IRISH TO MAKE BRIGHT START TO ENGLISH DERBY
Ian Fortune
Since the victory of the Mick Horan trained Mick The Miller in 1929, Ireland has gone on to win the English Greyhound Derby a further seventeen times.
Tonight, the pursuit of win number nineteen begins as the 2026 renewal of the Star Sports & Orchestrate gets underway at Towcester.
A team of 39 will represent these shores in the coming weeks and there is real confidence that nineteen is indeed on the way. Some 22 of the team will begin their challenge this evening in the opening session of first round heats.
DIAMOND IS BACK
There are fourteen heats in all and the betting suggests Ireland will have a big night.
In terms of star names, there is none bigger than Bockos Diamond and his return to action in Heat 8 is set to provide one of the highlights of the evening.
The 2024 Irish Derby champion ran up last year’s English Derby and returns to Towcester with some unfinished business. Fitness has to be taken on trust but Graham Holland and his all-conquering team at the Riverside Kennels are sure to have him forward enough to see him come through tonight’s test.
Amongst his rivals in Heat 8 is his compatriot and Tote Gold Cup winner Coloursaregreen. Both will be expected to progress with four to qualify from this contest but it would be great to see both get a clear passage.
ROMEO AND RALF TO SET THE TONE FOR IRELAND
Honour of racing first for Ireland goes to Ballymac Ralf and Priceless Romeo, both of which have strong claims in the opening heat.
The duo are set to play a big part with slight preference going to Ballymac Ralf after an encouraging trial.
A STRONG IRISH TRIO
Glenger Kane, Getup The Boy and Ballymac Tibet represent Ireland in Heat 2.
Again, all three are fancied to play a part and are positioned at the head of the market. Glengar Kane, despite his inexperience, is odds-on to open his campaign with a success and the draw is in his favour.
His price does seem a little restrictive with Getup The Boy capable of taking on the best in training but the pair are chosen to finish first and second with Ballymac Tibet the best of the remainder.
JACK TO BELIE HIS YOUTH
Unassuming, Grouchos Jack and Singalong Polly meet in Heat 4.
While they are all biggish prices to win the Derby, the trio make up the top half of the market in this contest. Grouchos Jack is very young but recent form suggests he is ready to make a splash and he just gets the nod ahead of his two compatriots.
HARVEY FACING TOUGH TEST
Faypoint Harvey faces a tough test in Heat 5.
Patricia Flanagan’s thoroughly likeable tracker ran well around Towcester last year but he may have to settle for a supporting role with Droopys Aladdin chosen to justify odds-on favouritism for the home team.
STYLE HAS THE DRAW IN HOT CONTEST
Swords Style has really taken to Towcester and will be fancied to lead home some talented rivals in Heat 6.
The Graham Holland trained speedster is a natural starter and looks the most likely pace-setter. He is really suited by the shorter back straight and tends to kick again from the third turn.
These qualities can allow him claim a third success in a row at the expense of Tiffield Tarquin and Teejays Buddy, who was known as Droopys Painting during his Irish career. Donishall Sam, a kennel companion to Swords Style, also lines out in this contest and while he has plenty of ability, he will need to be at his very sharpest in the early yards.
EDDIE AND LEO TO LOCK HORNS
Lennies Eddie and Unanimous Leo could go toe to toe in Heat 9.
The former has looked very happy around Towcester, twice winning Derby Trial Stakes. He has tremendous early speed and Paul Hennessy will hope he can dictate again.
If doing so, he would be very difficult to stop. Unanimous Leo is also blessed with superb early speed, however, and the Juvenile Derby runner-up is also respected. Hopefully both can she what they can do and progress with minimum fuss.
BUCKLEY WITH A STRONG HAND
The Pat Buckley trained pair of Glengar Silent and Ballinabola Joe are joined by the Brendan Matthews’ Shudacudawouda in Heat 10.
Glengar Silent is amongst the favourites for outright glory. An Irish Derby finalist as a youngster, he has exceptional pace from the second turn and is likely to go close but one suspects Ballinabola Joe can give him plenty to think about, especially if finding one of his better starts. Shudacudawouda is very strong and will stay on well, hopefully securing one of the four qualifying positions.
MALINAS TO OPEN ACCOUNT
Despite his youth and inexperience, Ballymac Malinasheads the market for Liam Dowling in Heat 11. There is no doubt he has loads of pace but remains a maiden. One suspects he can put that right this evening with Bubbly Charger and Slick Sentinel nominated as the main dangers.
ACE WITH AN IDEAL DRAW
Epic Ace has long been a hugely fast greyhound.
He has often been let down by his trapping but will be hard to stop in Heat 12 for which he is an odds-on favourite. John Kennedy’s star is draw on the fence and can assert before halfway.
LIAM SET TO LAND LAST TWO HEATS
Liam Dowling sends out the last two Irish trainer runners on tonight’s card and both are priced as though defeat is out of the question.
Ballymac Stud is set to come home alone in Heat 13. If he takes to Towcester, he could certainly go deep in the classic. He is generally available at 4-7 for tonight’s test.
Ballymac Duffle is an even shorter price in the final heat of the session. In a race lacking early speed, he seems certain to turn close to the speed. Given his incredible pace and power, he will be very difficult to contain if doing so.
English Greyhound Derby – Round 1, Night 1
(Irish runners highlighted in BOLD capitals with trainers listed)
Heat 1 (6.20)
1 Foxwood Christy
2 BALLYMAC RALF – Liam Dowling
3 Silverhill Adam
4 Noellie
5 PRICELESS ROMEO (M) – Paul Hennessy
6 Aero Pumpkin (W)
Heat 2 (6:38)
1 GLENGAR KANE – Pat Buckley
2 GETUP THE BOY – Mark Robinson
3 Newinn Oscar
4 Aero Pepinillo
5 Not So Steady (M)
6 BALLYMAC TIBET (W) – Liam Dowling
Heat 3 (6:58) – 4 to qualify
1 Rackethall Brute
2 Droopys Bookem
3 Ballymac Blanco
4 Scooby The Lady
5 Flashing Fender (M)
6 Texas Jack (W)
Heat 4 (7:18)
1 UNASSUMING – Brendan Matthews
2 The Other Kodi
3 GROUCHOS JACK – Pat Buckley
4 SINGALONG POLLY – Pat Buckley
5 Robbies Glory (M)
6 Epic Rebel (W)
Heat 5 (7:38)
1 Rapido Benny
2 Droopys Aladdin
3 Zenith Sultan
4 FAYPOINT HARVEY – Graham Holland
5 Slick Skylark (M)
6 Longacres Daddy (W)
Heat 6 (7:58)
1 SWORDS STYLE – Graham Holland
2 DONISHALL SAM – Graham Holland
3 Carmac Cash
4 Teejays Buddy
5 Underground Jim (M)
6 Tiffield Tarquin (W)
Heat 7 (8:18)
1 Hackney Toast
2 Droopys Graph
3 Carrick Scholsey
4 Ballymac Odin
5 Salthill Sydney (M)
6 Noirs Pocket (W)
Heat 8 (8:38) – 4 to qualify
1 Bombay Hawk
2 Gav Nificent
3 Dunbolg Formula
4 COLOURSAREGREEN – Paul Hennessy
5 Bockos Buster (M)
6 BOCKOS DIAMOND (W) – Graham Holland
Heat 9 (8:58) – 4 to qualify
1 LENNIES EDDIE – Paul Hennessy
2 Salacres Lock Up
3 UNANIMOUS LEO – Liam Dowling
4 Vacant
5 Zenith Legend (M)
6 Bossman Buddy (W)
Heat 10 (9:18) – 4 to qualify
1 Droopys Alldeway
2 SHUDACUDAWOUDA – Brendan Matthews
3 No Better Feelin
4 Salacres Lucia
5 GLENGAR SILENT (M) – Pat Buckley
6 BALLINABOLA JOE (W) – Pat Buckley
Heat 11 (9:38)
1 Zenith Aslan
2 Unthinkable
3 BALLYMAC MALINAS – Liam Dowling
4 Happy Jet
5 Bubbly Charger (M)
6 Slick Sentinel (W)
Heat 12 (9:54)
1 EPIC ACE – John Kennedy
2 Ballymac Sargie
3 Eagles Respect
4 Deerjet Rocket
5 Kranky Drake (M)
6 Swift Magnison (W)
Heat 13 (10:14) – 4 to qualify
1 Grouchos Cossie
2 Snazzy Bolger
3 Sole Focus
4 This Approach
5 BALLYMAC STUD (M) – Liam Dowling
6 Ragdoll Rosie (W)
Heat 14 (10:30)
1 BALLYMAC DUFFLE – Liam Dowling
2 Zenith Pasha
3 Aero Boris
4 Teddie
5 Malcolm Bosh (M)
6 Thor Odinson (W)