StarSports/TRC Greyhound Derby Final Preview - Bombay Pat

STAR SPORTS/TRC ENGLISH GREYHOUND DERBY FINALISTS 

BOMBAY PAT 

Owners - Eugene Buckley and Pat Muldoon

The Graham Holland-trained Irish raider has emerged as one of the leading contenders in this year's Star Sports/TRC English Greyhound Derby and now finds himself in T4 for the £175,000 final on Saturday evening live on Gone To The Dogs YouTube. 

Born in September 2022, Bombay Pat is a son of Pestana and Clear Mountain, a breeding combination that has endowed him with an exceptional blend of pace and stamina.  

Bombay Pat's racing career is marked by significant achievements. He initially struggled to find his form, failing to start in a race at Kilkenny in May 2024 and then finished fourth in a sprint at Cork over the 330y distance. However, the breakthrough came in his next start on August 10, 2024 when he led at the third bend and powered home, recording 28.16 over the four-bend 525y trip at Cork. He went ever quicker next time out, recording 27.96, this gave us a clear insight into his ability and his potential to be a top-tier performer. 

Bombay Pat was then aimed at the Shelbourne Maiden Derby in September 2024. He led in the first-round heats but was caught late on by Coosane Pickles. Next time out in the semi-finals of the competition, Pat led round and bolted up recorded 29.21. Pat had laid down a marker for the upcoming final. In the final itself, Pat was made the 4/6 favourite by the bookmakers, and he made light work of the opposition. 

Following a flying 3.54 sectional, Pat hit the back straight clear of the chasing pack and landed the €7,500 prize for owners Eugene Buckley and Pat Muldoon.

Following on from the Maiden Derby win Bombay Pat was aimed at the BoyleSports Irish Greyhound Derby. The first-round heat went to plan with Pat making all in 29.34. The bookmakers were taking no chances in the second round with Pat was sent off the 1/5 favourite. The race was never in doubt with another breathtaking display of early pace and staying power. 

During the third-round heats on 2nd November 2024 Pat was made to work hard to gain the victory. He led at the third bend and finished well; another box ticked for this exciting prospect. In the fourth round, Bombay Pat found himself in an ultra-competitive heat with 2024 English Derby champion De Lahdedah in T1 and Ballinabola Jim in T5, plus English raider March On Freddie in T4. Sent off at 5/2 Pat pinged the lids, made all, recording a 3.46 sectional and 29.19 clock – wow!

The semi-finals of the 2024 BoyleSports Irish Greyhound Derby is where Bombay Pat exited the competition. He missed the break and was crowded at halfway and finished fourth. Bockos Diamond won the race from T3 and then went onto win the final, beating his kennelmate, Cheap Sandwiches. 

After exiting the Irish Greyhound Derby, Bombay Pat was aimed at the €3,000 BoyleSports Irish Derby Consolation. Starting as the 6/5 favourite, Pat was fancied to go well, but like during the semi-finals of the Irish Derby, he missed the break and was always playing catch up. De Lahdedah took the race in 29.46, beating Short Grip a head with race leader Carrick Aldo a neck back in third.

Connections didn’t have to wait long for another big race victory. On December 7, Bombay Pat lined up in the €10,000 Winter Festival Championship and brought his trapping boots this time, he led round, made all and recorded 31.07 over the four-bend 575y distance at Shelbourne Park, he was back!

Bombay Pat was then put away for the winter and returned to action in the Star Sports English Greyhound Derby Trial Stakes open at Towcester on 27th April. Following a moderate break Pat showed electric early gears to lead round and went onto beat March On Freddie in 28.60, a huge run on Towcester debut.

Next time out it was the real deal, the first round of the Star Sports English Greyhound Derby with £175,000 up for grabs for the outright winner. Pat was put in at 2/13 by the bookmakers and he duly obliged beating Kevins Rocket in 28.81. The second-round heat on Saturday, May 17 was won in similar impressive fashion with Bombay Pat making all in 28.53 following a flying 4.00 sectional. 

In the third round Bubbly Charger pinged out from T4 and Bombay Pat chased him home from T6, qualification is the name of the game during the Derby. It was a similar outcome in the quarter-finals with Pat chasing home the impressive winner Dynamic Force. It was then all eyes on the semi-finals that took place on Saturday, June 7. Bombay Pat lined up from T5, turned third behind Sole Mio (T1) and Slick Sentinal (T4) then challenged down the back straight, at the third bend Pat was slightly held up by Slick Sentinel and the strong stayer Droopys Bookem drove up the inside looking a major threat, but Pat was having none of it and stayed on well to book his place in the final.

Verdict: Bombay Pat ticks a lot of boxes, well breed, excellent form, top-class trainer, he’s in with a genuine chance of landing the prize for Eugene Buckley and Pat Muldoon and taking the pot back to the Riverside kennels. The key is the break, Bombay Pat needs to reproduce the 4.00 sectional that he recorded during the second-round heats, if he brings his trapping boots the 18/1 on offer from William Hill will look huge value. Whether he can claim the ultimate prize remains to be seen, but Bombay Pat has already proven himself a star in the sport we all love.