ENGLISH GREYHOUND DERBY PREVIEW: Barry Caul previews the third round of the English Greyhound Derby staged at Towcester on Saturday.
SATURDAY
Heat 1
1 Romeo Empire (NR)
2 Lennies Eddie
3 Zenith Jimbombom
4 Swords Style
5 Getup The Boy
6 Lennies Tank
🟪 Verdict: Just a five-dog heat to kick off round three on Saturday, with Romeo Empire an unfortunate NR. The Irish look set to dominate, with Zenith Jimbombom the sole UK runner in the line-up. Jimbombom turned in an improved display last week, but he does need to do everything right and must lead up Lennies Eddie if he is to have any chance. We were against Lennies Tank last weekend as his odds represented no value whatsoever. This weekend that’s different. Tank is available at around 7/2 at the time of writing. A lot of people were disappointed with Lennies Tank’s run last weekend, but that’s just him, he can look like a world-beater one week and throw in a below-par run the next. He did this in the Easter Cup at Shelbourne recently, but he is too big to ignore at the price. Getup The Boy will move to the rails on the run to the corner and could cause Swords Style all sorts of problems. Style has been flawless since switching to Towcester. He has four wins and a silver medal from five starts and it would be great for owners Barbara and Leonard Lowndes if he could make the final. The couple went so close with Swords Rex a few years back. Lennies Eddie ran a fair race behind Underground Gold last week and has a cracking draw in two with trap one vacant. I can see Lennies Eddie going off favourite, but I don’t think the current 7/2 about Lennies Tank will last, and hopefully Tank turns up on a going day.
Selections (6-2-4)
Heat 2
1 Cmon The Brom
2 Gaytime Clyde
3 Teejays Buddy
4 Goldcash Warrior
5 Naochra
6 Swift Magnison
🟪 Verdict: Gaytime Clyde really caught the eye in defeat last week when coming from well off the pace to chase home kennelmate Faypoint Harvey. At one stage Clyde must have been seven or eight lengths off the pace and, with a better start, he should go up well on the inside. Off a level break, Clyde should have too many guns for Cmon The Brom and that could prove crucial. Teejays Buddy came in for big support last week. He was available at 9/2 earlier in the week and went off 13/8 on the night. This week Buddy has been installed at 10/1 and I’m certain he will go off at closer to half that price. Buddy still has a fast break in him and has the ability to lead up the inside runners. The 10s will not last. Goldcash Warrior is a pacey greyhound but the draw looks on the tricky side. Naochra and Swift Magnison need luck, although Swift Magnison does have a good make-up and can qualify. Teejays Buddy still appeals to me in this heat, the current price surely won’t last and he’s not without a chance.
Selections (3-2-6)
Heat 3
1 Faypoint Harvey
2 Donishall Sam
3 Proper Heiress
4 Garfiney Warrior
5 Priceless Romeo
6 Lennies Dynamic
🟪 Verdict: It’s hard not to be taken by the current form of Proper Heiress. His form in 2026 has been sensational, with just one defeat coming in the Kent Plate Final behind Scooby The Lady. It was only a four-dog race he won last time out, but he beat a quality greyhound into second. There is not much early pace in this heat, with Donishall Sam and Garfiney Warrior drawn either side of Heiress and sure to be doing their best work in the second half of the contest. It was great to see Faypoint Harvey back to winning ways last time, but personally I think he breaks better from the middle. The Paul Hennessy duo of Priceless Romeo and Lennies Dynamic can also play a part. Lennies Dynamic has yet to produce his best around here, but you get the impression this make-up will suit him perfectly. Priceless Romeo was a good winner in the opening round and I thought he ran well in defeat last week.
Selections (3-6-5)
Heat 4
1 Ballymac Duffle
2 Salacres Amara
3 Droopys Sort
4 Brunch Pal
5 Rebel Alaska
6 Slick Sentinel
🟪 Verdict: Hard to look past the in-form Ballymac Duffle. It’s not one of the tougher heats on the night and his price reflects that. He has improved with each and every run at Towcester and broke his own track record last week when posting a rapid 28.31. Brunch Pal has been a real joy for connections since his move over from Ireland and I can see him qualifying. The outside pair of Rebel Alaska and Slick Sentinel should also be in the shake-up. Rebel Alaska is unbeaten in the competition and, with Brunch Pal likely to move inwards on the run to the corner, this improving youngster could get a nice early run. Slick Sentinel is one of the most consistent greyhounds around. He has now finished in the first three on his last thirteen starts and has a wealth of experience at the track. The outside trio can battle it out for the places, but it’s hard to oppose Ballymac Duffle.
Selections (1-5-4)
Heat 5
1 Glengar Kane
2 Scooby The Lady
3 Coloursaregreen
4 Underground Gold
5 Glengar Silent
6 Ballymac Iroko
🟪 Verdict: Coloursaregreen is an unfortunate absentee in heat five, but it still remains one of the races of the night. Glengar Kane remains unbeaten in his career with a record of seven from seven. Pat Buckley’s runner has a perfect draw on Saturday but needs to be on his toes early with the pacey Scooby The Lady on his immediate outside. Scooby The Lady was an impressive winner from the front last week and has only had three runs at the track. The race to the bend between the inside duo is key, with the highly promising Underground Gold in four looking to get involved early. There is a possibility the inside duo could come together and that could suit Underground Gold. I can see Glengar Silent getting a dream run in this. He is likely to struggle to match the inside runners to the bend but should slip in behind them as they head down the far side. Silent has always been highly thought of by Pat Buckley and he is as quick as any from the second bend home. Ballymac Iroko will need to sharpen up his starting and also beat Glengar Silent to the first bend. Something has to give between the likely pace-setters and I’m hopeful Glengar Silent can get a dream run and pick up the pieces late. It’s one of the races of the Derby thus far, but I’ll side with Glengar Silent to come out on top.
Selections (5-4-2)
Heat 6
1 Dereks Legend
2 Epic Ace
3 The Other Chief
4 Droopys Berries
5 Bubbly Hogan
6 Texas Jack
🟪 Verdict: Epic Ace briefly held the title of track record holder before Ballymac Duffle reclaimed it moments later. That run from Epic Ace was eye-catching for a couple of reasons. He was slowly away once again and still produced a monster effort. Ace does need to sharpen up his starting as the quality of opposition improves. He can trap much better and has in fact won sprint contests around Shelbourne Park and Dundalk in top company. This will be his third start at the track and the hopes of him taking a flyer this weekend are not far-fetched. Again, he is not surrounded by early pace and should lead comfortably. Texas Jack can probably give him most to think about, with Bubbly Hogan another who is running well of late, but this is all about Ace. He could really give the clock a shake with one of his better starts!
Selections (2-5-6)
Heat 7
1 Sole Focus
2 Ballymac Ralf
3 Snazzy Bolger
4 Droopys Graph
5 Hackney Corner
6 Kranky Drake
🟪 Verdict: Hackney Corner made it two from two at Towcester but did give his supporters plenty of nervous moments when coming from well off the pace last time out. Hackney does need to break much better than last time and he looks skinny enough at around 5/4. He will surely go off a little bigger. Ballymac Ralf is next in at 2/1 and he ran well to score last week in a fast 28.47. I do believe Ralf lacks a yard of early pace and may have to do this the hard way. Droopys Graph could be the answer in here. He is currently 6/1 in places and that represents real value. The Irish pair are pacey but can miss the break on occasions and Droopys Graph is more than capable on his day. Kranky Drake is pacey but needs a little luck, as too does Sole Focus.
Selections (4-5-2)
Heat 8
1 Droopys Aladdin
2 Strike It Sky
3 Ballymac Blanco
4 Salacres Lock Up
5 Ballymac Deniro
6 Ballymac Stud
🟪 Verdict: The final heat of the night looks like a minefield to me. Ballymac Stud is a favourite of mine but I’m worried about the draw. Ballymac Deniro ran a cracker behind Proper Heiress last week, but I’m sure Liam Dowling would love to switch the draws with his duo as Stud will edge inwards on the run to the bend. Droopys Aladdin was an impressive winner when making all last week and Salacres Lock Up continues to improve week by week. Strike It Sky was another to impress when winning last week, but she looks to be facing a tricky draw. I’ve no strong opinion on this and it’s a race to watch for me. I’ll put forward Ballymac Deniro as a tentative selection.
Selections (5-1-6)
All The Best,
Barry.
