Memphis the clear favourite
With track record holder Droopys Clue not entered and long term joint favourite Links Maverick still to find his 2023 form, King Memphis is the clear 16/1 ante post favourite for the Star Sports/TRC English Greyhound Derby.
Last year’s English Puppy Derby winner over course and distance has three wins and three seconds from six races at the track having made his debut in a supporting open on last year’s Derby Final card. He is one of ten entries from the KSS Syndicate.
Following a boycott of the event in 2023, Pat Buckley returns with a dozen entries including second favourite Superfast Gorden. The beaten favourite in the Kingdom Derby in December, the blue has wins earlier this year in 28.09 at Limerick and 28.13 at Tralee.
The team also includes joint third favourite Bens Teddy and the near veteran Ballinabola Ed who reached the quarters two years ago.
Defending champ Gaytime Nemo is also among a team of twelve with Graham Holland chasing his third English Derby success.
Nemo has been beaten in his first couple of races back and is currently trading at around the 100/1 mark.
The bookies make Clonbrien Treaty the no.1 Holland string.
He swerved Towcester last year with the Produce Stakes at Clonmel as his main objective but was the beaten favourite in the final.
He bounced back to win the Kirby Memorial and Irish St.Leger and made a great start to 2024 to win the Easter Cup at Shelbourne.
The Holland ‘All Star’ team includes a couple of fabulous veterans in the 2023 Irish Derby winner The Other Kobe and last year’s beaten English Derby favourite Swords Rex (both at 33s).
Treaty is in a group of six hounds trading at around 25/1. They include last year’s Derby runner-up Romeo Command, the triple Cat One winning Northern raider Links Maverick and Puppy Derby runner-up King Capaldi
The sixth is the 27.78 (525) Shelbourne winner De Lahdedah, one of nine runners for the ever popular Liam Dowling. (It wouldn’t be an English Derby without him).
Trials sessions: Wednesday, Friday, Saturday
We are delighted to feature the Derby blog and videos compiled by one of the industry’s most talented young journalists and presenters, Emily Wallis, for Derby sponsors Star Sports.
A reminder of the Crayford Sale tomorrow
Opens
Thursday: Hove ♦ Newcastle ♦ Swindon
Friday: Romford
