Lahdedah shocks Dowling with brilliant statement opening win
DE LAHDEDAH was the undoubted star of Friday's second night action in the 2025 Star Sports/TRC English Greyhound Derby with Liam Dowling's reigning champion producing the best Towcester 500m run of the year in heat 14.
One of five Irish winners on the night - Graham Holland landed a double to go with Thursday's treble while there were also victories for Peter Cronin and Paul Hennessy - De Lahdedah blitzed his rivals to win in 28.50sec, just six spots outside the record, in what seemed a surprise to his trainer (below).
Trainer Liam Dowling did not think 28.50sec was "in De Lahdedah's locker first time"
De Lahdedah also set a best back straight time of 15.75sec on a night when eight greyhounds went through our mark in better than 16sec compared to just two on Thursday.
Patrick Janssens shared training honours with Holland as he landed a double of his own courtesy of Romeo Empire and Slick Sentinel.
Rd 1 Heat 11 - 1st T6 Newinn Benni 29.15sec, trainer Derek Knight
NEWINN BENNI, the 2024 Sussex Cup champion, led home a Hove one-two when battling hard to hold off trackmate Missile One. The pair had the race between the from the first bend but the winner was always doing just enough and prevailed by a neck in 29.15sec with Rackethall Brute once again staying on powerfully to ensure qualification in third place.
Ht 12 - 1st T4 No Better Feelin 29.32sec, trainer Esther Driver
NO BETTER FEELIN drove into the first bend to take command in a race which was a personal triumph for trainer Esther Driver. She also provided the forecast in Hopes Ompaloompa, who may have been a shade unfortunate as he rallied strongly having been squeezed out early, beaten just under two lengths in 29.32sec. Always prominent Gingers Shelby was third.
Ht 13 - 1st T2 Faypoint Susie 29.05sec, trainer Graham Holland (Ire)
FAYPOINT SUSIE pulled off the amazing feat of winning a first round English Derby heat for a third successive year - first was for John Mullins in 2023 and the last two for Graham Holland. On this occasion she got inside fellow fast-starter Tricky Wiggles just before the bend and went on to beat Droppys Suprstar by a length and a half in 29.05sec with Tricky Wiggles third.
Ht 14 - 1st T1 De Lahdedah 28.50sec, trainer Liam Dowling (Ire)
The reigning champion DE LAHDEDAH produced a breathtaking performance to confirm his title will not be relinquished lightly. In what was a one greyhound affair, he blasted out to a 2025 Derby equal-best 3.95sec sectional and was predictably soon well clear. His only race was against the overall clock which he stopped in 28.50sec, second best ever for the trip and a mere six spots outside Barntick Bear's record. Clona Curly and Druids All Go qualified.
Ht 15 - 1st T2 Faypoint Harvey 29.05sec, trainer Graham Holland (Ire)
FAYPOINT HARVEY, the 2024 Juvenile winner over the C&D, proved unfazed by the startling burst of early pace shown by former kennelmate Romeo Steel to pass him after he had pinged. Staying within striking distance of the new leader, he closed in between the last two bends and asserted again off the last to score by almost two lengths in 28.99sec with Brinkleys Louis third.
Ht 16 - 1st T3 Keefill Goose 28.90sec, trainer Phil Milner
KEEFILL GOOSE dominated throughout and dug in when it mattered to win in a smart 28.90sec but the undoubted eye-catcher was Shelbourne 600 runner-up Singalong Molly in second. She was flat-footed at traps and wide at the first on her first look at Towcester then flew from the second and, but for running off again at the last, might have got even closer than the three-parts of a length she was ultimately beaten. Boylesports Blue was a never-dangerous third.
Ht 17 - 1st T1 Sole Mio 29.02sec, trainer Peter Cronin (Ire)
Kirby Memorial runner-up SOLE MIO landed a second career success thanks to a fine burst of early pace. Outsider Flashing Fender was first to show but Sole Mio comfortably won the race to the bend and opened up in style along the back. Odds-on March On Freddie had struggled to keep up with the pacesetters but went into overdrive from the third bend, closing fast to be beaten only half a length in 29.02sec. Flashing Fender held on for third.
Ht 18 - 1st T6 Dynamic Force 28.86sec, trainer Paul Hennessy (Ire)
DYNAMIC FORCE ensured that Ireland matched Thursday's total of five heat winners with a dominant display. His rivals were unable to live with his initial burst of speed and he remained well clear throughout, eventually coming home three and a half lengths to the good of Antigua Kestrel in 28.86sec with Savana Merapi claiming third a similar distance back.
Ht 19 - 1st T1 Romeo Empire 29.04sec, trainer Patrick Janssens
ROMEO EMPIRE wore down long-time leader Indian Bonnie to justify heavy support. The key moment came at the opening turn when the winner was able to negotiate a clear rails path to go after the pacesetter, eventually getting to her close home. Ballymac Lucia ran an extraordinary race in second just over a length behind the 29.04sec winner, coming from way off the pace after easing when prominent but in traffic early. She shaded kennelate Indian Bonnie for silver.
Ht 20 - 1st T6 Slick Sentinel 29.01sec, trainer Patrick Janssens
Catch-me-if-you-can tactics proved effective for SLICK SENTINEL (29.01sec) who led from traps and had just enough in hand to hold on. Scooby The Boss eroded a deficit of some three lengths entering the back straight to challenge off the last but switched outside the winner which may have been key. Veteran 2023 runner-up Romeo Command made it a 1-3 for trainer Janssens.
Ht 21 - 1st T4 Slingshot Sam 29.05sec, trainer Brian Fairburn
SLINGSHOT SAM held Burrows Eclipse in a real thriller to end Friday proceedings. It was a first UK victory away from home base Newcastle, with a mixture of early and middle pace taking him some five lengths clear at the third bend. It proved a long way home as Burrows Eclipse closed inexorably but the line came just in time as he prevailed by a short-head in 29.05sec.
Back straight sectionals of Friday qualifiers
15.71 De Lahdedah
15.85 Romeo Steel
15.91 Slick Sentinel
15.92 Keefill Goose
15.94 Sole Mio
15.94 Dynamic Force
15.94 Slingshot Sam
15.99 Faypoint Harvey
16.02 Newinn Benni
16.03 Scooby The Boss
16.08 Faypoint Susie
16.09 Brinkleys Louis
16.09 Singalong Molly
16.11 Missile One
16.13 Druids All Go
16.14 Droopys Suprstr
16.15 Tricky Wiggles
16.15 Indian Bonnie
16.15 Romeo Command
16.17 No Better Feelin
16.17 Burrows Charm
16.18 Flashing Fender
16.21 Antigua Kestrel
16.26 Gingers Shelby
16.26 Clona Curly
16.28 Romeo Empire
16.32 One Slick Jamie
16.36 March On Freddie
16.43 Hopes Ompaloompa
16.47 Boylesports Blue
16.52 Ballymac Lucia
16.55 Savana Merapi
16.58 Rackethall Brute