THE English Greyhound Derby trophy is heading back to Ireland.

Saturday’s £125,000 final of the Star Sports & Orchestrate Ltd-sponsored Classic at Towcester – now a five-runner affair after the unfortunate withdrawal of Paul Hennessy’s Lennies Tank – will be an all-Irish affair after last weekend’s semi-finals of the famous race saw a clean sweep for the visitors.

It means Ireland will have won seven of the last 11 English Greyhound Derbys and each of the legendary and hugely successful handlers involved in Saturday’s showpiece have enjoyed English Derby success.

Liam Dowling, with three of the finalists, won with De Lahdedah two years ago and has racked up a host of finalists over the years. He has qualified Ballymac Duffle, Ballymac Ralf and Ballymac Deniro – all three owned, bred and trained by the Co. Kerry-based handler, with Duffle and Ralf litter brothers.

Paul Hennessy has won two English Derbys with Jaytee Jet at Wimbledon in 2016 and Priceless Blake at Nottingham in 2019. He still sends out Lennies Eddie in Saturday’s 500m final, despite having to withdraw Lennies Tank, both runners owned by Lee Craze.

Pat Buckley sends out Hackney Corner for the Hackney Boy Syndicate looking to repeat his victory in 2020 at Nottingham with Deerjet Sydney.

It means for the first time in the history of the event, the English Greyhound Derby Final will be an all-Irish affair as the UK challenge for the world’s greatest greyhound race came to an end at the semi-final stage, but only after some brilliant performances from the Irish-trained runners – not least Ballymac Deniro and Hackney Corner.

A superb winner of the first semi-final, Ballymac Deniro laid claim to the UK’s biggest prize with a hugely impressive 28.15sec (normal) victory, just one spot off Epic Ace’s track record set in the third round. Leading at the bend, Liam Dowling’s runner was away and on his way to a super-quick victory over the 500m trip at the Northamptonshire circuit.

UK runner Strike It Skye (Mark Wallis) had trapped in front here but failed to hold her position into the turn and was crowded out of contention as Paul Hennessy’s Lennies Eddie and the winner’s kennelmate Ballymac Duffle filled the places behind Ballymac Deniro, who up ahead had given the track record a real shake.

A tremendous burst of early pace saw Pat Buckley’s Hackney Corner race away for victory in the second semi-final, getting first run on UK duo of Proper Heiress (Mark Wallis) and Scooby The Lady (Richard Rees).

The last-named pair were in the qualifying positions for much of the way but were unable to hold the powerful finishes of Paul Hennessy’s Lennies Tank and Liam Dowling’s Ballymac Ralf who completed an Irish one-two-three here behind the 28.34sec (normal) winner.

Connections of the six finalists were invited to the traditional Derby lunch at Towcester on Monday where the trap draw was made for the Star Sports & Orchestrate Ltd. English Greyhound Derby.

The draw was as follows: 1 Ballymac Duffle, 2 Ballymac Ralf, 3 Lennies Eddie, 4 Hackney Corner (m), 5 Ballymac Deniro (w), 6 Lennies Tank (w). Lennies Tank has subsequently been withdrawn.

Saturday’s final is the highlight of the sport’s biggest meeting of the year with a 15-race all-open card including a host of finals and a number of the sport’s major stars due to run.

The first race at Towcester is at 5.18pm and doors open at 3pm.