Ireland and Holland go well but Aladdin also produces magic
GRAHAM HOLLAND took training honours with a treble as the £175,000 Star Sports/TRC English Derby got under way over 500m at Towcester on Thursday with a bit of something for everyone.
Holland was responsible for the two fastest heat winners in Val Tashadelek (28.81sec) and Cheap Sandwiches (28.91sec) while his outright favorite Bockos Diamond (29.23sec) also landed his opening test.
Former British Lion Mike Burton secured a Derby heat victory for the second year running with Droopys Aladdin emulating kennelate Droopys Priority in 2024 but the performance was notable for much more than that with the 28.96sec winner claiming the scalp of leading fancy Proper Heiress on merit.
He was also quickest through our back straight sectional point in 15.85sec (full table below video replays).
Greyhound of the Year Wicky Ned took a final bend tumble when out of contention behind Bockos Diamond but was reported fine afterwards.
The 10 heat winners were shared equally between the UK and Ireland.
Rd 1 Heat 1 - 1st T3 Jaytee Craze 29.24sec, trainer Paul Hennessy (Ire)
The Irish challenge for a 4th successive English Derby title got off to the perfect start as JAYTEE CRAZE first overpowered long-time leader Salacres Tipster, who made him battle hard, and then saw off strong-finishing Droopys Bookem to claim a length victory in 29.24sec.
Heat 2 - 1st T6 Tiffield Tarquin 28.94sec, trainer Roy Peckham
TIFFIELD TARQUIN made it back-to-back odds-on favourites with a foot-perfect display. Pinging on the outside, he held fast-up Bubbly Charger to the turn and was always in command afterwards, coing home nearly seven lengths clear in 28.94sec. Salacres Senan was third.
Heat 3 - 1st T2 Teejays Chelms 29.27sec, trainer Paul Young
A £25,500 sales topper at the track in March, TEEJAYS CHELMS went a long way to suggesting that was money well spent. He was pursued by heavily-supported Ballymac Rapid for much of the way before that rival tired then held the flying finish of wide-running Maiden Derby champion Hello Diego by just over a length in 29.27sec with always prominent Keefill Maverick third.
Heat 4 - 1st T1 Droopys Trade 29.34sec, trainer Patrick Janssens
DROOPYS TRADE rebounded from losing his unbeaten UK record when beaten in the Gymcrack final at Sheffield. Pacing up well to lead at the first bend, he could never truly shake off eye-catching Arthur Job but held on by half a length with powerful Droopys Heiress a distant third
Heat 5 - 1st T3 Droopys Aladdin 28.96sec, trainer Mike Burton
DROOPYS ALADDIN shocked leading fancy Proper Heiress but there was no fluke about the result as Valley track registered a first round victory for the second successive year. A fast start saw the winner in front and, try as he might, Proper Heiress could never bridge the gap, eventually going down by a shade over a length as Betgoodwin Ed stayed on for third.
Heat 6 - 1st T6 Bockos Diamond 29.23sec, trainer Graham Holland(Ire)
BOCKOS DIAMOND was not at his brilliant and dominant best but got the job done while being given a useful test. The complexion of the race was changed completely when rank outsider Killieford Goram catapulted out to a 3.95sec sectional, Bockos Diamond recovering to challenge at the first bend then go on just before halfway. Killiford Goram kept to the task well but the ante-post favourite scored by a length with Ballymac Blanco well beaten behind in third.
Heat 7 - 1st T5 Droopys Prefect 29.46sec, trainer Maxine Locke
DROOPYS PREFECT just prevailed from Dark Madam in a scrappy sort of contest. With odds-on favourite Gary The Arb dropping away after early crowding, the front two had the race between them throughout, with Dark Madam perhaps even showing in front close home before Droopys Prefect put his head down when it mattered. Heres Ringo closed late in third.
Heat 8 - 1st T2 Ballymac Pebb 29.31sec, trainer Liam Dowling (Ire)
BALLYMAC PEBB scored thanks to some decent trackcraft. Off the pace early, he railed into contention round the first couple of bends and then took advantage when Prince Naseem went the long way round to challenge tiring leader Swords Don at three-quarters. Asserting on the run-in, the winner scored by a length from Prince Naseem with strong Never Say No qualifying.
Heat 9 - 1st T1 Val Tashadelek 28.81sec, trainer Graham Holland (Ire)
VAL TASHADELEK completed a double for Graham Holland and made it 4 Irish winners on the night with a fine all-round display. The margin of victory over an extremely gallant and committed Romeo Tomcat may have been narrow but the best-of-night winning time proves what a superb race the pair ran with the runner-up refusing to buckle after losing an initial advantage, Droopys Job was well back in third.
Heat 10 - 1st T6 Cheap Sandwiches 28.91sec, trnr Graham Holland (Ire)
CHEAP SANDWICHES made it 5 for Ireland and a treble for Graham Holland with a display which will be remembered for a superb back straight surge. That took him well clear of his rivals and he would surely have gone quicker overall but for just tiring a little on the run for home as Glory Lord chased him down to two lengths with always-handy Droopys Invent third.
Back straight sectionals of Thursday qualifiers
15.85 | Droopys Aladdin | |
15.88 | Cheap Sandwiches | |
16.00 | Proper Heiress | |
16.03 | Val Tashadelek | |
16.06 | Tiffield Tarquin | |
16.08 | Romeo Tomcat | |
16.09 | Teejays Chelms | |
16.11 | Bockos Diamond | |
16.12 | Glory Lord | |
16.13 | Salacres Tipster | |
16.13 | Droopys Invent | |
16.17 | Prince Naseem | |
16.18 | Killieford Goram | |
16.21 | Ballymac Pebb | |
16.24 | Jaytee Craze | |
16.24 | Droopys Trade | |
16.26 | Bubbly Charger | |
16.29 | Ballymac Blanco | |
16.30 | Salacres Senan | |
16.30 | Droopys Prefect | |
16.33 | Dark Madam | |
16.33 | Droopys Job | |
16.35 | Arthur Job | |
16.36 | Droopys Bookem | |
16.37 | Keefill Maverick | |
16.37 | Never Say No | |
16.46 | Hello Diego | |
16.47 | Betgoodwin Ed | |
16.55 | Droopys Heiress | |