Greyhound Derby Tips: Final Previews and Predictions

The thunderstorms stayed out of the area last Saturday night, but a highly charged atmosphere will permeate the Northamptonshire circuit as the six remaining greyhounds chase the first prize of £ 175,000 for the winner.

Deerjet Sydney is on the cusp of racing immortality and winning for Pat Buckley’s protégé would see him become the first dog to win consecutive derbies since the mighty Westmead Hawk (2005/2006) and the first to do so in multiple venues does.

After a rare defeat for the reigning champions last weekend and Knocknaboul Syd’s elimination, the resulting blow tore the race wide open and every runner has his own story.

Liam Dowling and Graham Holland have won several Category 1 races in Ireland, although success in the English showpiece passed them by.

Dowling hit the bar with Ballymac Tas (2019) and Ballymac Vic (2013) and has two big chances in this year’s renewal with Ballymac Wild and Ballymac Fairone.

Holland, who was born in Wiltshire, moved to Ireland in 2002 but has long coveted this award and he will rely on Newinn Session.

The home team still has two in the final, with Kilara Icon and Thorn Falcon representing master coach Patrick Janssens.

The Belgian-born handler reportedly fell in love with the derby while visiting Wimbledon in 1985 and gave up his career on the railroad in his homeland to pursue his dream.

Let’s take a closer look at the finalists …

1st NEWINN SESSION

• bk d Laughil Duke – Coolavannny Pearl (July 18)
• Coach: Graham Holland (Crazy)
• Owner: Simon Taylor
• Fastest Calculated Time: 29.33 (July 3rd)

Newinn Session, a leading ante-post favorite for the 2020 Derby, was similarly touted ahead of this year’s competition, and while it is fair to say he looked not entirely in love with Towcester; this may be due to memories of a collision with the rails during the opening lap.

Highly regarded since his arrival as a precocious adolescent, he was the only dog ​​to inflict defeat on Easter Cup hero Knocknaboul Syd during this series, and he has seen parts of almost the entire article.

Despite all of his weaknesses, the market misunderstood him last week and he deserves credit for coming out of a widely considered unfavorable draw at 4.18. Connections will be philosophical about getting this jacket back, although last Saturday’s efforts were a big step in the right direction.

2. DEERJET SYDNEY

• wbd d Droopys Sydney – Madgies Wish (June 18)
• Coach: Pat Buckley (Irish)
• Owner: Kenny Glen
• Fastest Calculated Time: 29.13 (June 26)

Some may have believed last year’s derby wasn’t a classic car renewal in the face of the lack of a number of the big Irish stars, but Deerjet Sydney has silenced those doubters and the champion arrives at Saturday’s flagship with four wins from his five starts .

Eliminated in the early stages of the Easter Cup may explain why he came to Towcester with an overall 25/1 chance, but defied his claim in this year’s competition by beating leading English hope Tenpin by nearly five lengths.

Last week’s chore was getting a potential banana peel out of the red jacket, but a third was good enough to keep you going. Winner of two in last year’s Nottingham final, tonight’s draw should fit and he will be a tough nut to crack if he makes one non-stop run to the Inside Rail.

3. BALLYMAC FAIRONE

• bk d Ballymac Matt – Ballymac Scala (June 19)
• Trainer: Liam Dowling (Irish)
• Owner: Liam Dowling
• Fastest Calculated Time: 08/29 (July 3rd)

Liam Dowling had a predictably high quality slot for his annual raid at the Derby, but the youngest remaining dog in the competition managed to escape largely under the radar.

Despite his relative inexperience, Ballymac Fairone’s pedigree is not lacking in class. A son of the Irish Derby winner 2015, Ballymac Matt, comes from a repeated mating of the litter, which produced the multiple finalist of the class 1 Ballymac Cooper. It wasn’t until his debut in March that he hinted he might be special on his second start as he beat up a decent field at Shelbourne Park by nine lengths.

Dowling believes he could be a better dog next year, but his dominance in his semifinals had a lot going for him and he’s a previous trapped winner. The way in which he was ready to win ugly in the third round suggests that he is not a fair weather actor.

4. KILARA LION

• bd d Droopys Jet – Kilara Lizzie (February 18)
• Trainer: Patrick Janssens
• Owner: Crampton / Crapper / Priestley / Thomas
• Fastest Calculated Time: 29.49 (July 3rd)

Salad Dodger (2014) and Astute Missile (2017) have proven that it is not necessary to win any of the heats to win the Main Event, and while he may have missed success in that competition so far, the previous form suggests Kilara Lion points out he’s far from inventing numbers.

As a two-time Category 1 winner in 2020, players appeared to have lost faith in him after narrowly avoiding elimination in the third round. Qualification has always been the name of the game and the oldest standing dog secured his place on this roster by showing the quickness he recognized in the Kent Derby Final and keeping his line bellicose.

According to the trainer, slight injury problems meant that the dog came into the competition undercooked, but he stayed 500 meters with few problems and proved himself in shape in Towcester by winning the Blue Ribbon in a faultless campaign.

5. BALLYMAC WILD

• Vulturi Bed – Ballymac Breeze (July 18th)
• Trainer: Liam Dowling (Irish)
• Owner: Liam Dowling
• Fastest calculated time: 29:15 p.m. (June 12)

Reaching the finals of a Category 1 competition is not an easy task, but since Ballymac Wild has made the finals of numerous events in its native Ireland, including the Derby, St. Leger and the Champion Stakes, we shouldn’t be so surprised to see his presence on this occasion.

Few would give him a podium round and after he was available with 40/1 at the start of the competition, the market started paying more attention to him after victories in the first two rounds. He has a certain early pace, has the kind of cunning and spatial awareness that is rare in most greyhounds, and his stamina will not diminish once the breed reaches its breakup.

Saturday’s odds reflect that one in five railers is not an ideal proposition, although his record during the Irish Derby was decent from that position, winning two races and finishing second in the mighty Pestana on the other visit.

6.THORN HAWK (w)

• bk d Dorotas Wildcat – Hey Delilah (February 19th)
• Trainer: Patrick Janssens
• Owner: Two dragons and a lion
• Fastest Calculated Time: 29.34 (June 12)

Thorn Falcon began life as “Ordinary Joesoap” performing for Joe Devlin on Enniscorthy, and 2018 Derby winner’s son Dorotas Wildcat has proven anything but Towcester.

Splendid at the KAB Maiden Derby, his broad seed made the likelihood of pulling trap six always practical, but he’s not the type to be in the parking lot, he prefers to cut into the first corner and his 39kg mass to his Advantage. He is nimble for his size and has made him very popular with the locals.

He counted Ballymac Fairone and Kilara Lion in the quarter-finals and held on last Saturday evening despite disturbances in the first corner. If he were to reproduce the 4.15 section that he registered in the third round, he would have every chance if it was good enough.

JUDGMENT

reigning champion Deerjet Sydneyy avoided the red jacket and his race will depend on whether he can hit the rails without getting involved Newinn session. Thorn hawk has something to do with the clock, but he can make a difference if he turns around. Ballymac Wild and Kilara lion Stay tuned for this journey and while the former doesn’t need a good break just yet, he’ll be a great player if he does. A total of 16 derby races went over the white jacket and this year BALLYMAC FAIRONE has the advantage of this location. His intoxicating combination of early pace and determination can be enough to lead him to stardom. 3-2-5

GREYHOUND DERBY UNDERCARD PICKS

KING LOUIS (T6) – 8:14 pm

King Louis missed the derby because he didn’t make it before the first round but has won well in that past draw after that draw and Liz McNair’s ace should have been strong for last week’s return.

DRUMCROW BRENT (T6) – 21:58

Droopy’s addition goes towards posting a worthy favorite, but he can miss the kick and there is no room for error. Drumcrow Brent has done a commendable performance in the derby, and if he can twist into a practical position, Mark Wallis’ inmate can outperform his rivals.

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