ENGLISH GREYHOUND DERBY PREVIEW: In this week’s preview Barry previews the first night of the second round of the English Greyhound Derby staged at Towcester on Friday.
FRIDAY
It’s safe to say last weekend went the way of the bookmakers. A host of big names went out, including Bockos Diamond, Ballynac Setanta and Romeo Topcat. The news filtered through during the week that Cheap Sandwiches will also miss the second round. Despite four places being up for grabs in most of the first-round heats, it just shows that there is little room for error, and with only three going through from each of the heats this weekend, the margin for error is once again minimal.
Heat 1
1 Dereks Legend
2 The Other Kodi
3 Unassuming
4 Proper Heiress
5 Salacres Lucia
6 Ballymac Deniro (m)
🟪 Verdict: The excellent Proper Heiress is the obvious starting point in the opening heat of the second round. He made just about all last weekend and this looks like another opportunity for Heiress to get to the front once again. Dereks Legend continues to run at the top of his game and has a nice draw on the fence, but he needs to come away as he has been doing in recent starts. The Other Kodi ran a cracker last week but this looks much tougher. Unassuming needs to start much better and looks to be facing a tricky draw, as too is Salacres Lucia. Lucia could be the key to the race; she can start well and will edge towards the rail as the bend approaches. This could suit Ballymac Deniro. Deniro put in a huge trial run prior to the competition and ran a cracker to win from off the pace last weekend. He can ill afford to start like that again but, if breaking like he can, he should be there or thereabouts. Heiress just gets a tentative vote in the opener. BETDAQ GREYHOUNDS
Selections (4-6-1)
Heat 2
1 Salacres Amara
2 No Better Feelin
3 Epic Ace
4 Droopys Sort
5 Unthinkable
6 Slick Skylark (m)
🟪 Verdict: Epic Ace was my bet of the opening round. As mentioned previously, when on song he is undoubtedly one of the fastest greyhounds in Ireland. He wasn’t paw perfect last week but his raw pace got him through after a moderate start. Again, this heat doesn’t look packed with early pace and, with a level break, Ace could soon find himself in front. Yes, Salacres Amara has form in D1 grade around here, but off a level start Epic Ace would be far too sharp on the run to the bend. His odds reflect this and at 8/11 it looks tight enough. Slick Skylark is next in the betting around 5/2. She won well from off the pace last weekend and looks like she could turn handy once again. Whether or not she can give Epic Ace a start and a beating is doubtful. Unthinkable is hard to keep out of the frame and can nick a qualifying spot. BETDAQ GREYHOUNDS
Selections (3-6-5)
Heat 3
1 Loxleys Forest
2 Droopys Bookem
3 Burrows Charm
4 Teejays Buddy
5 The Other Chief
6 Rebel Alaska (m)
🟪 Verdict: I was taken by the run of Teejays Buddy (formerly Droopys Painting) last week. He was a dog with the world at his feet early in his career, but luck deserted him on more than one occasion, and last week’s relatively clear run is another step in the right direction. He was certainly short on confidence at one stage of his career and a couple of recent clear runs will certainly aid him going forward, and he looks the one to beat for me in heat three. Another who ran well last week was Droopys Bookem on his return to Towcester. Bookem broke well last week but lost his place around the opening turn and was a bad fifth entering the back straight. He ran on well to qualify and should step forward for the run. He runs this place well and last week was only his fourth start of 2026. Rebel Alaska and The Other Chief are well fancied in the market, but I’m happy to side with Teejays Buddy, currently at an attractive 9/2. BETDAQ GREYHOUNDS
Selections (4-2-6)
Heat 4
1 Carrigoon Milo
2 Ballymac Ralf
3 Coloursaregreen
4 Romeo Ability
5 Malcolm Bosh (m)
6 Slick Sentinel (w)
🟪 Verdict: Coloursaregreen was an unlucky loser last weekend; he broke smartly and went up with the speedy pair of Bockos Buster and Bockos Diamond. He faces nothing with that sort of early pace here and this looks like a good opportunity to get to the front. Ballymac Ralf did some big running from off the pace last weekend and will be hard to keep out of the frame. Slick Sentinel is a model of consistency; he was a fine winner last time out and has now finished in the top three in his last twelve outings. The only wide seed in the line-up, he is sure to have his supporters. I’m happy to stick with Coloursaregreen. He impressed around Shelbourne on a couple of occasions earlier this year and can certainly be excused last week’s run. BETDAQ GREYHOUNDS
Selections (3-2-6)
Heat 5
1 Heres Ringo
2 Soapy Suds
3 Droopys Graph
4 Droopys Aladdin
5 Ballymac Dave (m)
6 Lennies Tank (w)
🟪 Verdict: Lennies Tank put in one of his better runs last weekend. After missing the kick, he showed huge pace around the opening bends and had the race put to bed by halfway. He has shown flashes of brilliance around Shelbourne in the Easter Cup and this was another of his standout performances. This looks one of the better heats of the night and it’s just hard to know what Lennies Tank will turn up. Droopys Aladdin will be a thorn in his side; Aladdin can fly to the corner and ran better than the placings would suggest last week. Ballymac Dave splits the pair and he too can move well to the turn. On the face of it, it’s not an ideal draw for Lennies Tank and he will need to come away better. Droopys Graph and Soapy Suds are much better than last week’s runs but both need to start better. I’ll side with Droopys Aladdin to make all. BETDAQ GREYHOUNDS
Selections (4-6-2)
Heat 6
1 Zenith Jimbombom
2 Salacres Lock Up
3 Donishall Sam
4 Aero Pepinillo
5 Radical Story (m)
6 Alright Twinkle (w)
🟪 Verdict: Not one of the stronger heats of the night and all six have chances. Salacres Lock Up will probably go off favourite after his winning performance in the opening round when getting the better of Lennies Eddie. The well-bred son of Koblenz has plenty of experience around here and has climbed the grades impressively in recent months. I was disappointed by the run of Zenith Jimbombom last week. I thought he had every chance after a fast start and he needs to show more. Donishall Sam caught the eye in defeat behind Swords Style and can get involved once again. Radical Story has pace and is another who will be doing his best work in the second half. BETDAQ GREYHOUNDS
Selections (2-5-3)
Heat 7
1 Snazzy Bolger
2 Bombay Hawk
3 Dunbolg Formula
4 Gaytime Joachim
5 Ballymac Stud (m)
6 Lennies Dynamic (w)
🟪 Verdict: The Irish runners look set to dominate in heat seven. Ballymac Stud was back to winning ways last week and has been installed as the red-hot favourite to land this heat. He was always highly thought of by the Dowling’s and that win will do his confidence the world of good. The 4/9 doesn’t make much appeal and, for betting purposes, I would much rather be with Lennies Dynamic in six. We have yet to see the best of this greyhound and he is another who is highly thought of by top connections. Gaytime Joachim can make it a 1-2-3 for the Irish, with the inside trio all needing a little luck. BETDAQ GREYHOUNDS
Selections (6-5-4)
Heat 8
1 Underground Gold
2 Ballymac Odin
3 Teejays Chelms
4 Lennies Eddie
5 Zenith Legend (m)
6 Glengar Silent (w)
🟪 Verdict: We may have saved the best until last on Friday evening with a cracking heat to end proceedings. Underground Gold showed a brave attitude to win last week; after a moderate start he was hampered on more than one occasion but still emerged a good winner—ignore the winning time. Glengar Silent is a superstar in the making. He is fortunate to still be here and we should see a much improved performance this weekend. It’s far too soon to write him off and far better is to come. Lennies Eddie is a big player. He missed the kick last week and was baulked on the run to the corner. If finding one of his better starts, he is a possible pace setter in this and just gets my vote to see off Glengar Silent and Underground Gold. BETDAQ GREYHOUNDS
Selections (4-6-1)
All the best,
Barry
