WIDE OPEN was fastest in the heats of the Matchbook Betting Exchange Maiden Derby at Towcester on Sunday as the Irish-trained runner made a hugely impressive UK debut.

Lining up in heat three of the Northamptonshire venue’s latest GBGB Category One event, which has a new sponsor this year in Matchbook, the Brendan Matthews-trained Aug 2020 son of Ballymac Bolger and Dolce Vita made no mistake.

Quickly away, he made all in 29.20sec (normal) for the 500m distance, finishing five and a half lengths clear of Chelms Road (Vicki Lea) and Havana Robusto (Liz McNair)

Ante-post favourite Coolavanny Shado (29.29sec) also impressed when landing the odds in heat five as the 1-6 chance made all off the back of a 4.13sec sectional to score by five lengths from Lightfoot Lulu (Kevin Hutton) and Chubbys Jet (Frank Bryce).

Trained by Patrick Janssens, Coolavanny Shado (Droopys Sydney-Yahoo Perlena, June 2020) represents the connections of last year’s winner – and subsequent Star Sports/TRC Greyhound Derby champion – Thorn Falcon.

The John Mullins-trained Swift Iconic posted the day’s quickest split as he maintained an unbeaten start to his career in heat seven.

Well away on his way to recording a 4.12sec sectional, the October 2020 son of Droopys Roddick and Swift Biology was never headed as he won by two lengths from Supa Nova (Paul Burr) and Disaronno Nero (Carol Grasso). The winning time was 29.45sec.

The other heats were won by Kevin Hutton’s Coppice Brewer (29.87sec), Kevin Boon’s Farneys Maestro (29.41sec), Liz McNair’s Havana Lover (29.46sec), Bradley Stowe’s Zazzeras Jack (29.69sec) and Nathan Hunt’s Storys Peewee (29.48sec).

Towcester racing manager Andy Lisemore said: “It was a fantastic afternoon’s racing and top-quality, too.

“We’ve a new sponsor this year in Matchbook Betting Exchange and, while Coolavanny Shado is a hot favourite, I think this could be a more competitive Maiden Derby than many people thought would be the case.

“The Matthews family have been regular visitors to Towcester and we’re always delighted to welcome them. Their runners really have an excellent record here and Wide Open clocked the fastest time on the day which again might have surprised a few people, but probably not Brendan and his team!

“There were plenty of other smart heat-winning performances, and decent efforts in defeat, so there’s plenty to look forward to in Sunday’s second round or quarter-finals, if you like.

“We’re obviously counting down to the Derby and have the first Star Sports Greyhound Derby Trial Stakes here on Friday, plus the interest in our Sunday opens is picking up big-time. We were inundated with entries which meant rearranging the card and moving some of the graded races we planned to our Monday and Tuesday cards.”

Results: https://www.gbgb.org.uk/meeting/?meetingId=383924&raceId=831121