The 2026 English Greyhound Derby has reached the quarter-final stage at Towcester , with 24 survivors battling it out on Saturday, 23 May, for a place in the semi-finals. The competition has already produced shocks, with pre-competition favourites Bockos Diamond and Cheap Sandwiches both making early exits, leaving a fascinating and open field heading into the business end.
The reigning champion is Droopys Plunge , trained by Patrick Janssens . The last English-trained winner also came courtesy of Janssens , when Thorn Falcon took the prize in 2021.
EGD Schedule
Remaining English Greyhound Derby Schedule
Round | Date |
|---|---|
Quarter Finals | Saturday 23 May |
Semi Finals | Saturday 30 May |
Final | Saturday 6 June |
Outright Odds
2026 English Greyhound Derby Outright Odds
Dog | Odds | Chance |
|---|---|---|
Ballymac Duffle | 5/1 | 16.7% |
Ballymac Deniro | 8/1 | 11.1% |
Ballymac Ralf | 8/1 | 11.1% |
Proper Heiress | 10/1 | 9.1% |
Scooby The Lady | 10/1 | 9.1% |
Epic Ace | 12/1 | 7.7% |
Strike It Skye | 14/1 | 6.7% |
Hackney Corner | 14/1 | 6.7% |
Bar | 16/1 | 5.9% |
Heat 1
Heat 1
Trap | Dog | Odds | Chance |
|---|---|---|---|
1 | Proper Heiress | 6/4 | 40% |
2 | Epic Ace | 11/8 | 42.1% |
3 | Underground Gold | 4/1 | 20% |
4 | Droopys Aladdin | 10/1 | 9.1% |
5 | Bubbly Hogan | 33/1 | 2.9% |
6 | Ballymac Iroko | 20/1 | 4.8% |
The heat of the night. Proper Heiress (Trap 1, 6/4), trained by Mark Wallis , is the GBGB Greyhound of the Year and has been three from three in this year's Derby , clocking 28.42sec in round two. His early pace from the inside rail should give him a significant advantage.
Epic Ace (Trap 2, 11/8), trained by John Kennedy in Ireland , goes off as the marginal favourite on the strength of his stunning 28.37sec in round two, equalling the track record. When he finds a clean break, his raw pace is breathtaking, though his tendency to miss the kick remains the one concern.
Underground Gold (Trap 3, 4/1), trained by Paul Young , is the Ladbrokes Puppy Derby champion and has won all three of his Derby heats. He draws ideally to capitalise if the two market leaders clash at the bend.
Elsewhere, Droopys Aladdin is an experienced front-runner from trap four who will look to lead and make it a true test of stamina, while Bubbly Hogan is a strong-finishing type who will relish it if the early pace is fierce between the market leaders, and Ballymac Iroko has shown a tendency to come from off the pace and a scrappy early bend could bring him right into the mix.
Verdict: Epic Ace gets the nod on pace, but Proper Heiress from the inside at 6/4 is the each-way value. If Epic Ace misses the kick, Heiress wins easily.
Heat 2
Heat 2
Trap | Dog | Odds | Chance |
|---|---|---|---|
1 | Sole Focus | 33/1 | 2.9% |
2 | Scooby The Lady | 11/4 | 26.7% |
3 | Gaytime Clyde | 10/3 | 23.1% |
4 | Ballymac Duffle | 8/11 | 57.9% |
5 | Priceless Romeo | 16/1 | 5.9% |
6 | Swift Magnison | 25/1 | 3.8% |
Ballymac Duffle (Trap 4, 8/11), trained by Liam Dowling , is the banker of the night. Unbeaten through three rounds and having broken the Towcester track record twice (28.37sec then 28.31sec), he has the pace to dominate from any draw.
Scooby The Lady (Trap 2, 3/1), trained by Richard Rees , is the most dangerous rival. The reigning Arena Racing Company Kent Plate champion won her third-round heat in 28.58sec and has already beaten Proper Heiress this year. She represents genuine each-way value if you fancy an upset.
Meanwhile, Sole Focus is a front-runner who will look to make use of the inside trap and could steal a march if Ballymac Duffle is slow to assert from trap four, Priceless Romeo is a consistent galloper who tends to improve as races develop and will be staying on strongly through the line, while Swift Magnison is a powerful finisher who could pick up the pieces if the leaders burn each other out.
Verdict: Ballymac Duffle should win this with something in hand. Scooby The Lady each-way at 3/1 is the value option.
Heat 3
Heat 3
Trap | Dog | Odds | Chance |
|---|---|---|---|
1 | Donishall Sam | 12/1 | 7.7% |
2 | Lennies Eddie | 5/4 | 44.4% |
3 | Droopys Sort | 40/1 | 2.9% |
4 | Ballymac Deniro | 11/10 | 47.6% |
5 | Texas Jack | 16/1 | 5.9% |
6 | Lennies Tank | 6/1 | 14.3% |
The most open heat of the night. Lennies Eddie (Trap 2, 5/4) is the slight second favourite and comes in off a dominant third-round win, with Trap 2 an ideal draw for his running style.
Ballymac Deniro (Trap 4, 5/4), trained by Liam Dowling , is the marker leader. He has improved with every run at Towcester, and his progressive form makes him a genuine contender. Lennies Tank at 6/1 from Trap 6 is the each-way value, capable of beating any dog in the competition when at his best.
Beyond the principals, Donishall Sam is a powerful early-pacer from trap one who will look to lead and could prove a real nuisance if he gets a clean first bend, Texas Jack is a strong middle-to-late runner who tends to stay on well and will be finishing with purpose from trap five, while Droopys Sort is a wide runner who improves as races develop and will be staying on strongly if there is any scrimmaging up front.
Verdict: Too tight to call between the two joint-favourites. Ballymac Deniro gets the nod on progressive form. Lennies Tank at 6/1 is the each-way selection.
Heat 4
Heat 4
Trap | Dog | Odds | Chance |
|---|---|---|---|
1 | Goldcash Warrior | 6/1 | 14.3% |
2 | Strike It Skye | 9/4 | 30.8% |
3 | Ballymac Ralf | 6/4 | 40% |
4 | Hackney Corner | 3/1 | 25% |
5 | Getup The Boy | 14/1 | 6.7% |
6 | Slick Sentinel | 16/1 | 5.9% |
Ballymac Ralf (Trap 3, 6/4), trained by Liam Dowling , goes off the correct favourite. The litter-brother of Ballymac Duffle clocked 28.47sec in round two and draws well in Trap 3. Dowling 's mastery of this track is a major asset at the business end of the competition.
Strike It Skye (Trap 2, 5/2), trained by Mark Wallis , is the main danger. She won her third-round heat in 28.57 seconds and got the inside rail to utilise her early pace. Hackney Corner (Trap 4, 3/1), trained by Pat Buckley , is always a danger when he traps quickly.
Nonetheless, Goldcash Warrior is an aggressive front-runner from trap one who will look to make all and could set a searching pace that tests the market leaders, Getup The Boy is a relentless galloper from trap five who tends to stay on strongly and will be eating into any lead late on, while Slick Sentinel has a low raking style that suits Towcester 's long straights and should not be dismissed from the outside trap.
Verdict: Ballymac Ralf should win this, but Strike It Skye each-way at 9/4 from the inside rail is the value selection.
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Bill is as passionate about Irish football as they come, with an agonising longing to see his country grace a World Cup stage. A League of Ireland devotee and lifelong Man United fan, he knows better than most what sporting heartbreak feels like, and brings that perspective to the BOYLE Sports Blog. With roots in greyhound racing and a curiosity spanning politics, snooker, WWE and beyond, there is rarely a sporting conversation he cannot add to.
