Diamond and Heiress top sponsor's list for Derby after first-round draw

Seasoned stars head market at 16-1 for £125,000 prize 

BOCKOS DIAMOND, the 2024 Irish Derby winner, and 2025 GBGB Greyhound of the Year Proper Heiress are 16-1 joint-favourites with co-sponsors Star Sports to win the Star Sports & Orchestrate Ltd. English Greyhound Derby after Friday's draw for next week's first round of the Classic at Towcester was made at the Northamptonshire venue.

Bockos Diamond lines up in heat eight on Friday, while Proper Heiress takes his chance in heat 23 on Saturday, with 14 heats apiece on those now two nights of first-round action as the £125,00-to-the-winner event kicks off.

Helping to make the draw, Star Sports's head of greyhound racing operations Kim Sanzone said: "Seeing all 28 heats set for the first round on the board just brings everything to life - and we are just a week away from what we believe will be a fantastic English Greyhound Derby.

"Once again we are delighted to see such a strong entry from Ireland and the kennels of Pat Buckley, Liam Dowling, Paul Hennessy and Graham Holland are all well represented as Irish-based trainers to have won English Derbys - in the case of Graham and Paul twice.

"It's always difficult to single out particular greyhounds but seeing the winners of the last two Irish Derbys in Bockos Diamond and Cheap Sandwiches in the field again - of course they were both finalists last year - and Proper Heiress, the Greyhound of the Year here in the UK, is fantastic. 

"Those three are seasoned campaigners now and testament to how well they are cared for and trained by their respective handlers that they look as good as ever in trials. But there's also a strong younger group of greyhounds - not least with the puppy Underground Gold, who is a real talent.

"Friday and Saturday nights for the next two weeks at Towcester will definitely be the place to be for all greyhound fans and all at Star Sports are really looking forward to it, not least our boss and huge greyhound fan Ben Keith.

"Today's draw has really set the ball rolling for a wonderful few weeks for greyhound racing and greyhound racing fans and we are looking forward to seeing how the panel sees events unfold at Tuesday's invite-only preview evening in our Star Sports shop in Mayfair."

Last year's winning trainer Patrick Janssens, who sent out Droopys Plunge to beat a strong Irish challenge 12 months ago, fields a strong entry including recent BGBF British Breeders Stakes champion Romeo Tomcat, who faces a first-round clash with favourite Underground Gold.

Star Sports bet: 16 Bockos Diamond, Proper Heiress, 18 Ballymac Setanta, Glengar Silent, Hackney Corner, Romeo Tomcat, 20 Cheap Sandwiches, Underground Gold, 25 bar.

*BALLYMAC DENIRO was quickest at Friday's trials session at Towcester with a sensational 28.43 over 500m.

Liam Dowling's runner, the Juvenile Classic winner, starred at the session alongside several kennelmates including Ballymac Tibet (28.68), Ballymac Stud (28.59) and Ballymac Duffle (28.59), the latter a semi-finalist in the Kirby Memorial at Limerick.

 *PROPER HEIRESS, 16-1 joint-second favourite for the Star Sports & Orchestrate Ltd. English Greyhound Derby, trials over 270m before racing at Towcester on Sunday.

Leading a number of Mark Wallis hopefuls being prepared for the Classic, the Greyhound of the Year and last year's Juvenile champion trials at the track along with kennelmates Rackethall Brute, Silverhill Adam and six-bend star Garfiney Blaze.

Others due to trial include Jimmy Fenwick's recent intake Zenith Pasha, who impressed in the Kirby Memorial at Limerick.

The Richard Rees-trained Texas Jack, meanwhile, has a sprint trial at Hove on Saturday.

*FULL form for the 28 first-round heats of the Star Sports & Orchestrate Ltd. English Greyhound Derby is below