race favourite, Broadacres Shaun, took fifth place. It’s a shame that one of the hounds had to finish last in this one, and that unlucky racer was Lets Be Lucky.
The A6 rated fourth race of the day at Hove saw its third race favourite fail to reach the top three as 2-1 favourite Icy Tiger finished in fourth, ½ a length behind Killeigh Brett, another of Cahill’s. Pups Girl had a good start and led after the first bend, taking first over Clairkeith Holly by 1 length. Droopys Whipser finished in fifth, and despite the best start of the group, Da Vinvi Kingdom finished last.
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