SWORDS REX consolidated his position as ante-post favourite for the Classic when completing a double for the Graham Holland in the fourth quarter-final of the 2023 Star Sports & TRC English Greyhound Derby at Towcester on Saturday.

Maintaining an unbeaten record in the world’s greatest greyhound race, the Easter Cup champion and former track record holder trapped in front and was never headed as the July 2020 son of Droopys Sydney and Starry Display made all to score by three and a half lengths from Romeo Top Gun (Patrick Janssens) and Ballymac Finn (Liam Dowling) in 28.93sec (-15).

The victory followed that of kennelmate Gaytime Nemo in the third quarter-final as Holland’s runner overcame a wider draw than usual by pacing up and making the turn in front on his way to five and a half lengths success over Ninja Kerry (Belinda Green) and another Holland runner in Jacktavern Bella. The winning time was 28.94sec (-15), just one spot slower than Swords Rex posted some 17 minutes later.

Of Gaytime Nemo, Nicky Holland, wife of trainer Graham, said: “He trapped well but needed to where he was. He was only just back from injury coming into the Derby so is getting better and stronger with each run. Four of ours have got another week and that’s all you can ask for at this stage.”

The fourth Holland trainer semi-finalist is Clona Duke after he had earlier chased home John Lambe’s superb front-running Mystical Mario in the second quarter-final. The winner once again showed electric early gears to set up a 29.25sec (-15) victory.

Well away on his way to a rapid-fire 4.00sec sectional, Perry Barr raider Mystical Mario was never headed as the March 2020 son of Droopys Jet and Mystical Moll kept up the gallop to score by one and a half lengths from Clona Duke, who paced up well to get inside kennelmate and favourite Romeo Hanzo at the turn.

The latter was crowded here and went out but Clona Duke kept on to qualify behind Mystical Mario, with Cochise (Richard Rees) staying on best of all to edge out Signet Otis (Kevin Hutton) for a place in the last 12 in Saturday’s semi-finals.

John Lambe, Mystical Mario’s kennel, said: “He’s really pinging the lids at the moment and long may that continue! He’s coming forward but that was always the plan. I always feel you want to bring Derby dogs on through the event. Sometimes you have to ride your luck in the early rounds but he’s staying on a lot better and it’s great to be in the semi-finals.”

Romeo Command broke in front to set up victory in the first quarter-final. Pitched wider than usual, he nevertheless had the speed to clear his lines early before going on to land a 13th success in 14 starts in the UK, winning by a length and three-quarters from Burj Khalifa (Brendan Matthews) and last year’s finalist Savana Beau (Diane Henry) in 29.04sec (-15).

Winning trainer Patrick Janssens said: “He’s remarkable this dog. He’s got an amazing will-to-win and a great record since joining us. He was in with some top sprinters over 525yds in Ireland and didn’t really have the early pace to go with them. The run-up at Shelbourne was also too short for him, although he did one of fastest times for Cork’s 550yds when he was in with true four-bend dogs.”