Star Sports / TRC English Greyhound Derby third round night at Towcester racecourse. This is the night that all true dog men and women look forward to throughout the year , all 48 remaining greyhounds (47 after the unfortunate withdrawal of Trumps Benefit) lining up over 8 heats all staged on the same night. The night when so many dreams disappear and when so many more become to look a little more realistic. Just 24 greyhounds will remain in the competition heading into next week’s quarter finals. This is the night where the competition gets real , where there are no hiding places and where any weaknesses are ruthlessly exposed.
– writes MARK PIERREPONT.
Don’t forget the first round review: Thursday, Friday, Saturday
Second round: Friday Saturday
Colour guide to ‘halfway’ from ‘halfway’ in the first round –
Yellow/black prices (left) are Star Sports ante post – blue prices (right) are a rough indicator to individual race betting
The Star Sports Maiden Trophy over 500m gets us underway at 604pm. Diane Henry’s SAVANA RUINART looks well drawn to get off the mark here in the UK at the first time of asking. A finalist in the Cambridgeshire over 750yrds at Limerick last year this bitch’s future obviously lays over further and we may well see her over a trip before the Derby is out. After trialling in well here at Towcester her intended engagement in a six-bend maiden early in March came to a halt as season intervened. Still a few weeks short of that magical 16-week barrier but her comeback trials have been extremely encouraging. Ruinart can take this and warrants keeping in the notebook for future week’s where an appearance in a 712m race here could be of interest at a time when she should be hitting peak form.
The Star Sports Stayers Trophy over 712m at 620pm looks a match on paper between Tom Heilbron’s DARBYS DELIGHT and John Mullins Callmesteve. Preference is for the former who was winning for the first time here in the UK when stepped up to six bends at Newcastle after being eliminated from the Derby here at the first-round stage. A finalist in the Easter Cup at Shelbourne earlier this year highlights perfectly that this dog is far from devoid of four bend pace but as highlighted on many occasions in Ireland he’s much more suited by a sterner test of stamina and this 712m trip should prove ideal. He could well have the beating of Callmesteve in any case but there is a slight question mark over that rival after he took a bad fall at the first bend when eliminated from the Derby at the second-round stage. He got up to complete the course and I’m 100% sure he’ll have been thoroughly checked out but if he’s just even slightly hesitant at the bends a little tonight that will be all the invitation needed for Heilbron’s dog to kick on for a dominant success.
Heat 1 of the Derby and Peter Cronin’s KILDARE is taken to make full use of receiving a middle draw for the first time to smash out and make all. He’s far from devoid of early pace this lad and as showcased in the semi-final of the Kirby he’s more than capable of a smash break. Young , lightly raced and improving all the time he’s a greyhound held in the highest regard by connections and his owned Aidan Comerford would certainly know a top-class greyhound when he has one. The Ladbrokes 20/1 for him to record the fastest sectional of the third round doesn’t look the worst of each way plays either. Graham Holland’s Bockos Viera can follow the selection round and secure a place with him in next week’s quarter final draw.
Heat 2 can go to Liam Dowling’s 2021 Finalist BALLYMAC FAIRONE. A much more mature dog this time around he’s quietly going about his business and has comfortably qualified in second place in both the first two rounds behind Skywalker Barry and Singalong Sally respectively. A half reasonable break from his inside trap could be enough to see him around the bend in front and that being the case he’d not be for catching. Patrick Janssens Romeo On Tilt is an interesting runner. Not one of the kennels leading fancies by any manner of means heading into the competition but he won his second-round heat in good style in a more than decent 2922. The run can be upgraded somewhat too given that despite leading he did so off a very moderate 429 split. The heat in question saw the demise of one of the leading Derby contenders Part Blake (eliminated in 5th) and Knight Tornado (4th). Both greyhounds in question missed the break badly from their inside berth maybe allowing Tilt to gain a run which on a fairer start he may struggle to reproduce. Pace wise however the run was full of promise. Paul Hennessy’s 2021 Corn Cuchulainn winner and previous Towcester track record holder Priceless Jet no doubt retains plenty of pace despite approaching his 4th birthday , there is a suspicion that he maybe just keeps a little bit up his sleeve for himself these days however and in races of this quality that can be a dangerous thing to do.
Heat 3 looks one of the trickiest of the round to solve and though Romeo Magico’s chance is obvious if coming away he’s priced more than short enough given that he’s absolutely surrounded by pace and has dogs to his inside and outside who will be looking to take his ground if he’s not at his very sharpest early. I’m taking a chance on a dog who will be double figures at least on the early markets and that’s Kevin Boon’s young and progressive FARNEYS MAESTRO. A finalist in the maiden Derby here not long ago he’s a proven winner from this box and though he’ll edge off particularly at the turn that could well work in his favour. He’d be difficult to peg back if getting around in front and I don’t make him anything like double figures to do so. Magico should qualify comfortably enough and Faughan Rebel can fill the third qualifying spot for Richard Yeates. The veteran remains in great form and loves the track and can grind out a qualification position despite likely to find things a little bit tougher than he has in recent weeks. Frank Gray’s Makeit For Waz has been the surprise package of the Derby so far. A super first round second placing behind Bockos Viera was backed up with an all the way second round effort. I know the Gray team have immensely been enjoying the ride and rightfully so but she’ll need to come forward once again if she’s to progress to next week’s quarter final. She’s a bitch in form however so you can never say never.
Heat 4 and what a race this promises to be between superstar Irish lady SINGALONG SALLY trained by Pat Buckley and Kevin Hutton’s 2021 Greyhound Of The Year Signet Ace. Despite edging off from wider draws throughout the competition so far there is generally no doubting that Sally is a much better bitch drawn rails. The presence of Ace to her immediate outside I suspect may well encourage her to take up such a position earlier than she’s been inclined to thus far and though it will be close that can just be enough to secure her the lead round the turn. It could well prove to be the race of the night between the pair with Patrick Janssens 2021 Derby Champion Thorn Falcon running on for third. The defending champ hasn’t been at his best away from the traps as yet but he’s qualified through both of the first two rounds with plenty in hand. He’s again well drawn on the outside and he can claim his spot in next week’s drawn with the minimum of fuss.
Heat 5 can go to Paul Hennesy’s BAREFOOT SUPREMO. An extremely strong runner he’s so difficult to keep out of the frame in any race which he lines up is well capable of giving a start and a beating to some top-class dogs. He’ll need to tread carefully to halfway when the space should begin to open up but so long as he doesn’t encounter too much in the way of early trouble he should prove far too strong on the run for home. Cape Cloud can pop out in front for Peter Cronin and give the selection something to aim at whilst Jason Gray’s Mickys Barrett remains in great form and can claim the third and final spot in next week’s quarter final draw much to the undoubted delight of his loyal band of enthusiastic owners.
Heat 6 is one of the most interesting heats of the night where Patrick Janssens track record holder Lautaro attempts to overcome a draw wider than ideal out in trap 6. A few months ago there is no doubting that such a draw would have proven extremely problematic for a greyhound who without doubt wasn’t the bravest with dogs around him. He’s matured though and last week’s run despite trouble showcased a much more mature dog who will not give up the chase easily even under adversity. This said there is no doubting he’ll need a flier from a box not prone to producing one if he’s to secure the lead by the turn. If he doesn’t then his forecast price of odds on will begin to look slimmer by the yard and at the prices if nothing else there is value in opposing him. Kevin Hutton’s SIGNET DENVER is more than capable of smashing out from his trap 2 berth and if gaining an early lead he’s far from anybody’s fool and can turn that lead into victory from the running on Lautaro who can claim second in the latter stages.
Heat 7 see’s Pat Buckley’s BALLINABOLA ED who is the current ante post favourite for the Derby lining up and he can repeat the dose he’s dished out to his rivals in the first 2 rounds with another dominant performance here which will solidify his deserved position at the head of the market. The most impressive thing about his performances at Towcester to date is that they’ve come without breaking from the traps in the fluent style which will become more necessary as the competition progresses. Ed is no ordinary greyhound however , he’s a once in a lifetime dog that rarely come around and he is intelligent enough to soon have the trapping part of his game here accomplished. I expect him to lead earlier tonight than he has done in his first two round victories and the writing will be on the wall for his rivals at a very early stage. Patrick Janssens Aussie Captain is well drawn to pace up on the rail and follow the selection home whilst kennel mate Bockos Belly will be fighting it out for the third qualifying slot with Pat Buckley’s Bobsleigh Dream.
Heat 8 is now a 5-runner affair after the unfortunate midweek withdrawal of the Carol Weatherall trained Trumps Benefit. Kevin Hutton’s COPPICE FOX was flattered somewhat coming through to win his second-round engagement in the heat which was slowed up somewhat by Priceless Jet. That said the time was more than decent in any case and from what looks a decent make up on the outside he can win once again. Paul Hennesy’s Hello Hammond came from an impossible position to win last time out and will once again be difficult to hold with any kind of run but he’ll need to tread carefully and may just find he’s given the selection too much rope to reel in.
The Star Sports Marathon Trophy over 942m at 904pm. Matt Dartnall’s superstar Space Jet ON PAPER looks unopposable in a race where she should prove far too good for her rivals. I say should but there are huge notes of caution given that her run here at the beginning of May when defeated at odds on was very flat by her standards and her subsequent trial in the middle of last month over Nottingham’s 730m trip was again moderate in time at least and saw her weighing in at what was her highest for some time. There is enough to suggest that a watching brief is the best bit of advice this race could receive although there are enough question marks to suggest that layers won’t be difficult to find.
The evening’s finale at the end of a superb night’s racing is the Star Sports Maiden Trophy over 500m. Mark Wallis’s ANTIGUA SUGAR was purchased to be a fair bit better than maiden class and can make light work of his opposition here landing a touch before moving onto much better things. His trials have been good and his sole competitive start here in the UK which came in a Judgement Night race was as eye-catching as it gets. A missed break , stumbled start , trouble before halfway had him out with the washing. The running he did from halfway to finish third beaten 4 ¼ and to be 4 clear and pulling away at the pick-up was a sure sign of things to come. Any kind of break in this and he will destroy what amounts to moderate opposition and will be well worth hanging around for at the end of the night.
