CENTRAL PARK hosts the semi-finals of the Premier Greyhound Racing Kent Derby on Saturday with racing manager Rob Killingbeck delighted to see Irish interest in the Category One event courtesy of heat two winner Bombay Pat.

Trained by Graham Holland who a week earlier had sent out kennelmate Cheap Sandwiches to win the BoyleSports Irish Greyhound Derby, Bombay Pat himself reached the English Derby at Towcester in June and is very much a player in another UK campaign after coming through a clash with Romeo Alliance at the weekend.

Leading into the bend, Bombay Pat was always bossing proceedings from the Nottingham Puppy Classic and Towcester Juvenile Classic winner, winning by three and a quarter lengths in 28.83sec (-20) for the 491m trip at the Sittingbourne venue.

“Bombay Pat was all class, as you’d expect,” said Killingbeck. “He was very impressive to the eye and, at the time, I believed he’d probably clock the fastest time, although that honour went to Headford Dane, my pre-event pick, who didn’t disappoint and Maxine (Locke) has a great chance of going back-to-back.”

From the kennel which supplied 2024 winner Droopys Display, sadly eliminated in heat one on his Central Park return, Premier Greyhound Racing Puppy Derby and Ladbrokes Gold Cup winner Headford Dane set the standard with a super-fluent 28.75sec (-20) in heat three as he made all at the chief expense of Zenith Sultan (Richard Rees).

There was no luck for the Patrick Janssens-trained English Derby champion Droopys Plunge in heat five as first-bend crowding put paid to his chances of qualification in a heat won by kennelmate Romeo Tomcat in 29.00sec (-20).

Hove trainer Jason Heath notched a first and last heat double as Burrows Eclipse raced clear impressively for a 11-length win in 28.82sec (-20) in heat one, while Burrows Charm wrapped up the first round with a fast-finishing win in heat six in 29.26sec (-20).

The remaining heat four went to the John Mullins-trained Acejukeboxpopper, a winner on Yarmouth Derby final night, who continued his good run with a late swoop to strike gold in 29.44sec (-20).

Central Park RM Killingbeck added: “Overall I though Burrows Eclipse was the most impressive with lots of early and a 2.98sec sectional – and he kept going. Romeo Tomcat also ran well, riding a bump at the first bend, and doing the business.

“Just as a side note, Cinderella Tell, who ran second behind Burrows Charm, did the fastest sectional (2.95sec) – absolutely pinging out for Paul (Donovan). He got caught but held on well to qualify.

“I’d also like to mention the performance of Spencer Mavrias’s Lets Go Girl, our first-race winner, who really does look one to follow for the Moore family, recently back in the game.”

Trap draw for Saturday’s Premier Greyhound Racing Kent Derby semi-finals: https://www.centralpark-greyhounds.co.uk/racing