BALLINABOLA ED maintained his unbeaten record in the event with another high-class performance – and fastest-of-the-night effort – in heat seven of the 2022 Star Sports & TRC English Greyhound Derby second round over 500m at Towcester on Friday.

Pat Buckley’s Kirby Memorial finalist, closely related to 2017 English Derby champion Astute Missile, was led from the boxes by fast-starting Bockos Belly (Patrick Janssens) but  was on terms by the first bend and was thereafter in total control, coming home just over two lengths clear of Bockos Belly and kennelmate Deelish Frankie in 29.07sec (-10).

Emma Buckley, daughter of the winning trainer Pat Buckley and a member of the team who guided 2020 champion Deerjet Sydney to Nottingham glory, told Derby sponsors Star Sports: “He’s just got electric gears and was awesome tonight. He was in with some really talented greyhounds including a former track record holder in Bockos Belly, so it’s just a relief to see him through. He’s a special dog and we’re all delighted.”

The night kicked off with victory for Astute Missile’s trainer Seamus Cahill as Derrinasafa Boss scored a narrow but nevertheless game victory in heat one. The winner just led at the turn and, holding off the persistent challenge of Glengar Scholar (Pat Buckley), then held the finish of popular senior Faughan Rebel (Richard Yeates) by a short-head in 29.85sec (-20).

Signet Denver made it two-from-two in the Derby when the Laurels champion continued his terrific run of form when leading his rivals from the boxes before Kevin Hutton’s British-bred star pulled clear to win by four and a half lengths from Irish raider Ballymac Belvult (Liam Dowling) and Innfield Trojan (Tom Heilbron) in 29.47sec (-20).

Patrick Janssens, trainer of last year’s champion Thorn Falcon, was on the mark in heat three as Aussie Captain landed another trap-to-liner. Off the back of a 4.14sec split, the three-year-old was always bossing proceedings before crossing the line a length clear of Spinosaurus (James Turner) and Headford Mike (Kevin Hutton) in 29.52sec (-10).

Paul Hennessy was another Derby-winning trainer on the mark on Friday with the experienced Hello Hammond landing heat four in strong-running style. The Shelbourne 600 winner came from last to first to collar Kilkenny Santi (Seamus Cahill) and win by a length from that rival and Coppice Brewer (Kevin Hutton) in 29.55sec (-10).

John Mullins then landed a quickfire second-round Derby heat double courtesy of superb front-running performances from Swift Iconic in heat five and then Signet Goofy in heat six.

The former was never headed as he led home Burnchurch Mick (Richard Rees) and Milton Noah (Lee Field) by two and a quarter lengths in 29.52sec (-10), while Signet Goofy followed litter brother Signet Denver’s earlier second-round victory with his own trap-to-liner from Droopys Goodtime (Richard Rees) and Narcos The Great (George Cunningham) by two and a half lengths in 29.53sec (-10).

Kevin Hutton’s Signet Ace then made it a treble on the night for offspring of Forest Natalee, recently named Dam of Best British Bred at the GBGB Awards, as the newly crowned Greyhound of the Year made all in heat eight off the back of a flying 4.06sec sectional before leading home Antigua Cuddles (Mark Wallis) and Farneys Maestro (Kevin Boon) in 29.31sec (normal).

 

STAR SPORTS/TRC ENGLISH GREYHOUND DERBY

Towcester

Third round: Saturday, June 4

Quarter-finals: Saturday, June 11

Semi-finals: Saturday, June 18

Final: Saturday, June 25