KILDARE saved the best for last when clocking the fastest time of the session in Saturday’s second batch of second round heats of the 2022 Star Sports & TRC English Greyhound Derby at Towcester.

Trained by Peter Cronin and seen as one of Ireland’s major chances for outright honours, the July 2020 son of Droopys Sydney and Palermo was out-trapped by Blackrose Tadhg  but paced up to lead at the turn before crossing the line two and three-quarter-lengths clear of Patrick Janssens’ defending Derby champion Thorn Falcon and kennelmate Blackrose Tadhg in 29.11sec (normal).

A delighted winning trainer Cronin said: “He’s run well and I’m delighted for Aidan Comerford who bred and owns him. I rushed him into the Kirby at Limerick but he handled it well and was a shade unlucky in the final. He’s progressing well, improving, and we’ve always liked him. He’s quite straightforward. You just always need that slice of luck.”

The night began with another Irish winner as Singalong Sally, last year’s Irish Derby second, made all to lead home Ballymac Fairone (Liam Dowling) in heat nine. A finalist last year, the latter stayed on well to finish half a length behind the 29.33sec winner for an Irish one-two. Savana Beau (Diane Henry) qualified here in third.

Romeo On Tilt upset the odds on fancied Irish duo Part Blake and Knight Tornado, both of whom missed the start, in heat ten. Patrick Janssens’ winner was always in charge from a midfield pitch before streaking clear to win by four and a half lengths from Bobsleigh Dream (Pat Buckley) and Trumps Benefit (Carol Weatherall) in 29.22sec.

Makeit For Waz landed a deserved 14-1 surprise in heat 11 as Frank Gray’s local runner, a 25-kilo February 2020 daughter of Droopys Sydney and Alien Nipper, paced up well to make all from Droopys Cavalry (Chris Fereday) and Make Noise (Seamus Cahill). The winning distance was a length and the winning time 29.64sec.

Loudest cheer of the night welcomed heat 12 winner Mickys Barrett as Jason Gray’s dog repeated his first round victory with a strong-running effort to catch leader Cape Cloud (Peter Cronin) by a head in 29.79sec, much to the delight of his large band of owners – the Micky Barrett Syndicate. Third here was Global Vision (Seamus Cahill).

Paul Hennessy, twice an English Derby-winning trainer, sent out the first and second in heat 13 as Jaytee Wexford posted a fastest-of-the-night 4.09sec sectional on his way to a half a length success of staying-on kennelmate Barefoot Supremo in a fast 29.18sec. Bockos Viera (Graham Holland) completed an Irish 1-2-3 in third.

Heat 14 was won by the always handy Coppice Fox (Kevin Hutton), who came again on the run for home to edge out Priceless Jet (Paul Hennessy), with Romeo De Niro (Patrick Janssens) in third. The winning time was 29.30sec, while heat 15 always looked a quality affair on paper – and did not disappoint.

Victory went went to Graham Holland’s Easter Cup finalist Romeo Magico, who used the inside line to best effect when leading inside at the turn before racing away to score by four lengths from track record holder Lautaro (Patrick Janssens), who stayed on well after first-bend crowding, and third-placed Ninja Kerry (Belinda Green) in 29.29sec.

 

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