FOUR Irish-trained greyhounds will take on two home-based runners in the £175,000-to-the-winner Star Sports/TRC Events & Leisure English Greyhound Derby Final at Towcester on Saturday – and after last weekend’s semi-finals the destination of the world’s greatest greyhound race is wide open.

Ballymac Fairone led home a Liam Dowling-trained one-two in the first semi-final, making all the running to clock a rapid-fire 29.08sec, with his older kennelmate Ballymac Wild powering through to grab second from defending champion Deerjet Sydney – a length and a quarter behind the winner.

But it means Pat Buckley’s champion has a chance to join a select list of greyhounds to have won back-to-back Greyhound Derbys along with Mick the Miller, Patricias Hope, Rapid Ranger and Westmead Hawk. However, victory would make him the first to have won at two different venues having struck gold at Nottingham last year.

Deerjet Sydney’s success then landed back-to-back victories for Ireland after Priceless Blake’s triumph in 2019 – and a fourth Irish-trained runner Newinn Session secured his place in Satuday’s decider with an impressive success in the second semi to give Graham Holland a fifth English Derby finalist. He went closest last year with Ballydoyle Valor (second).

Newinn Session paced up well in the second semi-final to head fast-trapping Kilara Lion before stretching clear to win by two lengths from the Blue Riband champion in 29.33sec, with another Janssens-trained runner Thorn Falcon qualifying in third to give the champion trainer his first Derby finalists.

He said: “It’s a dream really, it’s what you work for. Winning the Trainer of the Year title was like winning the Premier League, but this is like the Champions League!

“We knew we had a chance of being represented when we had three in one semi – and I thought Bockos Belly was unlucky. But look we’re in the Derby final for the first time and it’s great. We’re going to enjoy the week, which started with the Derby lunch at Towcester on Monday. That was fantastic to be part of.

“I’m delighted for both dogs. Kilara Lion has just been a great and consistent dog for us – and let’s hope for a bullet break like he got in the Kent Derby. He won the Blue Riband here so we knew he loved Towcester but then had the injury at Central Park which set him back, so I still think there’s more to come between the semis and final.

“I’ve been really impressed with Thorn Falcon. He won the Maiden Derby here and hasn’t run anywhere else for us – so he, too, knows and loves Towcester. What’s great about him is that he’s 38-odd kilos who drives the bend so well for a big dog. He’s got his draw in the final and is more than capable given the chance.”

Towcester consultant Nathan Corden said: “Congratulations to the connections of all Saturday’s finalists and the Derby final will be the highlight of a great card.

“We’ve got finals aplenty and quality throughout the 14 races here. We’ve got pre- and post-race entertainment and aim to have a festival feel here across the weekend – with the heats of the Juvenile Classic on Friday night and then Saturday’s gala. And there’s still time for people to join us, so see the website www.towcester-racecourse.co.uk.”

 

Trap draw for Saturday’s Star Sports and TRC Events & Leisure English Greyhound Derby Final 2021:

  1. Newinn Session
  2. Deerjet Sydney
  3. Ballymac Fairone
  4. Kilara Lion
  5. Ballymac Wild
  6. Thorn Falcon