Deniro does the talking, Ireland take Derby numerical supremacy

THE 2026 Star Sports & Orchestrate English Greyhound Derby is down to the final 12 with Ireland enjoying numerical supremacy for the first time with 8 semi-finalists compared to the UK's 4.

Ballymac Deniro was the quarter-final star with Liam Dowling's charge clocking a best-of-night 28.21sec for Towcester's 500m course but John Kennedy's track record holder Epic Ace maintained the sole unbeaten record in the event with a comfortable 28.40sec victory.

It was the ladies who kept the home flag flying with contrasting style wins for Maxine Locke's Scooby The Lady (28.49sec) and Mark Wallis' Strike It Skye (28.50sec).

Jonathan Kay from sisracing.tv and leading Irish commentator Ian Fortune are keeping tabs on each country's progress and, in episode five, there is both a look back to the talking points from the quarter-finals and ahead to this weekend's semis.