Janssens happy with Plunge as Bono tops Welsh Derby market
Patrick Janssens was happy with the win from Droopys Plunge at Towcester on Sunday while on the same day the effort from Clongeel Bono at Valley has made him the new outright favourite for the Welsh Derby with sponsors Star Sports.
Plunge delights Janssens with success
Droopys Plunge delighted trainer Patrick Janssens after coming through strongly to win at Towcester on Sunday.
The 2025 Star Sports English champion, having just his second start of the year after a lengthy layoff, won the Betway Standard at the Northamptonshire venue, a supporting open on BGBF Two-Year-Old Produce Stakes Final afternoon there.
"He's always taken a run to blow the cobwebs away, so I wasn't too worried about last week," said Janssens after Droopys Plunge's closest-at-finish fourth behind Rioja Wanda a week before.
"But he's run really well this week and I'm happy with him. We'll keep him ticking over and he might need one or two more races to bring him to the level we want - and then we'll think about competitions."
The Premier Greyhound Eclipse at Nottingham has been mooted as a possible target for Droopys Plunge.
Meanwhile, fastest heat winner Clongeel Bono heads the market with the sponsors ahead of Sunday's semi-finals of the Star Sports Welsh Derby at Valley as the historic race, last run in 1977, got under way at the weekend.
Christian Darch's runner, who posted 28.14 for the 460m trip in heat six of the 36-runner event, is a 7-2 chance ahead of Nathan Hunt's Anglesey Milo. The latter was a beaten favourite in the heats behind Craig Marston's Blackstone Ten (28.45) but caught the eye in defeat, finishing well.
Face The Storm is next in the market at 5-1 having completed a heat double for Mike Burton in 28.34 after kennelmate Magical Hawk had earlier won in 28.56.
Star Sports bet: 7-2 Clongeel Bono, 4 Anglesey Milo, 5 Face The Storm, 7 Sawpit Signature, 8 Blackstone Ten, 10 Magical Hawk, Romeo Victor, Simpson Sniper 12 Fastlane George, 16 Hoholetsgo, King Floyd, Old Fort Villain, 22 Baggios Buster, Pyro Man, 25 Ballymac Madgie, Dubliners Flyer, Gwyn Luka, 28 Whisky Luna.
