HONOURS were even in the four quarter-finals of the Star Sports & Arc Greyhound Derby  at Nottingham on Saturday – with two wins apiece for the home side and the Irish challenge. However, with just a length between the four heat winners, the premier Classic remains wide open!

Fastest was Easter Cup champion Wolfe as the popular Graham Holland-trained racer paced up well from a five-box draw to make all in the opening quarter-final, posting 29.47sec for the 480m as he led home Coolavanny Chick for an Irish-trained one-two, with Deanridge Rapid (Allison Kelly-Pilgrim) in third.

Southwood Jet was another trap five quarter-final winner as the Richard Rees-trained star showed a cracking turn of early pace to lead at the bend and make all thereafter, crossing the line clear of Troy Firebird (David Mullins) and Lenson Whelan (Patrick Janssens) for a home-trained one-two-three. The winner’s time was 29.54sec.

Charlie Rees, representing his father and winning trainer, said: “We knew it was a tough draw on paper and he’d have been in trouble had he taken a step to the left but he straightened up well and showed his pace to lead into the turn which is what he needed to do. He’s doing us all proud and has not put a foot wrong.”

Derby-winning trainer Seamus Cahill was on the mark in the third quarter-final as Smurfs Machine paced up outside and slipped clear to win by two and a half lengths from Churchill Holly (Lynn Cook) – a second bitch into the semi-finals – and Ballydoyle Valor (Graham Holland). The winner’s time was 29.49sec.

Cahill said: “He’s an improving dog with good early pace. He showed what he can do in the first round but had a rough race in the second round and did well to qualify, which is what it’s all about. He’s not had many races because lockdown took a chunk of his puppy career away, which is why he’s still coming forward.”

Knocknaboul Syd also posted 29.49sec as he led home Deerjet Sydney for a Pat Buckley-trained one-two for Ireland in the fourth and final quarter-final, the pair pacing up to dominate off the first bend. Matt Dartnall’s Distant Village was home in third for a place in next Saturday’s semi-finals of the £50,000-to-the-winner event.

Buckley said: “It was disappointing that Glengar Bale couldn’t join my other two. I actually thought he was in a position to win but he got baulked and that was that. But I’m delighted with both Knocknaboul Syd and Deerjet Sydney. Syd has got great early pace, he’s a tough little dog, and Sydney just has massive pace. It’s great they’re in the shake-up.”

Nottingham’s Nathan Corden said: “It thought quarter-final night was a great night’s racing. We had the RPGTV Derby Plate heats and then four brilliant Derby quarter-finals and I thought Paul Smith (grounds manager) and his team played a blinder – the track was in fantastic condition.

“I’ve been impressed with Knocknaboul Syd right from the start. He’s showing exceptional early pace and runs the track superbly – his sectionals have been fast and consistent. I’m sure Pat Buckley is relieved to now see his two semi-finalists in different races after having all three in one quarter-final.

“I think there’s also a nice story with two brothers in the semis with Deerjet Sydney and Smurfs Machine – and the draw now sees them side by side in the second semi. Smurfs Machine is part of a home team in which there’s growing confidence now – after Irish domination we’ve got some pride back!”

Martin Chapman, representing joint-sponsors Star Sports, said: “We’ve still got an extremely competitive Derby. Even before the quarter-finals, it was unusual to see 7-1 the field for outright honours, especially when you think Ice On Fire was shorter than that when we originally contemplated a 200-plus entry Derby!

“It’s therefore still up for grabs, a fascinating competition. They’ve got to be pretty happy with Southwood Jet in trap one and, while Deerjet Sydney in four isn’t ideal on paper, he might actually break better from the midfield. He didn’t come away at all from the inside on Saturday – trap four might work for him again.”

Trap draw and form for Saturday’s Star Sports & Arc Greyhound Derby and RPGTV Derby Plate semi-finals: www.bagsracing.com/assets/24-october—nottingham-adv.pdf

Star Sports & Arc Greyhound Derby dates:-

Semi-finals: Saturday, October 24

Final: Saturday, October 31