Blackbird hoping Killieford Goram can fly to the bend again

Blackbird thinks Goram can qualify

The early pace from Killieford Goram was a surprise to most watching the first round heats of the Star Sports/TRC English Greyhound Derby, though not to his trainer Dean Blackbird. 

"He was consistent through the Grand Prix, his 15.57 in the semi-final is only a little over three lengths off the track record for the sprint." Although he didn't go quite as quick to the winning line the first time around in the final, he led the field including New Destiny for a long way.

His second round heat is on Friday night where he has Droopys Aladdin to his immediate left. The Mike Burton-trained runner led up Proper Heiress to land one of the shocks in the opening round. "Hopefully he traps and gets around the bend" Blackbird said, "that seems to the the biggest thing at Towcester and he should qualify if he can.'

The way that he came back at Bockos Diamond on the run-in after finding the Irish Derby winner quicker down the back shows that he won't be failing for a lack of stamina. His litter brother Ballymac Marino made it to the quarter-final stage in 2023, finding trouble when favourite for his heat. The winner of that contest were Gaytime Nemo who claimed the title a fortnight later.

Thats It Jack has a tougher second round task

A second Blackbird runner will line up in the second round this weekend in the shape of Thats It Jack. The son of Malachi set a new track record for Limerick's 575y trip last summer when trained by Patrick Guilfoyle before making it to the third round of the Irish Derby.

His first round heat didn't go to plan when well behind Lennies Desire. "I thought he would qualify easily but he didn't trap or take the bend. He was not helped by Golden Palace coming across him at the bend but if he leads, I think he will show his class. He stays well enough but his heat is quite hard so fingers crossed he traps and gets around the bend to qualify."

Thats It Jack's heat is also on the opening night of the second round. He will take on a field that includes the recent Maiden Derby winner Hello Diego who will have to contend with his kennelmate Dynamic Force inside him. That runner was an impressive heat winner in 28.86. Droopys Invent, Scooby The Boss and Boylesports Blue are the three runners inside Thats It Jack to fill out a very competition heat.