KING MEMPHIS heads into Saturday’s semi-finals of the 2024 Star Sports & TRC English Greyhound Derby off the back of another stunning front-running performance in the second quarter-final of the £175,000-to-the-winner Classic last weekend.

On a night 23 runners became 12 – soon to be six – King Memphis and Irish raider Boylesports Bob went into the semi-final draw for the world’s greatest greyhound race as the fastest winners after runaway victories in their respective quarter-finals on Saturday – with Liz McNair’s King Memphis again paw-perfect.

Pacing up inside in typically brilliant fashion, the December 2021 son of Droopys Sydney and Queen Beyonce was never headed as he tore away for a five and a quarter lengths success over Whyaye Man (Mark Wallis) in 28.65sec (normal), with Ballymac Gizmo (Liam Dowling) also securing his place in Saturday’s semi-finals.

Ireland’s Boylesports Bob was just three spots slower when winning the fourth quarter-final, Paul Hennessy’s strong-running sort pacing up more handily than when missing the break badly seven days previously and proving too strong for his rivals.

Cooliogold (Maxine Locke) led down the back here but Boylesports Bob was soon in full flow behind and took up the running at halfway before proceeding to pull away for a ten and a half lengths success in 28.68sec (normal) as his rivals crowded behind. Coss Tokyo (Maxine Locke) and De Lahdedah (Liam Dowling) emerged out of the pack to qualify.

Quarter-final night kicked off with victory for the Richard Rees-trained Churchfield Syd who produced another excellent effort in what proved an eventful contest after fast-trapping Crafty Shivoo (Mark Wallis) stumbled on the run-up and lost her position as the Hove raider swooped round in front and was on his way to a popular success.

Thereafter the June 2021 son of Droopys Sydney and Millbank Jade raced away for a three-and-a-quarter lengths success over youngster Droopys Pivotel (Maxine Locke) in 29.08sec (normal), with defending champion Gaytime Nemo (Graham Holland) getting up close home to deny Crafty Shivoo a place in the semis but ensuring his own Derby double bid remains a possibility.

Like Droopys Pivotel, Liam Dowling’s Ballymac Slick remains a pup and a real improver throughout the competition and came through in powerful style in the third quarter-final as the July 2022 son of Ballymac Cooper and Ballymac Merkle, a half-brother of the likes of Ballymac Taylor and Garfiney Blaze, caught The Other Kobe (Graham Holland) close home.

The latter, the reigning Irish Derby champion, had led for much of the way after pegging back fast-starting Droopys Doughnut at the turn before going on. However, the Irish youngster made a steady headway down the back before reeling in his older compatriot on the run for the line to win by a length and a quarter lengths in 29.22sec (normal). Third here was Edwards (Patrick Janssens).

Trap draw for Saturday’s Star Sports & TRC English Greyhound Derby semi-finals:-

First semi: 1 De Lahdedah (Liam Dowling), 2 Edwards (Patrick Janssens), 3 Gaytime Nemo (Graham Holland), 4 Whyaye Man (Mark Wallis), 5 Coss Tokyo (Maxine Locke), 6 Boylesports Bob (w) (Paul Hennessy).

Second semi: 1 Ballymac Gizmo (Liam Dowling), 2 The Other Kobe (Graham Holland), 3 Droopys Pivotel (Maxine Locke), 4 King Memphis (Liz McNair), 5 Ballymac Slick (m) (Liam Dowling), 5 Churchfield Syd (w) (Richard Rees).

Results: https://www.gbgb.org.uk/meeting/?meetingId=412313&raceId=1046195