“I think the draw has worked out to everyone’s satisfaction. I think everyone is viewing how the race will be run the same way.
“Farloe Blitz should lead up on the inside, probably followed by Eden The Kid in the middle and Tynwald Bish on the outside.
Even if Eden The Kid gets a run, I can’t see him catching Farloe Blitz who might be a front running dog, but he is very strong too.”
Gary Matthews, Wimbledon Racing Manager
Craig Dawson told me that the litter sister was for sale. I watched and her she ran on well. I said: “She’s going to make a great stayer, but that wouldn’t interest me. But I’ll sell her for you and told Ted Soppitt who brought her (Calzaghe Lisa).
“But then I was watching her brother running on Channel ‘212’. He was giving away 12 metres in a handicap at Newcastle. He went up with the lids, caught the leader at the bend, was checked up, did the same thing at the third bend and then came through his field.
“I watched the replay three times and the guy who I was with said ‘he could be worth buying’ – by the time he said it, I’d just reached agreement with Craig over the phone.
“We paid £7,000 for him, but as I said to the owners, if that had been a low grade race at Limerick or Tralee, he would have won by 20 and they would be asking twenty grand for him. If he hadn’t worked out, we could easily have sold him on a top grade dog for £5,000; that’s the sort of gamble I can live with.
“I genuinely believe he is the best dog in the Derby and he reminds me so much of his father (Westmead Hawk), when he goes up the backstraight. He also has the brain of his dad too.
“If he gets any sort of run I think he will run a very big race. Of course I’m confident. Whatever happens on Saturday is a bonus. We will hopefully go for the Produce Stakes next, possibly the Select and then lay him off.
“He will have a rest over the winter and then go for the Triple Crown next year. 2016 should be his year.”
Rab McNair, Assistant trainer Eden The Kid
“We had a few good dogs including Farley Turbo who won the Irish St. Leger. I tried to buy dogs from Dessie Loughrey, though for a long time he wouldn’t sell me one. Though eventually we got one through Gary Brown.
“We knew from the beginning how good he was though I do think he has been had luck with draws. Lots of the early paced railers have been eliminated. I think his best race to date was when he beat Evanta Fantasy.
“These are the thing you dream about, even getting a dog into the Derby. Last year we won two rounds but then finished injured.
“I know this means a lot to Owen, who wants to do what his father had done.
Paul Ellis owner Farloe Blitz
“This is the reason that you invest your money in greyhounds -just to compete at the highest level. Its the same for all owners.
“The dog has got guts. He never knows when he is beaten. He keeps going when others would throw the towel in and I’d to think he has a bit of class.
“But he has got to run the race of his life. He keeps finding time but he’s got to find more. If Blitz turns up again, we’ve got it all on. If Eden The Kid traps, we all got trouble.
“Diane (trainer) gets every yard out of her dogs. It’s the dedication, that she puts in.
John Lynk joint owner Making Paper
“We are back for a third year and hoping to do better this time. We had 22 dogs entered and he was more or less bottom of the order.
“Davy has surprised me every run. He has excelled himself. I hope he surprises me again on Saturday. Like all dogs has to be at the top of his game. It looks a two dog race on the formbook.
“We are just pleased to be there and I can’t ask any more than he has done.
Paul Young trainer Millwards Davy
“It has been a long journey back after I suffered a stroke and after several goes at it, now we’re there.
“I think he has a great chance. He has inside draw which is what he wants. But he has two lovely balanced greyhound, with good speed to the corner alongside him. We’ve finished behind him (Farloe Blitz) twice now, hopefully we’ll be in front at the weekend.
Danny Riordan, owner trainer Rio Quattro
“Bish is our second finalist in a row but they are two different types of dogs. We always expected Crokers Champ to reach the final. Tynwald Bish, has a big question mark on his stamina though he is staying on a bit stronger.
“(We could give his supporters) . . loads of encouragement, we know if he pings the lids. One of them can ping it. Whatever leads can win it.
“It is easy to train for Terry (Corden). He is always prepared to give dogs plenty of time.
“It is a childhood dream to be in the final. I have had several visualisations in my dreams (of how the race will be run), but it hasn’t come true yet.”
Peter Cronin Trainer Tynwald Bish
“We know he has to lead to have any chance. He has to be three or four clear. But it was the same story with Ballinderry Ash and he held on.”
Terry Corden, owner Tynwald Bish
It’s a bit surreal having a finalist. I’ve got a lot of people around me being strong. The dogs seem to be performing for me.
Mitch Millward, joint owner Millwards Davy
Lovely how it has work out. I didn’t give him any chance, I think he is the only dog I haven’t backed. But all the form goes out of the window on Saturday. Whoever can handle the atmosphere on the night wins the Derby.
Brendan Keogh, joint owner Eden The Kid
“One and two are losers for us on the night. Traps three to six are all winners. Millwards Davy (once 1,250-1) is the big winner but we can’t have a Salad Dodger every year.”
John Ivan Duke, William Hill
