TOWCESTER racing manager Danny Rayment hailed Saturday’s Star Sports & Orchestrate Ltd. English Greyhound Derby Final as a huge success – describing it as a “privilege to oversee and be part of”.

Lennies Eddie created history in the £125,000 showcase with a brilliant third English Derby victory for Irish trainer Paul Hennessy as the Lee Craze-owned 10-1 chance blasted from his midfield pitch and made every metre of the 500m trip, although was kept up to his work by a superb effort in defeat from Ballymac Deniro.

The runner-up, beaten just three-quarters of a length, was one of three finalists for Hennessy’s compatriot Liam Dowling who bred the runner-up along with litter brothers Ballymac Duffle, a close-up third, and fourth-placed Ballymac Ralf. Hackney Corner crossed the final in fifth for another Irish trainer in Pat Buckley.

However, it was the John Kennedy-bred Lennies Eddie who starred on the biggest stage as his front-running prowess secured not just a third Derby win for trainer Hennessy but also an historic third given all three were landed, for the first time, at different venues – at Wimbledon in 2016 with Jaytee Jet, at Nottingham in 2019 with Priceless Blake and now at Towcester in 2026.

Lennies Eddie stopped the clock in 28.20sec, just three-quarters of a length off Epic Ace’s track record set in the third round.

“It was a superb final – and rounded off a fantastic Derby,” said Rayment. “The Derby roar was something to behold and I went downstairs into the crowd after the race to soak up the atmosphere at close hand.

“During my interview with Emily Wallis for Star Sports I selected Ballymac Deniro as the most likely winner but gave Lennies Eddie as my value selection as I thought he could come away better from three and make them go to catch him – and so it proved.

“I thought there were some superb performances all night long, starting with Belinda Green’s treble, then Kevin Hutton’s double and a pair of Droopys – Flare and Rated – for Sean Parker and Paul Young running riot in the long-distance races, amongst many other stellar runs on the undercard.

 

“All in all it was a fantastic evening – and competition as a whole – and one that we can hopefully build on and return next year even better.”