Ace races to top of Derby betting after smashing Towcester record

Rated lands fifth TV Trophy win for Romford's Young as Wallis champion Mongys is retired

EPIC ACE has joined Ballymac Duffle at the top of the betting lists after smashing the 500m track record in heat six of the Star Sports & Orchestrate Ltd. English Greyhound Derby third round at Towcester on Saturday.

John Kennedy's runner and Liam Dowling's dog, now the former track record holder, are bracketed at 5-1 with co-sponsors Star Sports (see below) for the £125,000 first prize at the Northamptonshire venue on Saturday, June 6, after Epic Ace posted an incredible 28.14 for the one-lap trip in his heat on Saturday, well inside Ballymac Duffle's previous 28.31 best.

Soon in charge in heat six, Epic Ace powered clear to win by over seven lengths from Tony Dean's Bubbly Hogan, with Texas Jack crossing the line in third to also secure his place in Saturday's quarter-finals.

Training honours on third round night were split between Mark Wallis and Liam Dowling with a brace of winners for each.

Wallis's Proper Heiress, the Greyhound of the Year, paced up and rode a bump at the first bend before bossing proceedings in heat three to maintain his unbeaten record to win in 28.79sec with kennelmate producing a battling dsplay to score in 28.57.

The Dowling double was completed in spectacular off-the-pace style from Ballymac Duffle in heat four, winning in 28.75, and then Ballymac Ralf in heat seven in 28.36.

Paul Hennessy's Lennies Eddie kicked off the third round with a heat one success in 28.66 before another Irish-trained runner Gaytime Clyde scored for Graham Holland in heat two 28.69.

Scooby The Lady, like Strike It Skye, continues to shine as one of just two bitches left in the Derby, winning for Hove's Richard Rees in heat five in 28.73sec.

It means honours are even heading into the quarter-finals with 12 runners from Ireland and 12 from the UK.

Droopys Rated (pictured), who had set a new track record holder for the 942m trip in the heats the week before. struck for Romford trainer Paul Young in the Barking Mad Betting TV Trophy Final - the Category One marathon showpiece sharing the stage with the Derby third round.

Sadly, the race was marred by an injury early in the contest to hot favourite and defending champion Mongys Wild, whom connections have confirmed has run his last race.

Mark Wallis's dog, a multiple big-race winner with a St Leger, two Golden Jackets, a Regency and  TV Trophy on his CV, has been reported as comfortable with the best veterinary care and has been retired from racing.

"He's heading for a place on the sofa," said Mike Davis of the MWD Partnership who, as Towcester boss, congratulated connections of the new TV Trophy champion.

"Paul has some record in the TV Trophy and well done to him and his team. He's a really nice addition to the marathon scene and we're just gutted Ned won't be around on the track to take him on."

A superbly bred runner, Droopys Rated comes from the same family as Droopys Clue, a former Greyhound of the Year and dual St Leger champion, and Droopys Aladdin who continues to run well in the Derby and has made the quarter-finals for the second successive year.

Taking over from Tony Dean's early leader Bubbly Evie approaching the penultimate bend, April 24 whelp Droopys Rated raced away in the £12,500 contest to score by almost nine lengths in 57.17, equalling his track record set seven days previously.

Droopys Rated, who is owned by Paul Young, Dave Cunningham and Kurn Rushen, becomes a fifth TV Trophy winner for trainer Young after Serious Dog, Ericas Equity (twice) and Bubbly Inferno.

Star Sports bet on the Star Sports & Orchestrate Ltd. English Greyhound Derby: 5 Epic Ace, Ballymac Duffle, 7 Ballymac Ralf, Proper Heiress, 8 Scooby The Lady, 10 Ballymac Deniro, 12 Hackney Corner, Lennies Eddie, 16 Gaytime Clyde, 16 Strike It Skye, Underground Gold, 25 bar.