StarSports/TRC Greyhound Derby Final Preview - De Lahdedah

STAR SPORTS/TRC GREYHOUND DERBY FINAL PREVIEW – DE LAHDEDAH

Owners - The Garsuns Syndicate, John McAuliffe, Kevin O'Connor, Stephen Hanrahan, Pat Sullivan & Derry Carroll

Reigning English Greyhound Derby champion De Lahdedah is back to defend his crown. He will be looking to add to last year's success and claim the £175,000 prize for his owners, the Garsuns Syndicate.

The Liam Dowling-trained October 21 son of Lenson Bocko and Ballymac Sarahjo is a name synonymous with speed, grit and glory in the greyhound racing world. As he charges towards Saturday's final the defending champion is ready to make history and confirm his place in the record books. If De Lahdedah manages to land the prize, he will be the first greyhound in nearly two decades to defend the Derby crown.

De Lahdedah started life at Tralee winning in times of 28.61 and 28.42. He was then unfortunately knocked over on his third run and off the track before returning to action at Shelbourne Park in the Sporting Press Open. He finished a respectable third chasing home Cryptopunk who made all from T3.

In July 2023 De Lahdedah was aimed at the Irish Derby. He won his first-round heat in 29.43 beating Clona Rocko who finished second. The second-round heats didn’t go to plan at the boxes. De Lahdedah was hampered at halfway yet managed to qualify in third, that’s the name of the game in these ultra-competitive competitions. Third round (29.15) and fourth round (29.31) wins highlighted the talent of the youngster at the time. 

On August 26, 2023 De Lahdedah started as the 6/4 favourite in the semi-finals of the BoyleSports Irish Greyhound Derby. Unfortunately for the Liam Dowling-trained runner, he was impeded at halfway and finished fifth and was eliminated from the competition. Attentions then turned to the Time Greyhound Nutrition Juvenile with De Lahdedah winning the first and second round heats. During the third round, he attempted to challenge, finished well but could only grab fourth, and he was knocked out!

De Lahdedah was off the track for a couple of months but returned to action for the Winter Racing Festival Championship over the 550y trip at Shelbourne where he finished fifth chasing home Another Holiday who made all at 12/1.

The Eric Browne Memorial Kingdom Derby was next up at Tralee. During the first round De Lahdedah was beaten at 2/7 but safely qualified for the next round. The semi-final was a similar story with a third-place finish, then it was all eyes on the final, which took place on December 22, 2023. Following a moderate break De Lahdedah could only finish third behind Road Exile who made all in 28.02.

A couple of runs around Shelbourne in March blew away the cobwebs, then it was all systems go for a tilt at the English Greyhound Derby at Towcester. The first round went to plan with a quick away, made all victory in 28.78. Next time out in the second round, De Lahdedah had to show his battling qualities, coming from off the pace to win in 28.91. 

The third round was a titanic battle with Crafty Shivoo from the Mark Wallis kennel. They went at it throughout with just a head separating them at the finish. The quarter-finals were next up, and the bookmakers had De Lahdedah as the 8/13 favourite. The traps opened, they approached the first bend, and he was forced to check. He went onto finish third over 12 lengths behind the winner, Boylesports Bob, but again, the aim was qualification and that was achieved. 

The semi-final, ping, quick away, led first, 28.79, De Lahdedah meant business. The final on Saturday June 29 promised to be a cracker. De Lahdedah lined up from T4, it was all eyes on the break. He paced up well following a 4.09 sectional, led off the second and went onto the land the £175,000 prize money for his owners, the Garsun Syndicate, in a track recorded equalling run of 28.58 at the time.

A tilt at the 2024 BoyleSports Irish Greyhound Derby didn’t go to plan. Beaten at 1/5 in the first round, De Lahdedah qualified in third. He won his second-round heat in 29.30 and booked his place in the third round where he finished a close up third. Then it was all eyes on the fourth round. De Lahdehdah started at the 6/4 favourite but was slow away and was never in with a shout of winning and was eliminated from the competition. He returned to Shelbourne a couple of weeks later and took the BoyleSports Irish Derby Consolation final, landing the €3,000 prize for connections. Two weeks later De Lahdedah finished well to take the Winter Festival Championship and took home €10,000.

This calendar year there were a couple of prep runs around Shelbourne in March without success, then all systems go at retaining his crown at Towcester. A first-round victory by over eight lengths was followed up by and second place chasing home Ballinabola Joe. De Lahdedah made light work of the opposition in the third round making all following a blistering 3.99 sectional. 

The quarter-finals was up next with the now-retired Churchfield Syd in opposition. Syd led, De Lahdedah turned second, and it was race on. It was a thrilling battle with the champion getting up on the line to reward those that took the 8/15 on offer. Last week, in the semi-finals, Sole Mio was drawn in T1, all the talk was about that rival moving off and the potential for trouble. De Lahdedah missed the break, challenged and hit the front late on – what a run from the defending champion. 

Verdict: The Garsuns Syndicate's will be hoping for a clear run, De Lahdedah's track craft is exceptional, turn with them and its race on. De Laddedah has clocked 28.50, 28.72, 28.73, 28.81 and, last time out, 28.62. He can win from the front or if turning with the pace. This versatile performer is in it to win it. Derby glory awaits! Let's go, champ!