DRUIDS SAY GO emulated kennelmate Coolavanny Shado’s feat 12 months previously when setting the standard with a fastest time in the heats of the Click Competitions 78th East Anglian Greyhound Derby at Yarmouth – and remains one of the leading contenders for outright honours heading into Wednesday’s semi-finals.

The Coral Golden Sprint finalist led early in heat five and never looked in danger as the September 2021 daughter of Droopys Sydney and Druids Diana drew steadily clear of the chasing pack to score by two and three-quarters from the staying-on Wrighty (John Mullins), clocking 27.55sec (normal) for the 462m trip.

The seaside venue’s biggest competition of the year kicked off with a one-two for Hove trainer Belinda Green as Beaming Panther produced a strong-running display to lead home staying-on kennelmate Gary The Arb in heat one in 27.67sec (normal), before the locals then dominated heat two with a one-two-three for Yarmouth-trained runners.

Murrow Inkosi came through rounding the last bend to strike gold for Richard Fitch in 28.00sec (normal), crossing the line a length clear of Trumpers Bobcat (Kevin Cobbold) and Bombay The Joker, the latter giving John Mullins another semi-finalist given Swift Depot then stuck gold in heat three, finishing best to reel in longtime leader Millbank Boiler (Gemma Evans) for a half-length success in 27.74sec (normal).

Mullins, winner of the East Anglian Derby in 2014 with Swift Keith, said: “Everyone knows this competition has a special place in the family’s heart and I’ll never forget that night – and it’s always seems to get brought up, which I’ve never minded.

“We’ve got three through to the semis and it’s a bit disappointing to see them all together in one heat,” added Mullins on the first semi-final line-up which sees the kennel represented by Wrighty, Bombay The Joker and Swift Depot.

“Then again, we’ve got three chances to get a finalist – maybe two, who knows? You just need luck to go your way to get to the final, which would be great.

“Yarmouth on East Anglian Derby final night is one of the best places to be. It’s a great atmosphere, they know their greyhounds in that part of the world, and it’s still one of the best trophies to win in the sport.”

Paul Young’s 14-1 chance Bombay Zero led off the second bend in heat four for a length and a half success over Nowhere To Go (Sally Johnson) in 27.98sec (normal), while the remaining heat six went to Craig Marston’s 33-1 chance Whisky Eagle who finished best for an upset in 27.97sec, edging Vis A Vis (Jason Bloomfield) and early leader Bramble Linton (Steve Anderson).

Trap draw for Wednesday’s Click Competitions 78th East Anglian Greyhound Derby semi-finals:-

First semi: 1 Wrighty, 2 Bramble Linton 3 Trumper Bobcat, 4 Bombay The Joker, 5 Vis A Vis (m), 6 Swift Depot (m).

Second semi: 1 Druids Say Go, 2 Bombay Zero, 3 Gary The Arb, 4 Millbank Boiler, 5 Nowhere To Go (m), 6 Whisky Eagle (m).

Third semi: 1 Lion Heart, 2 Ballymac John, 3 Newinn Sharky, 4 Murrow Inkosi (m), 5 Getup Me Son (m), 6 Beaming Panther (w).