Droopys Plunge looking to land Derby double as Premier Greyhound Racing Kent Derby kicks off on Saturday

Droopys Plunge looking to land Derby double as Premier Greyhound Racing Kent Derby kicks off on Saturday

The Premier Greyhound Racing Kent Derby kicks off at Central Park on Saturday with Droopys Plunge aiming to make it two Derby victories in the space of four months, but faces tough competition, including the Irish challenge of Graham Holland's Bombay Pat. We look through the form and preview each contest

Four bend maiden action kicks off the all open race card at Central Park on Saturday evening, where the Spencer Mavrias debutant LETS GO GIRL looks to be an interesting recruit to his kennel. The January 24 youngster previously known as Mustang Tory was the top lot sold at the recent Hove sales, going for £8100, and connections can start to earn some of that outlay back with victory in this contest. She showed a cracking burst of early pace in a recent trial, recording a 2.98 sectional, and a repeat of that performance here could see her making all the running. Barry O'Sullivan's Fastlane Blu looks to be an obvious danger and if up with the pace out wide, then he may not be far away at the finish

COPPICE DAKOTA hasn't won for a while now but looks to have a good make up on the rails here with Danas Star possibly moving off again at the first bend, and Luke Morrison's runner will look to lose her maiden tag with a clear passage round that first bend. She stays on well enough at the finish and can prove too strong at the finish, though Anthony has come from off the pace to score in two of his last three top grade outings and will look to add to that tally if close enough rounding the final bends

Sprint action here where the Liz McNair trained KING PRESLEY could prove to be a good thing. He set new figures for the 277m distance when last seen on September 6th and although this is his first race for nearly a month, he has been kept ticking over in a couple of recent trials, and another of his usual fast starts can see him making a winning return. Sevenofdiamonds could prove to be the main danger as Paul Donovan's runner has won three of his last four starts at Central Park and Hove, and an early lead on the rails could see him adding to that tally

Six bend maiden action here where Magical Kirsty will be looking to land some compensation for a costly defeat over course and distance last week. That was her first look round and looks sure to improve on that run having got lost when spinning off wide at the second bend. She will look to make all the running, but a chance could be taken on Barry O'Sullivan's KITMINS BLONDIE. She has been staying on well late in top grade company and with this extra distance looking sure to suit, then she could reel in the leaders rounding the final bends

Heat one of the Premier Greyhound Racing Kent Derby could go the way ZENITH IMMINENT, who has won both previous starts at Hove in impressive fashion, the later occasion having shows a cracking burst of early pace to make all the running. Trainer Richard Rees won this competition in 2023 with Churchfield Syd, and he will be hopeful that his runner can line up in next week's semi final on the back of another all the way success. Fellow Hove trainer Jason Heath's runner Burrows Eclipse could prove to be the main danger as he is another blessed with cracking early pace, and if turning the opening bends in a handy position, then he can make his presence felt. Maxine Locke's Droopys Display was keeping good company prior to injury. This is his first start since March, but could be thereabouts with a clear passage in the early stages

Heat two is a mouthwatering affair. All eyes are immediately drawn to the Irish challenger Bombay Pat, with trainer Graham Holland fresh from Irish Derby success with Cheap Sandwiches, sending over his English Derby finalist for this competition. He moved well enough in a recent trial and off the back of that, could be the one to beat if able to hit the front in the early stages but he isn't always foot perfect at the traps. Romeo Alliance bounced back to winning ways at Nottingham last time out following a surprise exit from the Produce Stakes semi finals at Swindon and also moved well in a trial last week, but the Patrick Janssens runner may find Spencer Mavrias's Blackstone Ten an obstacle in the early stages, so this could go the way of TURNTHEMAGICON. Maxine Locke's runner is lightly raced and created a striking impression when winning at Monmore in August. He is another who went well in a recent trial but there is a chance that he could lead out wide, and if that's the case, it would take a good effort to reel him in

Heat three is another intriguing affair. Slick Sentinel has reached numerous Category One finals due to the cracking early pace that he can show when the lids rise and the Patrick Janssens is likely to be thereabouts again here with another of his better breaks and could be hard to reel in with a decent lead. Kevin Hutton's Antigua Kestrel is an interesting runner now over this four bend distance. He struggled to last home over the six bend distance at Monmore but if he can hit the front on the rails, then has every chance of making all the running as he can also stay on well over this distance. However, Maxine Locke's HEADFORD DANE, has won the PGR Puppy Derby and Ladbrokes Gold Cup at Monmore this year, and having beaten Richard Rees's Crossfield Enzo, who re-opposes again, he has since flown round in a trial since then. He may be at his best with a draw further off the rails, but if hitting the front in the early stages, he would take plenty of beating

Heat four is one of the more open looking contests, but it could pay to side with Dan Brabon's CHADDY BOY. He has been off the card since taking a tumble at the start of September but has shown that all is well in a couple of recent trials. Although he can be hit and miss from the traps, he showed what he is capable of when timing the start right on August 9th when flying round in 28.87, a repeat of which would be enough for victory here. Richard Rees's Zenith Aslan has been off since late August and is open to improvement on the back of a recent trial, while Lemon Anton is sure to be staying on well in the later stages for Maxine Locke, and granted a clear run rounding the final bends, then he could make his presence felt

Heat five looks to be a match on paper between two of Patrick Janssens's leading lights , StarSports/TRC Derby winner DROOPYS PLUNGE and recent Yorkshire Derby winner Romeo Tomcat. Droopys Plunge has won three of his four starts since his Towcester exploits and will be looking to add to that tally again here as Brinkleys Betty on his inside isn't blessed with the greatest of early pace, so if trapping well, he ough to take all the beating. Romeo Tomcat arrives in good form having gone unbeaten at Doncaster with three impressive victories. He will look to be up with the pace round the opening bends and if that's the case, then an interesting battle could take place. Richard Rees's Texas Jack can't be ignored though, having won four of his five starts, including two from two over course and distance, and his times on the clock could put him bang on contention if handy out wide

The sixth and last heat of the first round could go the way of Maxine Locke's BALLYMAC BLANCO, who is at his best when up with the pace in the early stages and if he can turn the opening bends in a decent looking position, then he may just be able to prove too strong for his rivals at the finish. Jason Heath's Burrows Charm could be a danger to all having broken the 29.00 sec barrier in a recent trial, something which most of this field have failed to achieve in recent weeks, and this East Anglian Derby runner up will make a bold bid to make all the running. Not So Steady is another who will look to hit the front in the early stages and if able to improve on his recent trial, then the Patrick Janssens runner could qualify for next weeks semi finals

Jumpstart Sarah can show cracking early pace out wide and it wouldn't be a surprise to see Tom Levers's runner making a bold bid to make all the running, but she can often prove to be vulnerable in the later stages and with a couple of strong finishers in this field, she would need a huge advantage. WONDERFUL ABI is one of those strong finishers and Paul Donovan's runner will be doing her best work when rounding the final bends, and if able to set her sights on the leaders, will look to pick these off on the run for home. Barry O'Sullivan's Good Rainbow can be hit and miss from the traps but her chances of scoring will increase if she is close enough to the leaders at any stage of this contest

Six bend action here and having ran out a wide margin winner of the BGBF British Bred St Leger at Doncaster last week, ROMEO EMPIRE will be looking to follow up that performance with another clear cut victory here. He has a tricky looking draw from trap four to work from but if able to negotiate the opening bends with a clear enough passage, then his class can see him drawing clear for trainer Patrick Janssens. The main danger looks to be the Richard Rees trained Deadly Disco, who can be a hit and miss with his performances at times, but there is no doubting his ability and could go close if up with the pace from a good draw out wide. Swift Delta won't be seen in the early stages but is sure to be staying on well late and he may not be far away if the gaps can open at the vital times

On draws alone, there won't be many better drawn runners found on the card than Julie Luckhurst's EPIC PRINCESS. She is often slow into stride, but is sure to be staying on well against the rails in the later stages and ought to have plenty of room to work from, and can prove too strong for the leaders rounding the final bends. Barry O'Sullivan's Millbank Lily is capable of doing things either way over the four bends and she could prove to be the main danger if close enough to the leaders at any stage. Heathlawn Willow will be looking to hit the front in the early stages and Dave Puddy's runner could feature in the final outcome if able to build up a decent enough lead