The Derby

Holland treble as Irish dominate on night of fancied winners

• 2 min read
Holland treble as Irish dominate on night of fancied winners
Irish Derby champ The Other Kobe after completing a Graham Holland treble Pic X:@GreyhoundBoard


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.

Holland's Swords Rex, looking every bit the greyhound who got to last year's final unbeaten, put down an early marker when cracking out to a 3.93sec sectional in heat one as he made all to beat Scaglietti by five and a half lengths in 28.73sec (normal).

Reigning champion Gaytime Nemo was the next Holland winner in heat four, another to dominate throughout as he accounted for Bockos Thunder by two and a half lengths in 28.76sec. Remarkably, his 2/1 SP was the joint-biggest winning price in the Derby heats.

The Holland treble was completed by Irish Derby champion The Other Kobe in the post-watering heat eight as he emulated the 3.97sec sectional of Swords Rex and probably went even further clear than his kennelmate before tiring a little late as he beat Hawkfield Blue by just under two lengths in 28.99sec.

Performance of the night arguably came from Liam Dowling's De Lahdedah as he mowed down dual Category One winner Churchfield Syd from way off the pace to take heat six in 28.91sec and he has been promoted to 8/1 joint-favourite outright alongside King Memphis by co-sponsor Star Sports.

However, the honour of fastest time of the night went to the other Irish winner, Pat Buckley's Superfast Gorden, who gave start and a significant beating to Clonbrien Treaty as he posted 28.71sec in heat seven.

The aforementioned King Memphis was the UK star as Liz McNair's big hope made light of what many had felt was a tricky draw in heat three. Soon in charge, he beat Druids All Go by five and a half lengths in 28.78sec.

Newinn Syd (29.01sec) was a dominant winner for Mark Wallis in heat two where he made full use of the inside draw, while Maxine Locke's Cooliogold saw off the early challenge of Road Exile then powered on to beat Bluejig Baron by a couple of lengths as he posted 29.14sec in heat five.