Derby closes tonight

It’s Derby closing day.

All entries for the Star Sports/Towcester Race Course English Greyhound Derby must be received by 7pm this evening on the appropriate entry form. The event gets underway a week on Thursday (May 23) and concludes on Saturday June 29.

At 2pm there were 149 confirmed entries by 2pm today with the track confident that they will make the 192 full requirement.

Spokesman James Chalkley said: “The entries are still flooding in. If trainers are trying to get through on the phones and can’t, be sure to leave a message and we will get back to you.”

The star of the final series of this weekend’s trialstakes was Queen Jessiej with a 28.67 run off a flying 3.97 sectional.

Here is how the run compares with the top ten to date:

Impressive first step for Georgia

Sunday’s Time Greyhound Nutrition 3 Steps To Victory first round went pretty much to form with Catunda Layla the only heat favourite not to qualify for the semi finals.

Perhaps the most astonishing run though came from Queen Georgia in the opening heat. On a first look at the circuit she lost (God-knows-how-many) lengths in running but was only two spots outside the 480m track record after clocking 27.27.

Next quickest was Romford raider Miami Bullet with a 27.33 run though Farneys Willie might fancy his chances of another crack at him should they make the 660m final.

You could make a similar statement for Acomb Irene and Havana Top Note in the second heat. Irene loves Owlerton and has 14 wins from her last 19 four bend opens there. The Oxford 650m record holder Top Note was also making his Sheffield debut though you would never know.

Boylesports Gift went four rounds of last year’s English Derby and caused the biggest upset of the day when holding off New Destiny in 27.50 in the last heat. Ante post backers shouldn’t be too concerned though. It was Destiny’s first race back after three months, some of which was obviously spent too close to her feeding bowl.

It was a box-ticking exercise for Queen Mother Cup winner Savana Heross as he successfully negotiated the shortest qualifier. Youngster Bramble Tango possibly ran his own 500m course after taking an exotic route around the last bend.

Noelles Milano was the slowest qualifier but might have gone quicker without the coat of paint she removed from the rail at the first bend. A former Nottingham A2 grader who continues to improve.

Crow’s feat in winning fastest Leger semi

And then there were six . . .and based on semi final betting, the sextet that punters were anticipating all made it through to next Sunday’s Ladbrokes Kent St.Leger Final.

Coonough Crow did what ‘Sheryl’ does best. Bang, gone, rail, and never challenged to clock another sub 45.00 run for the double Golden Jacket finalist. Jacket holder Daxl Rolex was never closer. Considering it was a five runner race, there was more than enough crowding with Ballymac Taylor scraping through in third.

Baywatch Bullet took full advantage of the rails draw with forecast backers queueing up to collect their winnings as they crossed the line for the first time. They might have had minor concerns as the Green hound negotiated the first bend like a speedway rider, but class played out with just a length between the two winners.

As often happens at Crayford though, the draw for the final opened up the whole event.