24 runners for the £8,000 to the winner Category Two Yorkshire Derby which gets underway on Saturday

24 runners for the £8,000 to the winner Category Two Yorkshire Derby which gets underway on Saturday

The £8,000 to the winner Category Two Yorkshire Derby gets underway at Doncaster on Saturday having attracted 24 runners. There will be four heats, with the first three from each heat qualifying for the Semi Finals next Saturday

However, the £3,000 to the winner BGBF British Bred St Leger which was due to get underway on Saturday will now be a one-off race on the night of the Yorkshire Derby final on Saturday 27th September. The competition which was originally advertised for 24 British Bred greyhounds, perhaps unsurprisingly given the lack of staying greyhounds about at present let alone British Bred, only received six entries, but this morning, Doncaster promoter Robert Watson said that the race will still be staged as a one-off race with £3,000 going to the winner

The form for the Yorkshire Derby and the other opens on the all open race eleven race card can be found below

Sprint action kicks off the evening card and it could go the way of the well drawn SALACRES BULLET, who has an excellent make up with a vacant trap on his inside, and if up with the pace in the early stages, then the Peter Harnden runner could take all the beating, though local runner Shots Fired is lightly raced and could prove to be better than what he has shown so far

SANDWOOD GABBY was a good runner up on her four bend debut last week and will be looking to go one place better this time. She has a decent looking draw, and Susan Watson's local could take all the beating if leading into the first bend, though kennel-mate Absurd was a good winner on debut last time out in graded company and she could go close with the chance of more to come

Phil Milner's KEEFILL ROCKY was unable to lower the colours of Acomb Felix for a second successive week last Saturday when Kevin Ferguson's runner gained revenge for his defeat the previous week, but he can get back to winning ways again here. Ted Soppitt's Sunnyside Gurkha could prove to be an obstacle in the early stages but if able to hit the front, then he should take all the beating

Susan Watson's REENADERRY ROAD has a good looking draw out wide in this contest with a vacant trap on his inside and having been denied in his hat-trick bid last time out, he looks to have every opportunity of getting back to winning ways here with a clear run early, though kennel-mate Moss Gem has been running well over the slightly shorter distance and ought to appreciate the extra distance here

Heat one of the Yorkshire Derby is a cracker, which could go the way of Maxine Locke's TURNTHEMAGICON. Having created a striking impression at Monmore, he has moved well in a couple of trials around here and if able to hit the front out wide in the early stages, then he could take all the beating. Droopys Trade has been off a month but the Patrick Janssens runner may just need the outing based on his trial at Towcester so the biggest danger could come from Nathan Hunt's Scooby The Boss, who has won his last two starts at Monmore and moved well in a trial, so could go close if turning in a handy position

Heat two of the Yorkshire Derby and it could go the way of SLICK SENTINEL. The Patrick Janssens runner has been off since finishing behind Wicky Ned in the Select Stakes at Nottingham but his recent trial here was good, and if hitting the front, is the one they all have to beat. John Flaherty's Naochra is usually thereabouts in competitions, having won the Northern Flat at Newcastle, and with the ability to go things either way, may not be far away at the finish again. 

Heat three of the Yorkshire Derby is another cracking contest but could see ROMEO TOMCAT coming out on top. Having scorched round Towcester at the end of August, the Patrick Janssens runner then flew round in a trial over course and distance and any sort of run going close to that performance ought to see him make all the running. Glenn Foot's Jacktavern Chief was a good runner up in the Gold Cup at Monmore, and he looks to be a danger from a good looking draw out wide while Phil Milner's Keefill Goose will look to hit the front early here and could make his presence felt at the finish if that's the case

The final heat of the Yorkshire Derby looks on paper to be the weakest, but it could go the way of Ted Soppitt's DUNELM DRAGON, who was an all the way winner over course and distance last week, and despite a tricky looking draw, he could overcome that if able to repeat last week's winning run. Local runner Foxwood Carter was an impressive winner in top grade action last time out and Ricky Overton's runner ought to go close again here if able to produce another fast start

FABULOUS ARIA has been off the card since finishing behind Icemans Girl at Towcester on Derby final night, but she could make a winning comeback here. The Patrick Janssens runner has a slow starter on her inside, and with more to come from a recent Towcester trial, then she could be away and gone here. Keefill Vale was denied in her hat-trick bid last time out but she could make her presence felt again here if up with the pace for Phil Milner

ROMEO EMPIRE is another Patrick Janssens runner making his comeback after a few weeks off, and he can make it a winning one in this field. Capable of doing things either way, he can prove too strong for these in the later stages assuming he can gain a clear passage rounding the opening bends. Phil Milner's Snowfall has been running well in recent weeks and could prove to be a danger if close enough to the lead at any stage as she is another capable of doing things either way

Jimmy Gaskin's GRIPWELL PEG has been in good form in recent weeks, winning three of her last four starts and she could be set to add to that tally again here if able to hit the front rounding the opening bends. Phil Milner's Droopys Glam has ran well enough in defeat in her last couple of starts and could go close with an early lead out wide, as could Kirsty Grayson's Kilgarran Dolly, whose winning run was ended after a slow start last time out