The Star Sports & TRC English Greyhound Derby has reached the semi-final stage and it’s getting serious with all dogs looking to book their place in next weekend’s £175,000 prize final.
There is a symmetrical balance to the final 12 field with there being a perfect 6:6 split between both British and Irish dogs spread perfectly 3:3 across both semi-finals.
Ante-post favourite Bockos Diamond was beaten for the first time in the competition last weekend, but he retain his status as the market leader with two rounds to go at odds of 2/1.
English Greyhound Derby Outright Odds
Dog | Odds | Chance |
|---|---|---|
Bockos Diamond | 2/1 | 33.3% |
Cheap Sandwiches | 7/2 | 22.2% |
De Lahdedah | 9/2 | 18.2% |
Sole Mio | 10/1 | 9.1% |
Bombay Pat | 12/1 | 7.7% |
Dynamic Force | 16/1 | 5.9% |
Droopys Plunge | 16/1 | 5.9% |
Bar | 20/1 | 3.8% |
English Greyhound Derby Semi-Final
Heat 1
Dog | Odds | Chance |
|---|---|---|
(1) Sole Mio | 10/3 | 23.1% |
(2) De Lahdedah | 6/4 | 40% |
(3) Droopys Bookem | 10/1 | 9.1% |
(4) Slick Sentinel | 8/1 | 11.1% |
(5) Bombay Pat | 4/1 | 20% |
(6) Churchfield Syd | 9/2 | 18.2% |
Trap (1) Sole Mio (Peter Cronin, Ireland)
The lightly raced June 2023 son of Coolavanny Hoffa and Palermo went unbeaten in the first three rounds of the competition improving on each occasion clocking 29.02, 28.91 and 28.54. Last week he had his first defeat of the competition coming third 2 and a ¼ lengths back of winner Cheap Sandwiches and 1 and ¼ behind runner-up Droopys Bookem. It’s not an ideal draw for Sole Mio but if he can continue his rapid trapping,
*Odds are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change
Trap (2) De Lahdedah (Liam Dowling, Ireland)
The defending 2024 English Greyhound Derby Champion, the October 2021 son of Lenson Bocko and Ballymac Sarahjo broke the Track Record clocking 28.58 in his final win last year. This time he’s hardly missed a step winning 3/4 rounds and being ultra-consistent on the clocks with a 28.50, 28,.72, 28.73 and 28.81 throughout though the clocks have gotten worse each round.
*Odds are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change
Trap (3) Droopys Bookem (Tom Heilbron, UK)
The November 2022 son of Droopys Sydney and Droopys Sweet started his career impressively at Curraheen Park Cork in August 2024 winning the first four races of his career including a round of the Laurels, he failed to find consistency until he moved to Towcester where he has impressed considerably with his fast finishing, if there’s trouble he could pick off any dog.
*Odds are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change
Trap (4) Slick Sentinel (Patrick Janssens, UK).
The August 2022 son of Droopys Sydney and Droopys Alice has been a consistent campaigner at Towcester since he made his debut at the track in May 2024. Despite being a wide runner will likely find the #4 box fine and his consistency is arguably going under the radar following clocks of 29.01, 28.93, 28.82, and 28.87 almost improving with every round.
*Odds are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change
Trap (5) Bombay Pat (Graham Holland, Ireland)
The September 2022 son of Pestana and Clear Mountain has been one of the most consistent performers on the Open Race scene since debuting at Kilkenny in May 2024 he currently holds a record of 12 wins from 19 races/
Didn’t come away like he can last week but with clocks of 28.81, 28.53, 28.86 and 28.87 throughout the competition his consistency makes him a major contender.
*Odds are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change
Trap (6) Churchfield Syd (Richard Rees, UK)
The June 2021 veteran in the pack has now past his fourth birthday and following a career of 45 races and counting he will have his final race on Derby Final night and connections will be hoping to end it with the most romantic of English Greyhound Derby successes.
Syd’s style is all about being out again displaying the most consistent sectionals of the competition with a 4.05, 3.96, 3.97 and 3.94 if he can replicate that in the semi-final there’s always a chance of trouble from behind and has every chance of holding on for success.
*Odds are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change
Best Bet: Bombay Pat – 4/1
Churchfield Syd showed his sensationally early pace last weekend causing fast-finishing De Lahdedah a scare before he finished ahead of him by a short head. However, I think at odds of 4/1 Bombay Pat is an exceptional bet with the clocks he is displaying,
5-2-1
*Odds are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change
Heat 2
Dog | Odds | Chance |
|---|---|---|
(1) No Better Feelin | 50/1 | 2% |
(2) Prince Naseem | 25/1 | 3.8% |
(3) Droopys Plunge | 8/1 | 11.1% |
(4) Dynamic Force | 4/1 | 20% |
(5) Cheap Sandwiches | 7/4 | 36.4% |
(6) Bockos Diamond | 11/10 | 47.6% |
Trap (1) No Better Feelin (Esther Driver, UK)
The September 2022 son of Ballymac Cashout and Art of Illusion has been a consistent campaigner across the open-racing scene with 10 wins from 36 races, he’s only been outside the money positions 7 times due to his strong running from in-behind.
Has defied expectations to reach this stage of the competition at odds of 7/2, 4/1, 28/1 and most recently 28/1 last weekend. This will be a tough test to qualify but not be impossible for him.
*Odds are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change
Trap (2) Prince Naseem (Maxine Locke, UK)
Though only running since winning an unraced stake at Kilkenny in February 2024 he’s already run in 33 races ahead of this semi-final. He’s failed to realise his potential early days though clocking 28.35 at Shelbourne Park in a runners-up effort marked a career-best effort.
Yet to win a heat in the Derby, he’s still shown the best consistency of his career with clocks of 29.20, 28.80, 29.14 and 29.09 a lot more will be needed here to figure.
*Odds are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change
Trap (3) Droopys Plunge (Patrick Janssens, UK)
The November 2022 son of Droopys Sydney and Droopys Sweet exploded onto the scene running at Curraheen Park in Cork Ireland when he won the 2024 Denis Linehan Solicitors Open Unraced Stake 525y Cork for Johan A Linehan.
He’s since changed kennel, and the highlight of his competition so far was a sensational 28.64 win in the second round of this competition. Certainly, a fast hound but arguably drawn too far wide even in #3.
*Odds are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change
Trap (4) Dynamic Force (Paul Hennessy, Ireland)
The August 2022 son of Good News and Portumna Marina has 11 victories and has only been outside the money positions on 5 occasions. This rapid trapper started his career mostly on the sprint circuit but now seems to be finding joy over the longer trip.
Quietly going under the radar for his performances clocking 28.86, 28.96, 28.61 and with arguably his most impressive performance being last week clocking a 3.98 sectional the fastest he’s recorded at the track to finish 2 and ½ lengths ahead of Bombay Pat in 28.66.
*Odds are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change
Trap (5) Cheap Sandwiches (Graham Holland, Ireland)
The September 2022 son of Burgess Bucks and Hearthill Josie as of yet has failed to land the major classic that his breathtaking pace deserves coming closest of his 28 races in the BoyleSports Irish Greyhound Derby last year when he finished runner-up behind Bockos Diamond.
This might be his best chance yet, clocks of 28.71, 28.65 and 28.75 to open his competition his most impressive performance came last week when he saw off his kennel mate Bockos Diamond to finish 1 and a 1/4 lengths ahead of him.
*Odds are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change
Trap (6) Bockos Diamond (Graham Holland, Ireland)
What can be said that hasn’t been about the progeny of Dorotas Wildcat and Seaglass Shadow? Went unbeaten to win the BoyleSports Irish Greyhound Derby last year he’s almost impossible to beat with 19 wins from 22 races.
Bockos won the opening rounds 29.03, 28.51 and 28.74 before being overturned by Cheap Sandwiches last weekend it’ll be interesting to see how they go head-to-head for the second successive week.
*Odds are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change
Best Bet: Bockos Diamond – 11/10
This race will be all about the battle on the outside again, but I think Bockos will get the better of Cheap Sandwiches this time around with Dynamic Force holding on to qualify ahead of the rest.
6-5-4
*Odds are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change
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*Prices are subject to fluctuation.
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