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The night that everybody in the sport dreams of being involved in. Star Sports & TRC English Greyhound Derby Final night. The dreams of one set of connections will tonight become reality. The countless hours of hard work and dedication to a sport which grips you from the minute you become involved will be rewarded with the greatest prize in our sport. The £175,000 winner’s prize will be well received however the financial reward will very much fall secondary to the honour of lifting aloft the greatest trophy in sport. It’s something few will ever achieve and it’s something nobody can ever take away.
The Star Sports Betting Shop Champions Seniors Stakes IV gets the evening underway. All 6 participants are now into veteran status and are in the final stages of what have been remarkable careers. In the case of Amazing Wink and Faughan Rebel they are bowing out at the very top and will be aiming to do so in the best way possible by winning on the sport’s biggest night. Carol Weatherall’s Fight The Power has always been a little hit and miss at the traps but does have a break in him and in a race which if finding a start he can lead around the turn he may well then prove to be tough to beat. He will need that start though and even though he’s proven over further he wouldn’t want the Richard Yeates trained Faughan Rebel turning too close behind as he would undoubtedly prove tough to hold. Chances are however that Rebel may just find himself held up at various points in the race by Sharon Thompson’s Sparta Master. Master isn’t the class of old there is no denying that but he might well have been sharpened up for this with a couple of recent low grade open wins around Harlow. If he found a break he’s well proven to act around here and would be a danger to all. Take Fight The Power to find a smash for his shrewd connections though and make all.
Next up is the Star Sports Betting Shop Champions Trophy. A race which looked a total match between Mark Wallis’s Bombardier and John Mullins Burgess Elite has been turned into something of a no contest after yesterday’s withdrawal of the latter. Bombardier should win this and win it comfortably.
The Sportystuff TV Puppy Cup Final looks to be between the middle two drawn runners of Havana Lover and Ivanexile trained by Liz McNair and Matt Dartnall respectively. Ivanexile will likely still be coming forward but whether he’ll have done so enough since last week to reverse the form with Lover is debateable. McNair’s bitch is arguably better drawn this evening than last week when despite not gaining anything like a clear passage she still come through with a double handful to win pulling away from the Dartnall runner. Ivanexile can once again set the pace but anything like a clear run in behind at the writing will again be on the wall by the time they come off the final turn.
The RPGTV Notebook Watling Street Sprint Trophy Final can see Seamus Cahill’s Blastoff Mason reversing semi-final form with Liz McNair’s Havana Class. Mason trapped well last week but ominously would have immediately noticed Class had too and was on his immediate inside. Class wouldn’t be as quickly into stride on a lot of occasions as he was last week and the move from trap 2 into tonight’s 1 wouldn’t instil the greatest amount of confidence that a repeat start is likely. I’ll take Mason to find a smash again and on this occasion he may well find that he can dominate.
The Madri Excepcional Ladies Stakes can go to one of the gamest ladies currently in training in the shape of Frank Gray’s Makeit For Waz. Eliminated from the Derby at the third-round stage she showed herself to still be in top form when running a sensational race full of battling qualities to finish runner up in the heat of this competition prior to running out an impressive winner of her semi-final engagement last week. She’ll need to be sharply away from the traps but if doing so there’s every chance she could skip clear at the bend with the inside runners possibly drawn to come together both on the run up and at the turn. Waz is likely to represent decent value and can give the Gray team a night to remember at their home track.
The RPGTV Supreme Hurdle is next and a race which is supreme in name only. This is the time to go and freshen yourself up, get a pint of beer in or generally do anything bar try and find the winner of this. The race is probably between Rick Holloway’s pair of Skywalker Tiktok and Normansland Flyer but as regards betting it’s a no from me and likely from many others too.
The BGBF Truframe British Bred Champion Stakes Final and a race which really celebrates the efforts of all those involved in British breeding. A jointly sponsored initiative between the British Greyhound Breeders Forum which is so ably chaired by Liz Mort and the David Firmager owned company Truframe. David of course also being represented by his British bred greyhound Romeo Magico in tonight’s Derby Final. Kevin Hutton’s Lights Out will want this race to get messy up front , the messier the better for a bitch with pace to burn and an insatiable love of chasing down her rivals. Anything which leads here will need to be keeping a very close eye on where Lights Out has turned because with a run this bitch has the pace to hunt down and beat the fastest greyhounds in training. She’s not always one for the feint of heart and often makes things a little more difficult for herself than they need to be but she can have her head in from where it matters.
The Gain Nutrition Feed Challenge Cup Final looks to be between the top and bottom pair of Callmesteve and Bellmore Sally trained by John Mullins and Jimmy Fenwick respectively. This could turn into a really good match between the pair but there is no getting away from the fact that Sally has fared much the best in the draw and found some form last time out putting behind her a frustrating run of second places. Sally can turn in a menacing position here and with Steve not guaranteed to have things all his own way on this occasion she can soon hit the front and set sail for victory.
The Star Sports Jack Murrell Memorial Trophy remembers the much loved and sadly missed Jack. A reminder that life can be far too short and that we should all enjoy it to the best of our abilities whilst we can do. Tonight is a night which Jack would undoubtedly have enjoyed as much as anybody and I’m sure he’ll be looking down upon tonight and this race in particular with a smile on his face. This race is all about early pace with whatever leads at the bend highly likely to then go on to win. Aussie Captain for Patrick Janssens can be that greyhound who is well drawn for a smash break out of trap 4 and if he does get around the bend in front this is a race which he should then go on to win even if the 500m distance is a little bit further than is usually ideal. With a field full of front runners in behind there should be no excuses if he does set the pace.
The RPGTV Derby Plate Final can go to John Mullins rapidly improving Chelms Fred. He found the Derby coming around just that little bit too soon post injury and was eliminated in the first round however subsequent performances both in A1 and latterly in heat and semi-final of this competition have highlighted perfectly why he carries such a lofty reputation with connections. He’s ideally drawn here to smash out and make every single yard. Paul Foster’s Goldies Perryman who is owned by one of the nicest group of owners you could meet , the fun-loving FOB Racing syndicate , landed a touch for followers of this column when being supported from double figure odds down to a sp of 6/1. At double figure odds again this week (an obscene 16/1 in a place earlier this week) he again represents value and is definitely worth saving on. 
The Double J Feeds Marathon Trophy can go to Peter Harnden’s Savana Honey at what should be huge odds. Honey ran well for a long way when leading the heat of the Dorando won by Space Jet last week and though appearing not to stay the trip she’s worth another chance in a race which she should prove a lot more competitive for the duration. With all due respect to the opposition who are fair types there is no Space Jet in the line-up and at what should be an each way price Honey can give her supporters more than a glimmer of hope. Shanbally Mags for Carl Jackson looks an interesting type stepping up in trip and looks sure to play a part in proceedings.
The main event of the evening and indeed of the year so far as greyhound racing is concerned. The Star Sports & TRC English Greyhound Derby with a winner’s prize of £175,000 and a trophy that everybody in the sport dreams of lifting aloft. It’s not too often a Derby final comes around where there are so many stories behind each of the runners but this is a final where whichever greyhound wins there is a real positive news story to be had. Savana Beau purchased by track promoter Kevin Boothby at a Greyhound Trader sale and trained by Diane Henry is a big double figure price but he’s improving week by week and if there is any bunching upfront his strong running style is sure to bring him into contention.
Kildare for Aidan Comerford and trained by Peter Cronin is a lightly raced sort who already in his fledgling career has made the final of the Con & Ann Kirby at Limerick. One of the favourites for this final he would be winning for one of the most liked owners in the sport and a family who have put many times more into the game than they’ve ever taken out.
Hello Hammond trained by one of the great all-time trainers in Paul Hennessy and assisted by wife Susan and family. Owned by Gerry and Miriam Meaney their strong running greyhound has really fell in love with the challenge that the tough Towcester circuit provides. He’ll be finishing as strong as anything and is fancied by many decent judges.
Romeo Magico trained by Graham Holland for David Firmager. David has put as much into the game as anybody over the years , owner , trainer , breeder he’s done it all and nobody would begrudge him what would be a thoroughly well-deserved victory in the biggest competition of all.
Mickys Barrett for trainer Jason Gray and the Micky Barrett syndicate. A team of owners who got together after their good friend Mick Barrett sadly lost his battle with cancer. A not overly expensive purchase he has seen his likeable trainer and enthusiastic owners living the dream week after week. There wouldn’t be a dry eye in the house if Mickys was to do the near impossible and land this for Mick.
Last but certainly by no means least Priceless Jet for trainer Paul Hennessy and owners Bryan and Kathleen Murphy. An owner trainer partnership that has tasted much deserved success over the years but non less than when landing the English Derby at Nottingham in 2019 with their Priceless Blake. Could a repeat be on the cards ?
A terrific final and there are many ways which it could possibly fall however I’m siding with Kildare. A youngster very much on an upward curve. Drawn to smash out from his trap 2 berth he can make every yard and though the pack will be closing in the latter stages the line can come in time to land the biggest race of them all.
The Greyhoundtrader.com Stakes Final can go to Laurence Tuffin’s Itmightbeyou. At the time of writing available at 20/1 plus this strong running son of Ballymac Bonnie is well drawn against the rail to pull off one of the shocks of the night. It’s far from inconceivable that there could be crowding on the middle to outside of the track here and Itmightbeyou who knows the track well and stays every yard could be best placed to take advantage. He’s far from pace less and it wouldn’t take too much of a miracle for him to be laying very handily by the third bend. At the likely prices he’ll be backable both in the win and place markets.
The final race on the card of a superb gala card is The Dorando Final. Matt Dartnall’s Space Jet is one of the finest greyhounds we’ve ever seen over marathon trips and not only that but she arrives here unlike one or two of her rivals at form which is close to her best. It’s difficult to see her beaten but at long odds on that’s no great call. Diane Henry’s Savana Volcano may not quite be at the level she was when landing this race a year ago but despite that she remains the only realistic danger to the selection. A straight forecast Space Jet to beat Volcano could add a little bit of juice to what will likely be prohibitive odds on the favourite alone.