Droopys Plunge to head back to Towcester next week
The steady buildup to the 2026 Star Sports and Orchestrate Greyhound Derby will continue at Towcester next week for defending champion Droopys Plunge with a 500m trial.
Plunge trial pleases Patrick Janssens
Droopys Plunge moved well with a 15.89 (-10) pre-racing sprint trial at Towcester on Sunday and will be back at the Northamptonshire track on Sunday for a 500m spin.
“He’s come out of the trial well and we’ll go back there next week and just gradually build him back up. He’ll have a race at some point, of course, but there’s no massive rush but we’ll focus on Towcester,” said Janssens of his reigning English Derby champion who has the Star Sports & Orchestrate Greyhound Derby as his main target.
Janssens had a double at Towcester on Sunday with Fabulous Aria and Droopys Graph - and was particularly happy with the latter, a young star of the kennel, who came impressively came through a clash with kennelmate Slick Sentinel.
“I thought both ran well,” he said. “It was the first time Droopys Graph has trapped and we know he’s a strong dog, and the way both dogs pulled away showed their class.”
Droopys Graph clocked a slick 28.87 (normal) in leading home his kennelmate by a length and a half.
“I’ve always said he needs experience. He took time to settle in and so I knew he’d come forward for that first run when he was beaten. I think his time on Sunday just third time up in the UK tells you he’s a very nice dog.”
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