CHRIS PAGE, Towcester’s Racing Manager, expressed himself more than satisfied with the entry for the 2018 Star Sports English Greyhound Derby, which closed on Tuesday ahead of next week’s three-night first round.

A total of 161 entries were received by the Northamptonshire venue for the £175,000-to-the-winner Classic which was staged for the first time by Towcester last year and won by Astute Missile, who misses a planned defence because of injury.

“We’re about 25 down at this stage last year, but we’ve pretty much got everything in there bar those who have retired or are sidelined,” he said. “The Irish situation when they weren’t racing in Dublin last year meant we have less Irish entries now, but just as much quality.”

“Over the years you expect a few greyhounds to be withdrawn between now and the draw, but it’s a healthy enough amount and we will race on Thursday, Friday and Saturday next week with all heats at least being three-to-qualify, with some four-to-qualify.”

A majority of the Star Sports Derby Trial Stakes winners are amongst the entry and Wednesday’s two-session trials programme at the GBGB’s newest racecourse was typically high-quality with a number of Irish runners put through their paces.

They included Droopys Biker, who clocked 16.34sec (-15) in a 260m solo spin, and Pat Buckley’s 28.28sec Limerick winner impressed RM Page. “I thought he ran really well, handled the track superbly and is clearly a very talented dog – and Pat has a strong team again,” he said.

Buckley’s team include Scottish Derby finalist Borna Account who clocked 15.58sec (-15), while Saturday’s Trial Stakes winner Danzey Exception returned to post 29.60sec over 500m (-30) having run well in the Derby last year. He is now trained by Monmore’s Pat Curtin.

Falcon Bay, trained by Scottish-based handler Adrian McPherson, was another to impress Page with the ex-Irish dog, who boasts wins at Limerick and Shelbourne Park, moving nicely when posting 15.37sec (-40) for the sprint trip.

He will have his first race for Doncaster-based McPherson in the Derby heats and Page liked what he saw. “He ran in the second-last trial of a busy day and went really well. He quickened nicely, ran the track well and clearly has lots of speed,” he said.

Newcastle trainer Angela Harrison sent out Droopys Verve (29.49sec -40) to win back-to-back Derby Trial Stakes earlier this month, and the Monmore Puppy Derby runner-up was back for another 500m spin. Kennelmate Droopys Expert, the All England Cup winner, posted 29.51sec (-40).

The Harrison pair went fastest over 500m in the afternoon session at Towcester, although June Harvey will have been pleased with the 29.55sec (-40) posted by her recent Poole Golden Crest finalist Clash. Dean Childs’s Droopys Martial stopped the clock in 29.62sec (-40).

Others to impress earlier in the day were Debbie Calvert’s Power Local (29.45sec -30), John Lambe’s Forest West (29.63sec -30), Richard Rees’s Black Zack (29.53sec -30), while Elaine Parker’s Scottish Derby runner-up Dropzone posted 29.75sec (-30) – all over the 500m.

Star Sports English Greyhound Derby dates:

First round: May 3,4,5

Second round: May 11,12

Third round: Saturday, May 19

Quarter-finals: Tuesday, May 22

Semi-finals: Saturday, May 26

Final: Saturday, June 2

2018 Star Sports Derby Entries (Any withdrawals at base of list):

Alfies Prince

Ashbank Christie

Ballydoyle Maura

Ballymac Reds

Bar The Warrior

Barefoot Painter

Beechwood Hero

Bit View Knight

Black Eyed Hula

Black Farren

Black Zack

Blastoff Scolari

Blue Conte

Bockos Alfie

Bombers Bullet

Borna Account

Borna Gin

Boylesports Duke

Brave Venture

Brinkleys Blaze

Bruisers Bullet

Bubbly Big Eddie

Bubbly Bluebird

Bubbly Roger

Bubbly Turbo

Bull Run Bandit

Bull Run Button

Burgess Brandy

Burgess Lord

Calico Brandy

Calico Ranger

Carn Brae

Castlehill Wally

Clash

Clonbrien Hero

Cloncunny Major

Colston Magic

Connors Blake

Cooneen Jack

Cragbrien Ranger

Crossfield Giles

Crossfield Will

Cuba

Da Head Hunter

Danzey Exception

Deanridge Boffin

Distant Rain

Dorotas Vic

Dorotas Wildcat

Drive On Tipp

Droopys Alex

Droopys Biker

Droopys Bonucci

Droopys Chill

Droopys Davy

Droopys Dresden

Droopys Expert

Droopys Giorgio

Droopys Martial

Droopys Nirvanna

Droopys Verve

Droopys Wilbury

Dropzone

Falcon Bay

Far Bank Frank

Farloe Falcon

Farloe Hutch

Forest West

Foxwood Boom

God Of War

Greenwell Jean

Greenwell Jet

Hatmore Black

Hazelwood Terry

Headford Octane

Hey Bound

Holdem Pepe

Hometown Hero

Honest Robber

Honour Rocket

Honour Turbo

Huarrache Madison

Image Carranna

Image Coches

In The Loop

Innocent Times

Itsur Mate

Jaytee Jaguar

Jaytee Taylor

Jelly Flood

Karlow Scolar

Killara Pharoah

King Eden

King Elvis

King Kid

Knockard Spring

Legal Ace

Lenson Blinder

Lenson Wilson

Lets Be Ready

Lightfoot Caesar

Lightfoot Kante

Lightfoot Oscar

Lotties Rocket

Lowgate Belatrix

Magical Bale

Milltown Magic

Moorstown Duke

Murrys Act

Myas Little Bro

Nadurra Ross

Newinn Shadow

Night Bomber

Ninja Fortune

No Intention

Noelles Phelpso

Oi Oi Upenalty

Old Fort Brandy

Old Fort Comet

Onlyattheroyal

Poolie Shauna

Power Local

Putumundur

Raging Water

Ratchies Defoe

Razldazl Raidio

Rio Coco

Rising Brandy

Romeo Treaty

Rough Star

Roxholme Bentley

Roxholme Ray

Salacres Vincent

Saleen Ash

Seaglass Sandman

Searchforahero

Sensual

Serenity Spice

Shaneboy Freddie

Slippy Cian

Sporting Dave

Spot The Light

Swithins Brae

The Other Ben

The Other Reg

Tonbrie Magic

Trade Fudge

Truth Matters

Typical Ash

Tyrur Harold

Tyrur Shay

Welloiledmachine

Whoops Jack

Wildfire Legend

Thursday’s withdrawals:

Wildfire Lord – 9.30am

Omega Kin – 10.11am

Burgess Sugarray – 10.10am

Ower Boy Bullet – 10.26am

Always A King – 12.04pm

Swift Danielle – 12.07pm