BARNTICK BEAR gave the home-trained challenge another boost as the Patrick Janssens-trained powerhouse clocked the fastest time in Saturday’s final batch of first round heats of the 2024 Star Sports & TRC English Greyhound Derby at Towcester.

Runner-up to Untold Dollar in the Premier Greyhound Racing Puppy Derby at Monmore in March, his last start, the April 2022 son of Droopys Sydney and Barntick Smokey returned to the track with a typically strong-running performance in heat 26 as he led off the second bend for a five and a half lengths success over Ballymac Gizmo (Liam Dowling) and Coppice Ella (Kevin Hutton) in a standard-setting Saturday win of 28.68sec (+10).

Connections were naturally delighted afterwards when interviewed by Joe Conneely on social media for Star Sports, with trainer’s daughter Ria Janssens saying: “We’re so proud of him. We didn’t expect him to lead but credit to the trackstaff. The track is in great condition and we couldn’t have asked for more.”

Part-owner Kevin Dear said: “Every owner just wants to make it through via the first three and he’s done that. Patrick (Janssens) said it was important for him to hold his position into the corner and it’s great he’s won,” while Paul Carpenter added: “Well done to all the Janssens team. He’s still nervous and inexperienced and hopefully there’s more to come, but it’s great to be here and we must get behind Towcester and the Derby.”

After a Graham Holland-trained five-timer on Friday, Ireland again enjoyed a fruitful night with the Golden-based handler again on the mark in heat 25 as his High Trend backed up an impressive trial stakes win with an all-the-way victory over the always-handy Ballinabola Ed (Pat Buckley), winning by two lengths in 29.09sec (+10).

Liam Dowling and Pat Buckley both landed doubles on the night with Buckley kicking off the final batch of 11 second round heats with Road Exile in heat 21. Breaking smartly, the Cork Supersprint winner was never headed for a length success over Droopys Vivacity (Gemma Evans) and Makeit Flo (Frank Gray) in 29.14sec (+10).

Buckley then landed a double in heat 24 as the much-experienced Glengar Martha, an Easter Cup finalist, blasted to a fastest-of-the-first-round 3.90sec split on her way to a five-length victory over Aero Convey (Paul Young) and Rioja Joey (Kevin Hutton) in a slick 28.75sec (+10) – bettered only by Barntick Bear on the night.

The Dowling brace of wins were scored by Cork Spring Derby runner-up Ballymac Slick in heat 27 and Ballymac Senan in heat 30, with the former getting up close home after a strong-running effort to catch longtime leader Keefill Goose (Phil Milner) and win by three-quarters of a length from that rival and Havana Top Note (Liz McNair) in 29.14sec (+10).

Ballymac Senan, a 28.33sec Limerick winner during the Kirby Memorial, later completed the Dowling double with a trap-to-line performance as a 4.05sec split set up a three and three-quarter lengths victory over Queen Leona (Liz McNair) and Kirby Memorial runner-up Merits Inclusion (Brendan Matthews) in a fast 28.80sec (+10).

Towcester promoter Kevin Boothby enjoyed a cracking night as a owner with his British-bred Savana Top Cat, a Derby final night winner last year in the Greyhoundtrader.com Stakes, making all for trainer Chris Hamblin in heat 22 from Jetstream Breeze in 29.20sec (+10) before Newcastle Puppy Derby winner Clona Curly struck in heat 29.

Led by Maiden Derby runner-up Glorious Tom (Tom Heilbron), the 37-kilo April 2022 son of Droopys Sydney and Newinn Cuckoo powered to the front on the run for home to strike for Diane Hensry – and land the Boothby double – in 29.14sec (+10), winning by two lengths from the Newcastle raider and Queen Dusty (Liz McNair).

Mike Burton’s 14-1 chance Droopys Priority led off the second bend for a head victory in heat 23 over Beatties Sparkle (Kim Billingham) in 29.37sec, while Richard Rees’s Clona Kody scored an all-the-way victory in heat 28 as the 12-1 shot led up for a 4.05sec split on his way to a length victory over Jaytee Craze (Paul Hennessy) in 29.31sec (+10).

The concluding heat 31 looked a cracker on paper with Category One winners Links Maverick (Tom Heilbron) and Wicky Ned (Jimmy Fenwick) dominating the market. However, neither trapped that well and it was left to the always-handy King Combs to strike for Liz McNair as he reeled in leader Superfast Gorden (Pat Buckley) for a three-quarters of a length success in 28.86sec (+10).

Results: https://www.gbgb.org.uk/meeting/?meetingId=411000&raceId=1039197