Joe Conneely's first thoughts on Star Sports Derby entries

Joe Conneely's first thoughts on Star Sports Derby entries

Well here we go!!! The start of the Star Sports & TRC Greyhound Derby is just nine days away and we now have the 178 names who will go into the drum on Friday with connections knowing their fate ahead of a gruelling yet thrilling six week period with the final on Saturday 14 June. 

Reigning champion De Lahdedah returns for another crack at the title for Liam Dowling who has a knack of getting the unexposed types through to the latter stages so expect the same again from the Irish based trainer.

Five of the top ten in the ante post market ran in the Time Juvenile on Easter Sunday. Quoted by some as the fastest greyhound on the planet, Bockos Diamond the ante post favourite heads into the competition with a gutsy third in that race when completely missing the break and going well for a long way before tying up. The winner of that race Proper Heiress keeps going from strength to strength with Droopys Plunge, March On Freddie and Wicky Ned all expected to go deep in this years renewal. Boylesports Blue the outsider in the Juvenile ran well and I would not put anyone off backing him each way for the competition. 

Bombay Pat and Cheap Sandwiches are two more kennel stars for Graham Holland both seeded wide who look set to go deep from favourable draws and all round speed that you need to be successful in a Derby campaign.

Some of the stronger running British based greyhounds include Barntick Bear, Aayamza Sydney and Romeo Empire who will be looking to make sure they’re in the top three as the weeks go by. 

Interesting newcomers include Droopys Bookem trained by Tom Heilbron who was impressive in a trial stakes on Easter Sunday, Lennies Desire for Paul Hennessy. 

The new kid on the block with a bright future is Headford Asher for Maxine Locke who has been chucked in at the deep end after only three UK starts but those three starts have seen him win by over twenty-one lengths including a 28.88 run at Hove last weekend. Rule him out at your peril!!!