TOWCESTER is preparing to stage the second round of the 2026 Star Sports & Orchestrate Ltd. English Greyhound Derby across two nights on Friday and Saturday after a first round which saw the track record go for the 500m trip.

Ballymac Duffle shaved two spots off Lennies Desire’s best for the Derby distance when winning heat 14, the final heat on Friday, as the Irish challenge looked as solid as ever with doubles for Liam Dowling and Pat Buckley, although the home challenge was also boosted by doubles on that first night for Paul Young and Patrick Janssens.

However, it was Ballymac Duffle who set the standard across the 28 heats with an all-the-way victory in heat 14 as a superb burst of early pace laid the foundations for a runaway four and a half lengths win in 28.37sec (normal).

“It was a superb performance and was very much a case of saving the best for last on the Friday night, lining up when he did in the final heat ” said Towcester racing manager Danny Rayment, overseeing his first Greyhound Derby and not surprised to see the track record for the Derby distance go.

“I saw snippets of the preview night that Star Sports held and everyone seemed confident the track record would go given the changes here, including new traps. Obviously it all depends on conditions because it was wetter and therefore slower on Saturday, but chances are if the weather holds or improves you’d say it would go again.”

Rayment feels that heading into the second round that honours between the UK and Ireland are even – especially with the elimination of two high-profile visitors in last year’s runner-up Bockos Diamond and Kirby Memorial runner-up Ballymac Setanta.

“Seeing both knocked out was a surprise, but overall the likes of Liam Dowling, Pat Buckley, Graham Holland and Paul Hennessy, all English Derby-winning handlers, had their fair share of winners and will be hopeful moving forward.

“The loss of Droopys Script was devastating for us all and our hearts go out to Maxine Locke and her team. We wish them all the best with their others runners, as we do the as-it-stands 95 runners through to the second round.”

As well as sending out record-breaking Ballymac Duffle on Friday night, Liam Dowling also struck with Ballymac Stud in heat 13 in 28.70sec (normal) for a double which wrapped up proceedings on the first night of action.

Pat Buckley had earlier notched a double with Glengar Kane scoring in 28.60sec (normal) and Singalong Dolly in 29.01sec (normal), both winning well and underlining how strong a team the trainer of 2020 champion Deerjet Sydney has this year.

Also landing a brace of first-night winners was last year’s Derby-winning trainer Janssens who sent out Slick Skylark to go clear down the back for a 28.92sec (normal) win and Towcester specialist Slick Sentinel who struck in 28.79sec.

Paul Young continued his fine 2026 by also notching a double with Gav Nificent scoring in 29.19sec (normal) and Droopys Alldeway in 28.85sec (normal).

The other heats were won by Paul Hennessy’s Priceless Romeo (28.79sec) in the very first heat of the 2026 Star Sports & Orchestrate Ltd. English Greyhound Derby, Richard Rees’s Texs Jack catching kennelmate Scooby The Lady in 28.68sec (normal), Graham Holland’s Juvenile winner Swords Style (28.86sec), Mike Burton’s Carrick Scholsey (28.68sec), Peter Harnden’s Salacres Lock Up (28.84sec) and John Kennedy’s Irish raider Epic Ace (28.71sec).

 

 

Saturday’s times were a deal slower with rain-softened conditions having an effect with the Graham Holland-trained Slippery Brian posting what proved to be the fastest time of the night in the very first heat with a 28.69sec (-20) return as he edged out Ballymac Kobe (Maxine Locke) by a head in heat 15.

Two-time English Derby winning-trainer Holland later sent out Gaytime Clyde (28.78sec -20) for a front-running success – and a double – in heat 18, while Liam Dowling again had two winners on the second night of action as the eye-catching last to-first winner Ballymac Deniro (29.08sec -20) struck in heat 22 before kennelmate Ballymac Iroko (28.86sec -20) signed off the first round with a comfortable success in heat 28.

Derby-winning trainer Kevin Hutton was at the double on Saturday night, completing a good first round for the trainer of 2018 champion Dorotas Wildcat as he struck with both Droopys Berries (28.96sec -20) and Rebel Alaska (29.10sec -10) in heats 17 and 25 respectively, the pair producing strong-running performances.

GBGB Greyhound of the Year Proper Heiress began his second English Derby campaign with an impressive front-running success in 28.76sec (-20) in heat 23 to strike for Mark Wallis’s team and success for the September 22 whelp was followed by one for youngster Underground Gold in the very next heat 24 as Paul Young’s Ladbrokes Puppy Derby was soon in pole position before crossing the line clear of his rivals in 29.40sec (-20).

Pat Buckley’s Hackney Corner (28.83sec -20) had earlier impressed on his first Towcester start, unleashing a serious turn of early foot to underline his outright claims in heat 20, coming through a goo battle with Strike It Skye (Mark Wallis) in 28.83sec (-20).

Other Saturday heats were won by Tony Dean’s Bubbly Hogan (29.10sec -20) Jason Gray’s Kellies Emerald (29.32sec -20), Nathan Hunt’s Goldcash Warrior (28.97sec -20), Paul Hennessy’s Lennies Tank (28.92sec -20) and Richard Rees’s Dereks Legend (29.32sec -20).

*THE second round of the 2026 Star Sports & Orchestrate Ltd. English Greyhound Derby takes place at Towcester on Friday and Saturday, with eight heats each night.

Silverhill Adam and Cheap Sandwiches, the reigning Irish Derby champion, have both been withdrawn. It means 94 greyhounds will now contest the second round.

 

Photos: © Steve Nash