BAGGIOS CHAMP proved a runaway and impressive winner of the second semi-final of the Premier Greyhound Racing Regency at Hove on Saturday – posting the fastest 695m performance in the process.

The Frank Bryce-trained November 2019 son of Kinloch Brae and Samiya showed the best early pace to lead into the bend and ran right away from his rivals to score by seven and a half lengths in a standard-setting 41.78sec (-30).

Runner-up here was the David Elcock-trained Russian Sammy who edged out local hope Sampson Rocket (Jason Heath) for a place in Saturday’s £20,000-to-the-winner Category One final which forms part of a gala card at the Sussex venue.

The first semi-final of the Regency saw fastest heat winner Chelms Cub follow up that victory with another fluent success as Jason Heath’s December 2019 son of Ballymac Bolger and Ballymac Andwhy got first run on favourite Bombardier (Mark Wallis).

Always handy behind fast-starting Bettys Book (Kevin Boon), Chelms Cub came through powerfully approaching the fifth bend to catch that rival before crossing the line a length in front of the consistent Bombardier in 42.10sec (-30).

Troy Suzieeq landed a fully deserved but surprise victory in the third semi-final as the David Mullins-trained Romford raider, a March 2019 daughter of Kinloch Brae and Redzer Ruby, paced up to lead off the second bend from fast-starting Alana Pet (Matt Dartnall).

Thereafter her rivals were always playing catch-up with the strong-running pair of Callmesteve (John Mullins) and Blueberry Bullet (Mark Wallis) closing on the leader with Troy Suzieeq eventually holding on for a head victory over Callmesteve in 42.29sec (-30).

Daniel Rankin, senior racing manager for Hove and Romford, said: “The Premier Greyhound Racing Regency and Coral Sussex Cup have worked out really well in having them run alongside each other. Trainers seem to like the fact that when they come to Hove we have the Cat Ones and supporting comps also being run.

“The Premier Greyhound Racing Regency Final looks a fascinating decider especially having six railers progressing through – and there are many different opinions on who has the best draw and likely running of the race.

“We had three good heat winners in Baggios Champ, Chelms Cub and Troy Suzieeq and three good runner-ups in Bombardier, Russian Sammy and Callmesteve.

“Baggios Champ was the most impressive winner on the eye but I have my doubts over his trap one draw – I feel he’s better out of two or three. I see Chelms Cub and Callmesteve having the best draws and the winner could possibly come from either of them – and I might just go for John Mullins’ Callmesteve.

“Special mention should be given to David Elcock, trainer of Russian Sammy, who’s the likely outsider of the race. David has a small kennel but has now reached his second Regency final after first achieving this with Unlikely Rogue in 2020.

“Hopefully, the best greyhound wins on the night, and we have an exciting final that can live up to the heights of Aayamza Royale’s win last year.

“The Coral Sussex Cup is another fascinating final with six seeded greyhounds progressing which doesn’t happen very often.

“Again, we had three good heat winners in Warzone Tom, Havana Bale Out and Doghouse Dazzler plus good seconds from Ninja Kerry, Chelms Switch and Bridies Pet.

“Havana Bale Out was the most impressive winner in the semis. The galloping nature of the track seems to play to her strengths – it gives her a real chance to show her straight-line speed. If I had to pick a winner, it would be Havana Bale Out for Liz McNair, but hopefully we get a clean-run race and, again, the best greyhound on the night wins.”

Form and trap draw for Saturday’s finals:- https://assets.cj1.in/imminent-otter/production/assets/results/Brighton-Hove/form-guides/Sat-30th-July-Form-Adv.pdf