Trainer Chat - Star Sports/TRC English Greyhound Derby Semi-Final One

Star Sports/TRC English Greyhound Derby Semi-Final One

The two Star Sports/TRC English Greyhound Derby semi-finals are outstanding looking contests on Saturday night. If you have still not go your tickets for Saturday then click here and if you can't make it then head over to YouTube and watch all of the Towcester action on Gone To The Dogs - Live!

Joe Conneely spoke to all of the trainers this week ahead of the semi-finals. Joe gives his thoughts on each of the runners in each race and to hear from the trainer click on their name to download the m4a file.

Trap 1 - Sole Mio (Peter Cronin)

Not ideally drawn in trap one for a dog who would much rather be closer to the middle. He needs to come away and avoid De Lahdedah on his immediate outside on the run to the bend. His 28.54 win in the third round shows the class he possesses but can he do it from this box?

Trap 2 - De Lahdedah (Liam Dowling)

On paper, this look an extremely difficult looking draw directly outside of Sole Mio. With that runner liable to move to the right from that starting position, the defending champion needs to take a flyer or miss the break and let things happen in front of him. Either way, he'll give it his all to make a second straight final. 

Trap 3 - Droopys Bookem (Tom Heilbron)

The strongest runner in the race. Realistically, he can't clear the inside pair off a level break so connections will be hoping to get to the rail and weave his way through with a strong staying run. Has grown into the competition well.

Trap 4 - Slick Sentinel (Patrick Janssens)

Lowered the colours of Bockos Diamond in the quarter-final. Draw doesn't look too bad in four as long as he traps and holds the wide runners to the bend. From there, it could be game on as we all know what a gutsy type he is. 

Trap 5 - Bombay Pat (Graham Holland)

A greyhound with all the ability in the world but is so often let down by his trapping. He needs to come away much better to get competitive but rule him out at your peril as he is more than good enough to book a spot in the final if he traps.

Trap 6 - Churchfield Syd (Richard Rees)

A kennel star who hit veteran stage this week. We all know how he qualifies. he pings and tries to make all. A finalist last year, he will have his final race on June 14 whether that is in the final of this or in a supporting contest. There would be few bigger cheers than Syd making through.