The English Greyhound Derby is underway and some of the quickest hounds from the UK and Ireland are currently battling it out for the most prestigious race in UK Greyhound Racing and arguably only topped by the BoyleSports Irish Greyhound Derby.
The reigning Champion is Gaytime Nemo who was trained by Irish-based trainer Graham Holland, the last English-trained winner of the competition came in 2021 when Thorn Falcon trained by Patrick Janssens won the prize.
Dates English Greyhound Derby
Commences: 1st Round – Thursday/Friday/Saturday 23rd/24th/25th May
2nd Round – Friday/Saturday 31st May/1st June
3rd Round – Saturday 8th June
Quarter-finals – Saturday 15th June
Semi-finals – Saturday 22nd June
Final – Saturday 29th June
English Greyhound Derby Odds
Dog | Odds | Chance of Winning |
|---|---|---|
King Memphis | 7/1 | 12.5% |
De Lahdedah | 7/1 | 12.5% |
Swords Rex | 10/1 | 9/1% |
Clonbrien Treaty | 10/1 | 9.1% |
Superfast Gorden | 12/1 | 7.7% |
The Other Kobe | 12/1 | 7.7% |
BoyleSports Bob | 12/1 | 7.7% |
Crafty Shivoo | 20/1 | 4.8% |
English Greyhound Derby 3rd Round Heat
Heat 1
The first heat of the 3rd Round is a very open affair with only a maximum of 16 spots separating the “fastest” and “slowest” qualifiers based on last week's heats. Trap (1) has last week's 29.01 heat winner, early-paced Whyaye Man who we tipped as an each-way shout and is 10/1 for this race. Trap (2) The Other Kobe is the reigning Irish Greyhound Derby Champion who has won his last 6 races and is an 8/11 favourite.
Trap (3) has the strong staying Singalong Dolly who has finished runner-up in the two of the opening heats is 6/1 and in Trap (4) Hawkfield Blue at the same price who didn’t start as well last week but still qualified and has some fast form.
On the outside, we have Trap (5) Wrighty at 25/1 and while not the quickest on the clocks, the British raider is very consistent with his performances. Finally, Clonbrien Treaty in (6) at 7/2 has progressed on the clocks in each round and has big claims for success.
The Other Kobe is too short for me at 8/11 so my pick is Clonbrien Treaty at 7/2
Heat 2
Trap (1) Ballymac Finn started fast and made all to win in 28.99 last week and is 2/1 to do similar Saturday. Bramble Elvis in (2) continues to quietly qualify in 3rd each week at a big price and he will be even bigger for this race at 25/1.
Trap (3) Droopys Pivotel is a lightly raced sort with only 5 career outings and is priced at 8/1 to continue the dog's consistent improvement and win. Faypoint Seam at 7/1 is a former Kirby Semi-Finalist who has plenty of improvement in him.
Trap (5) Aero Convey is 33/1 and continues to qualify each round. The Favourite is BoyleSports Bob at odds of 8/11 to return the winning ways after being second last week.
BoyleSports Bob to win at 8/11 with Trap (3) Droops Pivotel having an each-way claim at 8/1
Heat 3
This is very much a heat with one dog a strong favourite with the remaining five dogs vying for the qualifying places. Trap (1) Bluejig Baron at 8/1 could almost be set to a 29.30 clock each time but needs to improve on the clock to figure here. Havana Top Note in (2) at 12/1 is another who continues to keep qualifying.
Trap (3) Bockos Thunder at 5/1 is a lightly raced youngster with plenty of improvement and Trap (4) Coss Tokkyo at 6/1 might be a slow starter but finishes fast consistently.
On the outside, we have Trap (5) Droops Supply at 5/1 is another progressive youngster and might have the best early pace outside of the favourite. In Trap (6) Churchfield Syd at 8/11 clocked 28.86 in second last week and looks well best for a first heat win here.
Trap (6) Churchfield Syd at 8/11 remains a value bet at that price
Heat 4
Trap (1) Superfast Gordon is the leading market player for this race at odds of 4/7 following a sensational 28.71 last week from Trap (4). In Trap (2) Jaytee Etienne for the Hennessy team at 11/4 qualified from a slow start last week but has plenty of gears left in the clock if on tune.
Trap (3) Svana Jackpot is 25/1 after finishing third at a big price in the opening two rounds and Trap (4) Never Say No (who we tipped at eachway last week) qualified for this heat in a 29.03 success.
In Trap (5) Beatties Sparkle at 33/1 continues to qualify at big prices including 66/1 last weekend! In (6) Droopys Doughnut has more gears to find in this competition and is an 8/1 chance.
Never Say No did the business for us at each way last week and he is my pick again at eachway/
Heat 5
Trap (1) Mcneill has been runner-up in both the opening rounds is 12/1 to land the heat victory for Paul Hennessy and his team. In (2) Grouchos Duke at 5/1 is a progressive Irish raider with more room for improvement.
Edwards in (3) is unbeaten in the competition clocking 28.98 and 29.10 in 5/1 and 9/1 respectively and certainly commands respect in this company. Ballymac Gizmo at 5/1 in (4) has plenty pace but is yet to find a heat win after being the bridesmaid in both rounds so far.
Antigua Hawk in (5) is the worthy 6/4 favourite with an unbeaten campaign so far clocking 28.81 and 28.77 but will be rivalled for early pace by the swift starter Glengar Martha in (6) at 3/1
(5) is a worthy favourite but I think it will be challenged for early gears in this race while Edwards in (3) has a big each-way claim again at 6/1.
Heat 6
Trap (1) Crafty Shivoo at 2/1 improved from a 29.33 opening-round victory to a 28.59 second-round win after breaking from traps even swifter last week. Trap (2) Scaglietti keeps qualifying and a price of 33/1 for this fast hound could be considered a tad disrespectful, but this is a strong heat.
Gaytime Nemo in (3) is another unbeaten dog at 3/1 and had a brilliant 28.76 from Trap (1) in the second round. Beside him is the unbeaten De Lahdedah in (4) who clocked 28.78 last week.
Trap (5) Miracle has plenty of early dash and King Combs in (6) clocked 28.96 in the first round.
This is the toughest heat of the night to call but Trap (2) at 33/1 is worth an each-way bet at that price or even Miracle at 12/1.
Heat 7
Trap (1) King Memphis at 11/8 is the outright market leader following 28.68 and 28.78 runs in the first two rounds. Swords Rex isn’t too far behind in the clocks in (2) with 28.99 and 28.73 in the last two rounds.
In Trap (3) Newinn Syd is a consistent sort at 6/1 but needs luck to figure in this race and even more, for Trap (4) Azurite at 33/1who is a strong staying sort.
Road Exile in (5) has plenty of early dash at 12/1 but is a victim of the quality of this heat and Balinbola Ed on the outside in Trap (6) is top class tracker at 5/1 even in his advancing years.
Hard to bet against Trap (1) even with the quality in this race, but Ballinabola Ed has each-way claims at 5/1.
Heat 8
Trap (1) Unreal Bruiser at 9/2 for Diane Henry clocked slower last week but has a chance with a bit of luck. Trap (2) Cooliogold has won in 29.14 in both the first and second rounds clocking the exact same rapid 4.07 section both times.
Druids All Go in (3) has been runner-up in both rounds so far and is 3/1 to land success in the heat while Hawkfield Abbie in (4) keeps qualifying and is 20/1 to shock a few in this heat.
Trap (5) Ballymac Slick at 5/1 is lightly raced and you get the sense the best is yet to come Trap (6) Burj Khalifa is a strong running sort albeit maybe a bit behind on its best clocks at 12/1,
Unreal Bruiser at 9/2 has a great each-way chance!
English Greyhound Derby Odds
*Prices are subject to fluctuation.
