SWORDS REX led a Graham Holland treble on the night as the first batch of second round heats of the 2024 Star Sports & TRC English Greyhound Derby at Towcester on Friday produced a host of top-class performances and fast times.

The 2023 Easter Cup winner was an English Derby finalist last year behind kennelmate Gaytime Nemo – also a second round winner later on the night – the July 2020 son of Droopys Sydney and Starry Display improved his tremendous Towcester record still further with a ninth win in 11 starts at the Northamptonshire venue.

A bullet break from trap five set up an early lead and Holland’s classy star thereafter powered to a trap-to-live five and a half lengths success from Scaglietti (Ricky Holloway) and Havana Top Note (Liz McNair) in 28.73sec (normal) for the 500m trip.

Defending champion Gaytime Nemo then produced another top drawer performance for Team Holland to underline again he will not loosen his grip on the famous trophy easily.

The July 2020 son of Droopys Sydney and Gaytime Derval was again soon in command inside in heat four and never looked in danger as a two and a half length success was posted in 28.76sec with Bockos Thunder (Kevin Boon) and King Combs (Liz McNair) chasing him home to make Saturday’s crunch third round of the Classic.

The Holland hat-trick was completed in heat eight by 2023 Irish Derby winner The Other Kobe as a 3.97sec sectional – matching Swords Rex’s joint fastest-of-the-night split – set up a one-and-a-three-quarter lengths success over Hawkfield Blue (John McGee) and Glengar Martha (Pat Buckley) in 28.99sec (normal).

Nicky Holland, wife of trainer Graham, said of The Other Kobe: “He’s bombed out and that’s what it’s all about for him. He’s gone round in front and, while he’s come back to them coming home, it’s a cold night and that wouldn’t have helped.

“Every week he’s progressing. He’s taken a step forward again because of his time away from the track – he was at stud after the Irish Derby – but it’s great to see him come out like that and show the class we all know he’s got as a Derby champion.”

Of Swords Rex, Holland added: “We’re just so pleased to get him back racing. He ran from trap five in the semi-finals last year and ran brilliantly. He’s flown the lids tonight, found a chunk of time and he’s in the mix. Barbara and Leonard (Lowndes), his owners, love their racing and are thrilled with the way he’s running. He just loves Towcester.”

As for Gaytime Nemo, Holland said: “Once he led round the bend he was away barring accidents because he stays strongly. It’s great for his owners, of course, but also great for the sport to see the defending champion running so well. We gave him plenty of time after back-to-back trial stakes here and the rest afterwards means he’s fresh enough and gets fitter and fitter through the competiton. We’re thrilled with them all.”

A good night for Ireland’s powesrful team of runners was completed by victories for Liam Dowling’s De Lahdedah in heat six and Pat Buckley’s fastest-of-the-night Superfast Gorden in heat seven.

De Lahdedah, an Irish Derby semi-finalist last year, rode a first-bend bump to reel in longtime leader Churchfield Syd (Richard Rees) for a strong-running victory in 28.91sec (normal), the winning margin half a length for the October 2021 son of Lenson Bocko and Ballymac Sarahjo. Third here was Monmore’s Beatties Sparkle (Kim Billingham).

Superfast Gorden, last year’s Kingdom Derby runner-up at Tralee to Road Exile, was just as impressive in the following heat as a turn of early pace from the December 2021 son of Broadstrand Bono and Jaytee Jordan set up a four and a half lengths win over compatriots Clonbrien Treaty (Graham Holland) and Jaytee Etienne (Paul Hennessy) in a standard-setting 28.71sec (normal).

Liz McNair’s ante-post favourite King Memphis cheered his supporters again with a fluent victory in heat three, an impressive turn of foot into the first bend from the December 2021 son of Droopys Sydney and Queen Beyonce setting up a five and a half lengths victory in a fast 28.78sec over Druids All Go (Patrick Janssens) and Burj Khalifa (Diane Henry).

The home side was also boosted by victories for 2023 Eclipse champion Newinn Syd in heat two and last year’s Monmore Puppy Derby runner-up Cooligold in heat five.

The Mark Wallis-trained Newinn Syd came forward for his first-round second to Jaytee Etienne to win impressively off the front, the October 2021 son of Droopys Sydney and Newinn Mimi scoring by four and a quarter lengths from strong-finishing McNeill (Paul Hennessy) and Wrighty (John Mullins) in 29.01sec (normal).

Romford handler Maxine Locke’s Cooliogold matched strides early with Road Exile (Pat Buckley) in their clash, the eventual winner taking the shorter route towards the inside to be clear approaching halfway for a two-length victory over Bluejig Baron (Dave Lee) and Road Exile in 29.14sec (normal) for the one-lap distance.

Results: https://www.gbgb.org.uk/meeting/?meetingId=411404&raceId=1041535