GRAHAM HOLLAND took the training honours at Nottingham on Saturday as the second batch of first-round heats of the 2020 Star Sports & Arc Greyhound Derby were completed in heavy rain at the Colwick Park venue.

Holland struck with Wolfe (30.72sec -100), Ballydoyle Valor (30.86sec -120) and Newinn Session (31.20sec -130), plus saw two others qualify in Feudal Spirit and his 2019 Irish Derby champion Lenson Bocko.

The latter produced a cracking effort to qualify behind Noel Hehir’s Coolavanny Chick (31.17sec -120) – one of the five Irish-trained winners on the night.

Holland said: “My team all ran well despite very tough conditions which were no-one’s fault. I was particularly delighted with Wolfe, who showed his class. He’s made one mistake at Nottingham last year and some people have been too hard on him.

“Like Ballydoyle Valor, he had a slight niggle coming out of lockdown so they were behind the others for the Irish Derby. Both are strong sorts but Valor is a good 600-yard dog so Saturday’s test suited him in many ways.

“Newinn Session remains a really promising greyhound with lots of pace. He found the first bend tricky, but that’s not uncommon at Nottingham and he’ll improve. You also have to remember the Irish dogs are getting used to the shorter hare, too.

“Lenson Bocko ran well too. He didn’t handle the first bend either but again he’s a dog with real class. He didn’t have as a good an Irish Derby as the previous year, of course, but he’s changed his style of running, looking more inside.

“He was also up against different dogs, perhaps with more early pace than him now he’s a year older. You also remember that luck plays its part, but he’s in great shape and, like them all, has come out of a tough night really well.

“I spoke to Nicky on the night and the following morning and they’re all good. They’re staying with the Firmagers in Melton Mowbray who are good friends of ours and it’s perfect in terms of travel – and we cannot thank the family enough.”

The Holland treble helped the Irish challenge to a cracking Saturday night which had kicked off with Pat Buckley’s Doolin Duke winning the opening heat nine by 12-plus lengths in 30.74sec (-90) to give his trainer a perfect start to his Derby campaign.

Buckley’s other three Derby entries – Deerjet Sydney, Glengar Bale and Knocknaboul Syd – had all won their heats on Friday and the Co. Tipperary-based handler was delighted to have completed the set, commenting:

“It’s been a good couple of nights, although conditions tonight (Saturday) were very heavy. Doolin Duke did what he had to do, but it’s just the first week and there is a long way to go. You always need luck but so far, so good.”

Blue Tick George delighted trainer Jim Daly and his large syndicate of owners with a strong-running effort to win heat 11 and he came through a battle with Angela Harrison’s Coolavanny Bani on his way to winning in 30.91sec (-110).

Daly said: “It was great to see Blue Tick George get his Derby campaign off to a winning start even if I do admit at one point I wouldn’t have considered him a Derby dog. A crack at the Gold Collar would have been my choice!

“Back in August we gave him some experience of Nottingham and he won a trial stakes and that changed my mind and I thought he wouldn’t be out of place in the Derby then.

“Blue Tick George is syndicated between 70 owners, many tasting ownership for the very first time. I even talked my former boss Jess Packer, the ex-Central Park racing manager, into buying a share when we went for a meal one night!

“Jess is absolutely loving the ownership experience along with his syndicate members and the feedback from everyone on our WhatsApp chat showed just how much of a buzz they got from last night’s win.

“George is looking in great form at the minute and we pray he keeps getting good draws – ideally red – to keep the Derby dream alive.”

The Jim Reynolds-trained Vics Charm produced a game front-running effort to win heat 12, repelling a number of challenges before crossing the line a short-head in front of Liz McNair’s King Cash in 31.46sec (-120).

Richard Rees was on the mark in the next contest as his impressive Southwood Jet paced up well to lead at the first bend and always bossing proceedings thereafter to win heat 13 by almost five lengths in 30.92sec (-120).

Nottingham spokesman Nathan Corden congratulated the track’s groundstaff for their work in tough conditions on Saturday.

“Paul Smith and his team did an amazing job ensuring that we raced – with an unbiased track too! Conditions were pretty much monsoon-like and was tough for the staff, the trainers and handlers – and for the dogs themselves.

“Some clearly handled conditions better than others and, while we had a few big names miss out, we have an exciting competition to come in the weeks ahead. Already we know the Derby Plate will be a very interesting competition indeed!

“Good luck to all connections with runners in the second round. We’re down to the last 48 now, of course, and the draw will be held at 1pm here at Nottingham on Monday and streamed live.”

Results: www.gbgb.org.uk/meeting/?meetingId=366405&raceId=676347

Star Sports & Arc Greyhound Derby dates:-

Second round: Saturday, October 10

Quarter-finals: Saturday, October 17

Semi-finals: Saturday, October 24

Final: Saturday, October 31