GRAHAM HOLLAND started where he left off with a four-from-four return – including defending champion Romeo Magico – as the first of three nights of first-round action for the 2023 Star Sports & TRC English Greyhound Derby kicked off at Towcester on Thursday.

Back-to-back wins for last year’s Derby-winning trainer courtesy of Romeo Magico (29.43sec) and Romeo Hanzo (28.94sec) in heats two and three respectively were later followed by wins for Crytopunk (29.09sec) and a fastest-of-the-night success from ante-post favourite Swords Rex (28.93sec -10), the Easter Cup champion, in heat ten.

“You could say that’s not a bad day at the office!” said Holland as he reflected on the kennel’s flying start to the Classic, albeit admitted no-one is getting ahead of themselves. “This is just the start and there is a long way to go. Times are nice but it’s about winning – actually, even more importantly, it’s about qualifying.

“Once again our thanks go to our friends David and Nicola Firmager (Romeo Magico’s owners and breeders) who we are once again staying with. Nicky and Rachel (wife and daughter) have been here a week already and, while we’ll be taking turns to head back, hopefully this arrangement goes on as long as possible! It’s only good news if we’re travelling back and forth.

“We’re all delighted with Magico. This is his third Towcester campaign and he’s a more mature and wiser dog. He’s got to try and keep with some of the fast starters, but we know he’s a good competition dog – he’s shown that at Shelbourne already this year – and hopefully he just keeps on qualifying. Everything with him is a bonus.”

It was a night when Irish-trained runners held the upper hand with the Holland quartet added to by a double for Brendan Matthews’ team courtesy of heat one winner Undulation (29.12sec) and As I Say (29.01sec) in heat seven.

Seamus Cahill, the 2017 Derby-winning trainer, sent out his exciting youngster Maree Champion (28.94sec) to win the three-runner heat four, while one of the most popular victories of the night was Signet Goofy’s (29.29sec -10) heat eight success as he made the bend in front and held all-comers at bay.

Barry Denby sent out Ballyhimikin Mel (29.95sec) for an impressive heat seven victory as the Nottingham trainer began his biggest Derby challenge yet in the best possible way, while best finish of the night saw Liz McNair’s Havana Bale Out (29.22sec -10) get up close to edge out Mustang Jet (Dolores Ruth) and Mcneill (Paul Hennessy) in a driving finish.

 

Star Sports/TRC English Greyhound Derby

Second round: June 2, June 3

Third round: June 10

Quarter-finals:  June 17

Semi-finals: June 24

Final: July 1

Prize-money

1st £175,000

2nd £25,000

3rd £12,500

4th £10,000

5th £7,500

6th £5,000

Winning breeder £4,000

Winning kennelhands £1,000

BGBF British-bred bonus £2,000 (for British-bred greyhound who progresses furthest)

Further info: https://towcester-racecourse.co.uk/