Friday's 2nd round Derby heats - replays, head-ons and reaction

SWORDS REX was ultimately usurped as fastest second round heat winner in the Star Sports/TRC Derby at Towcester on Friday but Graham Holland's charge took halfway sectional honours.

Last year's final beaten favourite won the opening heat in 28.73sec (normal), a time which set the standard until Pat Buckley's Superfast Gorden went two spots faster in heat seven but stopwatch guru Ray Bourne reports Swords Rex as fastest through halfway on the night in 13.73sec.

Holland treble as Irish dominate on night of fancied winners

FIVE Irish-trained winners, including a Graham Holland treble, headlined another tremendous night of Classic action as the Star Sports/TRC Derby resumed with the opening eight second round heats over 500m at Towcester on Friday.

SIS RacingJonathan Kay

Next best was heat eight-winning kennelmate The Other Kobe (13.76sec), while Richard Rees' Churchfield Syd, who was ultimately run down by Liam Dowling's inspired De Lahdedah in heat six, clocked 13.81sec.

Trap four took round two honours on Friday with three wins, there were two apiece for traps one and two with the other winner coming from five.

Post-race interviews by Joe Conneely and courtesy of Star Sports. Head-on footage courtesy of Ayozat.

Ht 1 - 1st T5 Swords Rex (28.73sec), trainer Graham Holland (Ire)

Ht 2 - 1st T1 Newinn Syd (29.01sec), trainer Mark Wallis

Ht 3 - 1st T2 King Memphis (28.78sec), trainer Liz McNair

Ht 4 - 1st T1 Gaytime Nemo (28.76sec), trainer Graham Holland (Ire)

Ht 5 - 1st T4 Cooliogold (29.14sec), trainer Maxine Locke

Ht 6 - 1st T4 De Lahdedah (28.91sec), trainer Liam Dowling (Ire)

Ht 7 - 1st T4 Superfast Gorden (28.71sec), trainer Pat Buckley (Ire)

Ht 8 - 1st T2 The Other Kobe (28.99sec), trainer Graham Holland (Ire)