JONATHAN HOBBS: It’s the final batch of first round heats of the Star Sports/TRC Events & Leisure English Greyhound Derby 2021 at Towcester tonight – with 11 more heats helping reduce the field ahead of next weekend’s second round.

The Robert Gleeson-trained Toolmaker Sydney was quickest last night, racing to a brilliant 29.13sec, and the Irish challenge for the £175,000-to-the-winner Classic remains strong. But do not discount the home guard tonight – including leading contender Tenpin.

So eyes down for tonight’s heats . . .

Towcester

6.24: Heat one has cut up with the withdrawal of Ballydoyle Razor, but it gives Barrie Draper’s Sheffield raider Keefill Finn a clear chance to dominate into the turn and onwards. He’s top grade on home soil and, if edging Black Eyed Molly early, might be away if improving as expected on a prep trial.

Play: Keefill Finn

6.42: Brynhall Respect could be popular among the locals. Gary Griffiths’s runner ran well in the Maiden Derby, ultimately won by Thorn Falcon, and proved himself a tough nut to crack when leading as he did in the heats. An inside draw can be taken advantage of. Respect, of course, to 2019 Irish Derby champion Lenson Bocko here.

Play: Brynhall Respect

7pm: Bubbly Bollinger gets a solid vote in this heat three. Paul Young’s runner has a plum pitch inside and might always be handy if breaking smartly and his 575m form at Romford suggests he can power into contention past halfway. Forest Gold is expected to pace up handily towards the inner but could clear the way for the red-boxed runner.

Play: Bubbly Bollinger

7.17: This looks a great clash in heat three between Jaguar Macie and Cold As Ice. The latter set a 640m track record at Newcastle recently and is a real powerhouse, but Graham Rankin’s red-boxed bitch has won two Puppy Derbys already this year and remains a classy sort who will get first run on her main rival and might not be reeled in.

Play: Jaguar Macie

7.35: The clash of the night between last year’s Derby champion Deerjet Sydney and Sean Davy’s up-and-coming Coney Wonderland. The latter gets the vote to get first run on Pat Buckley’s superstar and, at this stage of the competition, that might be good enough to seal the deal. That said, don’t be surprised to see the blue-box ping to lead and run amok!

Play: Coney Wonderland

7.54: More huge Irish interest here courtesy of leading contender Native Maestro with his superb early pace and brilliant bend running. He could be all the rage, which makes the market for Kilara Lion potentially. Patrick Janssens’ runner won the Blue Riband over C&D and showed signs of a return to form when finishing behind the red jacket in a prep race.

Play: Kilara Lion

8.14: Another superb clash in prospect here between Ireland’s flying Knight Tornado and the home-trained Hilight Arkle. Preference is for the latter after Richard Rees’ runner came through a superb battle with Newinn Session in a prep race and will again to dominate the early exchanges. Boylesportsbingo will be picking up strongly as ever.

Play: Hilight Arkle

8.34: Glenlara Mac could be well placed here. Gary Ferguson’s dog showed good pace at Newcastle during the Northern Flat and now looks well pitched given a vacant trap inside, which gives him every chance to strut his stuff. Expect improvement on a trial which gives the Scottish runner every chance to get first run on market rival Bettys Book.

Play: Glenlara Mac

8.51: The Brendan Matthews-trained De Machine has been tipped up as a lively contender outright – especially after his powerhouse performance in finishing a close up second in the Kirby Memorial. He ran well during the Puppy Derby here last year and has trialled back well. However coping with the speed of compatriot Kameko next door is key.

Play: De Machine

9.09: The penultimate Derby heat of three nights of top-class action at Towcester sees another major contender in Tenpin go for gold. He loves the red jacket and Dave Mullins’ dog is a proven competition dog – fast 29.35sec and 29.36sec prep trials prove he’s in good for the David Mullins camp. But he will need to be at the top of his game to see off the challenge of the classy Warzone Tom. That will not be easy, but certainly doable.

Play: Tenpin

9.27: The final heat 32 of the first round of the Derby and Save Me Paddy could make his rivals see red. The Gary Ferguson-trained runner is well pitched inside and might always be bossing proceedings given smart early pace – he’s improving after just three races, too. Faughan Rebel runs Towcester well and his strong-running style puts him in the mix.

Play: Save Me Paddy