TRUMPS BENEFIT produced a stirring finish to get up on the line to beat longtime leader and favourite Brookside Richie in the Seasons Scaffolding Puppy Cup Final on the Sussex Cup/Regency gala at Hove on Saturday.

The GBGB Category Two prize was chief support to the big-race double header of the Coral Sussex Cup and Regency finals, plus the Bockos Doomie Memorial Invitation, and served up a treat for a sizeable crowd at the south coast venue.

Trained by Carol Weatherall for Matt Barrett, Dave Kay, Nick McDowell and the trainer’s partner and assistant Darren Holmes, Trumps Benefit had finished fast to win his heat and produced almost a repeat performance in the £2,500 decider.

Towcester Juvenile Classic winner Brookside Richie (David Mullins) led the charge from the inside into the bend and set a good pace up front. However, after being crowded at the bend, Trumps Benefit hit top gear down the back and the Dec 2019 son of the Droopys Jet and Calico Tiny swooped on the run for the line, winning by three-quarters of a length in 29.19sec (+10) for the 500m trip.

Hove owner Steve Eason’s company sponsored the race and a stirring finish for the Seasons Scaffolding Puppy Cup Final made the night even better – having also seen his own dog Seomra Razl (Jason Heath) win the previous race.

“Razl was fantastic, he’s just a great dog to own and, once he leads that’s generally it, so thanks go to ‘Lord Heath’ and his team!” said Eason, who added: “Then to see the pups produce such a great race in our competition was superb and congratulations to Carol (Weatherall) and connections – they’ve got a superb dog in Trumps Benefit.”

Hove racing manager Daniel Rankin was delighted overall with the night and congratulated all the major winners.

“It’s been a brilliant night’s racing and well done to all those who carried off the trophies, but for us it’s more than that. We wanted to stage a quality open-race gala on a Saturday night to give more people a chance to see these top-class greyhounds in action – and they’ve not been let down.

“We had photo-finishes in the main competitions and a pretty close call in the puppy final, too. It was great – and fitting – to be able to stage a memorial race for Bockos Doomie, last year’s Sussex Cup champion, and then to also have former champions Touch Tackle (Regency) and Droopys Gold (Sussex Cup) lead the parades for the big races worked out really well.

“It’s something we’d certainly like to repeat and would be happy to hear from connections of any of our former track stars who excelled at Hove to get in touch with us for future competitions and big nights.

“I thought the track was perfect on the night,” added Rankin. “The staff had a dilemma for much of the day because the forecast said rain, lots of it, but Hove must be an island because we missed everything going round!

“But really Aayazma Royale must have the final word. I thought what Drumcrow Brent did in the Sussex Cup was superb and it was also a great achievement from Mark Wallis to land a one-two, but then Aayamza Royale went and topped that.

“The way she won the Regency will live long in the memory. She was still last with two bends to go but just conjured up this amazing run to make it a famous Category One double for Mark – and she’s proved herself again one of the real track greats.”

Results: www.gbgb.org.uk/meeting/?meetingId=375830&raceId=761526