Local quartet aiming for Kent Derby glory

Locals in the Kent Derby hunt

Six finalists for Kent’s richest greyhound racing competition will be confirmed at Central Park Stadium on Saturday which hosts the Premier Greyhound Racing Kent Derby semi-finals. 

Worth £20,000 to the winner, the Kent Derby is the jewel in the crown of greyhound racing in the south east and has attracted a star line-up this year, including Irish sensation Bombay Pat, Puppy Classic hero Romeo Alliance and dual Category One champion Headford Dane. 

All three of those hounds remain in contention of scooping the top prize when the Sittingbourne track opens its doors for free to all racegoers for a sparkling finals night on Saturday, October 18.

Meanwhile, four locally-trained greyhounds will fly the flag for Kent on this weekend’s card with Nick Carter’s Cronody Zuma and Paul Donovan’s Cinderella Tell drawn in semi-final two. 

Daniel Brabon meanwhile has outsider Blastoff Kobbie in semi-final one and proven open race winner Chaddy Boy in semi-final three. 

The Gillingham handler has never lifted the Kent Derby trophy previously and has high hopes for recent Category Three competition winner Chaddy Boy, despite him going paw-to-paw with some of the UK’s most talented greyhounds in his semi-final.

“We have thought a lot of him (Chaddy Boy) since he arrived at the kennel,” said Brabon. 

“His early trials were encouraging and he’s held his own in a number of strong open races since. There’s no doubt he’s capable of reaching the final but the key for him is his trapping – he’ll have to start well to make the frame. 

“We haven’t had the best of fortune in the Kent Derby historically so it would be nice to reverse that trend in the next fortnight. 

Chaddy Boy

“Blastoff Kobbie is another who’s capable of winning an open race, but he’s up against it to be truthful. Saturday was a personal best time over the 491m trip – he’ll need to do that again and a bit more to qualify.

“It’s been a good year for the kennel on reflection, hopefully that can continue this weekend.” 

Elsewhere, last year’s winning trainer-owner combination of Maxine Locke and the JR Racing Syndicate are represented by Razldazl Myway and Headford Dane – who qualified fastest – in the first and third semi-finals respectively. 

Tickets and hospitality packages for Saturday’s Premier Greyhound Racing Kent Derby semi-finals are available online via www.centralpark-greyhounds.co.uk. Doors open at 4pm, with the first of 13 races on the night off at 5.25pm.

Racegoers are reminded admission to next week’s £20,000 final on Saturday, October 18, is free to all racegoers.

Premier Greyhound Racing Kent Derby Semi-finals:

Semi Final One: Zenith Imminent, Burrows Charm, Zenith Sultant, Razldazl Myway, Blastoff Kobbie, Texas Jack.

Semi Final Two: Acejukeboxpopper, Romeo Alliance, Cronody Zuma, Not So Steady, Bombay Pat, Cinderella Tell. 

Semi Final Three: Shore Rd Maximus, Headford Dane, Ballyhimikin Ben, Romeo Tomcat, Burrows Eclipse, Chaddy Boy.