Desire quickest as Hennessy, Janssens and Locke double up
IT was a case of doubles all round as the initial stage of the Star Sports/TRC English Derby drew to a close with the final 11 heats over 500m at Towcester on Saturday.
Fastest time of the session came from Lennies Desire (28.8sec), trained by Paul Hennessy who subsequently also sent out 2024 runner-up Boylesports Bob to a strong-running victory, while there were also doubles for Patrick Janssens and Maxine Locke, although she did see leading fancy Headford Asher eliminated.
Also noteworthy was the 28.62sec victory of Pat Buckley's unexposed Ballinabola Joe which came on the back of a best-of-round 15.64sec back straight sectional (full Saturday list under replays).
Round 1 Heat 22 - 1st T1 Soul Choice 29.13sec, trainer Paul Marchant
SOUL CHOICE opened his British account by running down long-time leader Back To Black close home. Favourite Droopys Maximus was first to show but did not have the pace of his chief rivals and turned only third as Back To Black raced clear of Soul Choice. However, the leader had only had one sprint trial in over two weeks and seemed to blow up as Soul Choice went past for a three-parts of a length win in 29.13sec with Droopys Maximus a length and a half away.
Heat 23 - 1st T6 Lennies Desire 28.58sec, trainer Paul Hennessy (Ire)
LENNIES DESIRE clocked the second quickest time of the opening round where only his winning margin was exaggerated by first bend trouble not his superiority. Showing himself far more suited to a wide draw than the rails from which he was beaten favourite in the Maiden Derby final, he had already sped past lid-pinging Golden Palace to take total control before that crowding in behind left him in splendid isolation. He would eventually score by almost ten lengths from Vhagar in a rapid 28.58sec with Thats It Jack nearly six lengths further adrift.
Heat 24 - 1st T2 Barntick Bear 29.08sec, trainer Patrick Janssens
BARNTICK BEAR was made to work before justifying odds-on favoritism although the TR holder never really looked in danger of defeat. His biggest moment of concern came when forced to check off the second but he was soon back on an even keel and collared Aero Sacundai on the run-in for a near two lengths victory in 29.08sec. Early leader Swift Underwater rallied in third.
Heat 25 - 1st T1 Rapido Ali 28.98sec, trainer Patrick Browne
RAPIDO ALI (28.98sec) recovered from an average break to ultimately win with a bit in hand although Ballymac Tibet caught the eye. Outsider of four Hurry Up Brendan pinged and led early but left plenty of room for Rapido Ali to pass inside along the back and the Hove dog duly went clear. Odds-on Ballymac Tibet was slowly away and all at sea early, keeping very wide round the first two bends, but got the hang of things in the second half to be beaten just over two lengths.
Heat 26 - 1st T6 Droopys Plunge 28.64sec, trainer Patrick Janssens
DROOPYS PLUNGE built on his excellent Juvenile second by outclassing his rivals. A fast start allowed him to make the bend in front and it was a case of how far from that point - he ultimately scored by six and a half lengths from Scooby Pacemaker in a rapid 28.64sec. Both the runner-up and third-placed Deliveroo battled on without making an impression on the winner.
Heat 27 - 1st T6 Bombay Pat 28.81sec, trainer Graham Holland (Ire)
BOMBAY PAT, at 2/13 the shortest-priced greyhound in the whole first round, shrugged off a slow start with a professional performance. Having paced up, he kept a wide course rounding the opening bends, swept into the lead off the second and went away. Kevins Rocket chased him gamely in second, holding Wrighty for that position behind the 28.81sec winner.
Heat 28 - 1st T1 Cooliogold 28.99sec, trainer Maxine Locke
COOLIOGOLD celebrated his fourth birthday at the start of the month but punters piled on the 2024 quarter-finalist and it proved inspired. Soon at the head of affairs, he was marginally closed down by Blue Riband champion Table Toppers along the back but re-asserted when that rival was forced to check off the final bend. He beat Uncle Freddie by a length in 28.99sec.
Heat 29 - 1st T6 Ballinabola Joe 28.62sec, trainer Pat Buckley (Ire)
A winning margin of half a length does not reflect the hugely impressive nature of victory for BALLINABOLA JOE, who left his rivals toiling with a superb display of early and middle pace. He began to falter slightly from the three-quarter mark and compatriot and Irish Leger third Barefoot On Fire closed him down to a half a length but the winning time of 28.62sec spoke volumes. Nine Percent was a very distant third.
Heat 30 - 1st T6 Boylesports Bob 29.16sec, trainer Paul Hennessy (Ire)
BOYLESPORTS BOB, runner-up behind De Lahdedah last year, pounced late to get his campaign off to a winning start. Perhaps the race was run to suit with a speed battle up front but the 29.16sec winner still had work to do and cleverly checked inside to deliver his decisive challenge just as Fabulous Sonique had finally got the better of Droopys Metaphor. That dog ran a blinder on his British debut, leading for a long way and only giving best in the dying strides.
Heat 31 - 1st T1 Ballybough Nutz 28.87sec, trainer Maxine Locke
BALLYBOUGH NUTZ suffered heartbreak in the Maiden Derby final when caught late by Hello Diego but returned to Towcester a stronger all-round dog and produced an impressive display. A 3.93sec sectional allied to superb early pace quickly saw him clear and he powered on to beat Teddie by five lengths plus in 28.87sec. The runner-up, who was involved in early scrimmaging when moving middle, rallied late to claim a five lengths plus second ahead of Crokers Prince.
Heat 32 - 1st T6 Churchfield Syd 29.00sec, trainer Richard Rees
CHURCHFIELD SYD just held fellow 2024 finalist Sunnyside Broxi in a thrilling finale to round one. A month shy of his fourth birthday, the winner showed his trademark early to go clear, taking a markedly middle to rails path from his wide draw, and then dug in resolutely as always-handy Sunnyside Broxi closed in. The pursuer switched outside on the run-in and lunged as the line neared but was held by a head in 29.00sec with Pain Barrier a never-dangerous third.
Back straight sectionals of Saturday qualifiers
15.64 Ballinabola Joe
15.78 Ballybough Nutz
15.85 Bombay Pat
15.85 Cooliogold
15.86 Barefoot On Fire
15.88 Lennies Desire
15.91 Droopys Plunge
15.92 Churchfield Syd
15.95 Droopys Metaphor
15.97 Table Toppers
15.99 Back To Black
15.99 Kevins Rocket
16.02 Fabulous Sonique
16.04 Aero Sacundai
16.04 Rapido Ali
16.06 Hurry Up Brendan
16.08 Swift Underwater
16.09 Barntick Bear
16.09 Sunnyside Broxi
16.11 Wrighty
16.14 Scooby Pacemaker
16.16 Crokers Planet
16.18 Uncle Freddie
16.23 Deliverooo
16.23 Boylesports Bob
16.25 Soul Choice
16.26 Teddie
16.30 Ballymac Tibet
16.30 Pain Barrier
16.41 Nine Percent
16.42 Droopys Maximus
16.51 Vhagar
16.80 Thats It Jack