Liam Dowling set to trial Derby team at Towcester on Monday

Monday's trial session at Towcester is going to be a big one. A string of potential runners in the 2025 Star Sports English Greyhound Derby will  be in action with the final entires to be made by 8 pm that evening. Four of the dogs that will be in action will represent the 2024 Derby winning trainer Liam Dowling who has kept his team under wraps. 

De Lahdedah

There is no other dog that we can start with than the defending champion. He has been beaten in both of his 2025 outings so far at Shelbourne but they were better on the clock than his final two runs last year. Successful in four of the six rounds in 2024, he crossed the line in a track record equalling 28.58 in the final itself.

He would make the quarter-final stage of the Irish equivalent at Shelbourne in November before making a winning end to the year at the Winter Racing Festival at the same track. Only four dogs have won a second Derby so he would be operating in rarified air if he can go back-to-back.

Ballymac Jester

A three-quarter brother to Ballymac Marino who was unbeaten through the first three rounds of the 2023 Derby before exiting in the quarter-final stage behind the eventual winner Gaytime Nemo. Jester is only eight races deep into his career, a 28.21 winner at Tralee and a 28.33 scorer at Limerick so far.

He was a semi-finalist in the recent Con & Annie Kirby Memorial at the latter track behind Faypoint Ranger who went on to win the competition. Those flashy times suggest that he has the necessary engine to play a role in a Derby but he is yet to find a way to channel that pure speed into consistency.

Ballymac Pebb

An August 2023 son of Doolin Duke, he has been seen in just three races. All of those have been over two bends so he would be making his four-bend debut in the opening round of the Derby. It would make him one of the least exposed runners in the contest and also one of the most intriguing. 

He won the middle of those starts at Tralee in 17.46, tied for the fourth quickest time at the track this year. To put some context behind that, 17.28 was the quickest time in 2024 which was set by Stonepark Hoffa. Pebb comes from one of the top damlines in the game, his dam a litter sister to Ballymac Kingdom and a half to the likes of Ballymac Arminta and Ballymac Anton.

Ballymac Rapid

Rapid is part of the August 2023 maiden litter of Ballymac Ariel, the 2020 National Puppy winner. We have already seen the litter in the UK through the Gymcrack winner Elusivenomore. He has a couple of wins at Tralee from just five career starts, including in a slick 28.25. 

His most recent run saw him finish second to Daleroad Duke who is a track specialist at Tralee and also a very stiff rival for such an inexperienced pup to take on. He is going to have to learn on the job a little bit around Towcester but he is another one who has a huge level of natural ability and could be a lively one for those who like a big price.