2024 finalists bidding to reach another Derby decider

Trio aiming for back-to-back Star Sports/TRC English Greyhound Derby finals

Things are getting serious in the Star Sports/TRC English Greyhound Derby as all the action moves on to one night at Towcester this weekend.

For the first time so far in this year’s renewal, we are guaranteed to see the winner on Saturday night and three of the 2024 finalists remain in the hunt of reaching the decider again.

Let’s have a look at that trio and their respective chances of contesting another Derby final.

Da Lahdedah – current best odds 12/1

There is no other place to start than with the reigning champion. Liam Dowling famously ended his English Derby drought when his October 2021 son of Lenson Bocko and Ballymac Sarahjo equalled the track record at the time by scoring with ease from Boylesports Bob in last year’s renewal of the Classic. Lightly raced since, he showed that he won’t give up his crown without a fight when blasting out and romping home in a standard-setting 28.50 in the first round on his return to Towcester. De Lahdedah lost nothing in defeat when chasing home the impressive Ballinabola Joe last weekend and they reoppose in a red-hot heat three at 7.46 on Saturday. In his current form, few would bet against him featuring in another Derby final in three weeks’ time.

Churchfield Syd – current best odds 55/1

If the ante-post market was based on popularity, then this fellow would be near the top of the betting. Winner of the 2023 Kent Derby, as well as the Winter Derby and Gold Cup at Monmore in 2024, Churchfield Syd stormed into last year’s Derby decider with a hat-trick of front-running victories. However, the wide seed’s chances were then hampered by being drawn in the orange jacket and he failed to get the all-important first run in the final, eventually finishing fourth. Despite getting his bus pass next month, Richard Rees-trained speedster has made all in both rounds so far in 2025 and he has his draw in stripes when he attempts to repeat the dose at 9.15 this weekend. If he can keep leading up out wide, then he could go deep again this year.

Sunnyside Broxi – current best odds 100/1

The July 2022 whelp was known as Ballymac Gizmo when finishing fifth in the £175,000 shoot-out for Liam Dowling in 2024. Subsequently bought into Ted Soppitt’s kennel and given a new name, Sunnyside Broxi had success over six bends on these shores earlier in the year, before replicating his strong-running efforts in the Derby this summer. Having just failed to reel in Churchfield Syd in the first round, he flew home from well off the pace to finish second last Friday and his third-round assignment could have been tougher. He goes in the opener at 7.10 and with all the early pace out wide, he could turn handy enough to strike on the rails. He has the running style to keep qualifying and there are worse each-way bets left in the competition.