GREYHOUND PREVIEW: Barry Caul previews the final set of the English Greyhound Derby first round heats at Towcester on Saturday.
Heat 22. Only four go to traps for the opening heat on Saturday night and this can play into the paws of Droopys Maximus. The lightly raced son of Droopys Sydney stays this trip strongly and is still improving. He won well over 630m at Monmore recently and can prove to strong for his rivals. Soul choice may be best of the rest.
Heat 23. Lennies Desire is one I have been sweet on for quite a while. He really impressed around Shelbourne late last year and has always been held in high regard by the Hennessy camp. Luck has deserted him in a couple of spins around here recently, but he should enjoy a clear run this weekend out in six. The 4/5 on offer looks big to me and he is one of the standout bets of the night. Thats It Jack should race prominent and can follow him home. Lennies Desire, a strong fancy.
Heat 24. The strong running Barntick Bear gets the nod in heat twenty-four. Bear posted a record-breaking run around here in October last year and moved well in a recent trial when stopping the clock in 28:67. He had excuses when behind the excellent Bombay Pat last time and faces nothing of that standard here on Saturday. Aero Sacundai looks the likely pace setter, but I think he may struggle to see out the trip.
Heat 25. The lightly raced Ballymac Tibet could be the one here. Tibet has only had a handful of starts but already looks like a strong staying sort. He qualified well and posted a slick 28:32 in a trial at Shelbourne Park. He met trouble in running in the Kirby Memorial at Limerick and has moved well around here in a couple of trials. He will need to brush up on his starting as his latest 4.30 sectional would suggest. The five-dog race will play to his strengths, and I expect him to be tough to beat. Hurry Up Brendan may set the early pace, but I expect Emmybell Boy to be the main danger.
Heat 26. Droopys Plunge ran a cracker in the red-hot invitational here recently and a repeat of that form will make him hard to beat. He will need to be alert in the early yards as Savana Control (1) and Scooby Pacemaker (3) can move well to the corner. The main danger may be Deliveroo in six. A semifinalist in the northern Puppy Derby at Newcastle he also made it to the same stage of the Monmore Puppy Derby. Yes, he will need to improve on his recent trial effort but with the possibility of crowing on the inside Deliveroo could well be the play.
Heat 27. The excellent Bombay Pat holds all the aces in heat twenty-seven. Pat was one of the stars of the track in Ireland in 2024 and he looks to have returned in fine form. He impressed on his return when getting the better of March On Freddie and should have too much pace for his rivals. The evergreen Wrighty can prove best of the rest.
Heat 28. Table Toppers has faced some tough assignments of late and this looks like a decent chance to get back to winning ways. Cooliogold has a great draw in red and will be looking to hold Table toppers into the first bend. This may benefit the Irish raider Clona Ice out in six. Pat Buckleys greyhounds are in cracking form at the moment and Ice posted a rapid 28:02 around Shelbourne last month. He moved well in his recent trial at the track and looks like the one to beat in here for me.
Heat 29. Pat Buckley can make it a quick fire double in here with Ballinabola Joe. Joe could be a real star of the future. He was a finalist in the Juvenile Classic in Tralee and has clocked some eye-catching times in trials. He demolished a decent greyhound called Hot Wood when last seen in action and he is open to any amount of improvement. Barefoot Awesome sets a good standard in this contest but I do think Ballinabola Joe could be the real deal.
Heat 30. Last year’s runner-up Boylesports Bob returns to action after his controversial suspension. Bob has been a fantastic greyhound for the past couple of seasons making both the Irish and English Derby finals. He comes in here as a fresh greyhound and it will be interesting to see how he fares in his first run in around a month. He won’t have it all his own way with the inform Headford Asher in trap four likely to take a bit of beating. Asher is unbeaten in his three starts to date and impressed when posting 28:76 in his recent workout here. He won’t have faced a rival as classy as Bob in his career to date, but he is certainly going the right way. A cracking race.
Heat 31. Ballybough Nutz has had three starts around here, yielding three silver medals and hopefully for his new owners he can turn silver into gold. He was a decent greyhound when trained in Ireland and has a good draw to try and make all. Winscale Wonder impressed in a two-bend trial recently and rates the main danger.
Heat 32. The final heat of the opening round can go the way of Untold Dollar. I backed this greyhound to win last year’s Irish Derby, and he is a greyhound with a huge engine. He has his first start with trainer David Byrne this Saturday. A winner at the Winter Racing Festival over six hundred yards. Dollar is blessed with a great blend of pace and power. The wonderfully consistent Churchfield Syd will have his supporters. Syd made the final last year and is one of the most consistent greyhounds in training.
Good luck.
Barry.
