By Jonathan HobbsWe're down to the last 12 battling for a place in the final of the £175,000-to-the-winner Classic - the world's greatest greyhound race - with the battle between England and Ireland very much in the balance, although the home challenge continues to rely heavily on Liz McNair's unbeaten King Memphis.
We'll be looking at Saturday's two semi-finals at the weekend - two of our ante-post selections King Memphis and De Lahdedah are still in the mix - with the focus tomorrow being on Romford and Sunderland.
However, the open-race bandwagon swings back into action at Hove tonight, live on the Premier Greyhound Racing service (Sky Sports Racing and Attheraces), with a batch of one-off contests, a 500m final, and heats of a 515m competition.
Fire And Ice (6.42) made a real splash seven days ago in a maiden and can take the step up in class in his stride in a 500m event, the first open of the night. Matt Dartnall's youngster showed real pace before tiring coming home and improvement is more likely than not, albeit mistakes early would let in Quiet Kanye.
Ower Mystery was just pegged back in the shadow of the post last week in a 500m final and could race clear in his heat of the 515m event. However, Burrows Sapphire (8.24) is very much a momentum greyhound and the extra distance could help these runners sort themselves up early before Jason Heath's dog powers though. He rates the value.
Heat two of the 515m event could see Richard Rees's Nowitsmyturn (8.41) return to winning ways after his Derby exploits. No joy in the Classic itself or the Derby Plate, the son of Pestana had nevertheless sluiced round Towcester in 29.17sec and should get first run on the returning top-class stayer Lively Lauren. Good to see her back.
Rioja Woody (8.59) has really got the winning habit and landed a stakes final seven days ago in good style - he might go in again tonight! Trained by Richard Rees, the step up to 515m might just suit this strong-running sort, albeit Joes Sagar is fresh from making the final of the Coral Coronation Cup at Romford and is respected on his return home.
Hove Hotties
Fire And Ice (6.42)
Burrows Sapphire (8.24)
Nowitsmyturn (8.41)
Rioja Woody (8.59)
At the same time Djokovic and Alcaraz will be serving it up at Wimbledon, but before England (hopefully!) give it to Spain in the Euro 2024 final, greyhound fans can enjoy six superb Genco Group Juvenile Classic heats over 500m at Towcester.
AS promised, the canine action really does hot up post-English Greyhound Derby and tonight is as good an example as any.
If last week was the calm after the storm of the Star Sports/TRC English Greyhound Derby - and, yes, we are claiming the winner in De Lahdedah, one of our ante-post selections - there's no question the action hots up again this week.
Sunderland remembers one of greyhound racing's greats tonight with a memorial meeting for Harry Williams, the legendary owner, trainer and breeder - and track saver.
Australia