"We're building up to a really good final" says Danny Rayment
Danny Rayment has been delighted with his first Category One in charge of the racing office at Towcester, with the final of the BGBF British Bred Derby coming up on Sunday afternoon
Rayment delighted with early days at Towcester
Danny Rayment, Towcester’s new racing manager, is enjoying overseeing his first major competition at the Northamptonshire venue.
The former Crayford RM has settled into his role at the home of the Derby and Sunday’s BGBF British Bred Derby Final at the Northamptonshire venue will not just be a first for the track - it was held at Sheffield last year - but a first for Rayment there, and a real open-race baptism of fire.
“I was pretty much straight into preparation for the British Bred Derby and taking in entries for it,” said Rayment of a competition which effectively replaced the Stud Book Trophy at Towcester and one which has delighted him.
“The quality has been great and we’re building up to a really good final - and seeing King Memphis back in top form has been one of the high points.
“He’s missed a lot of 2025 and we could all be forgiven for thinking his best days were behind him - but that’s clearly not the case. I think already it’s one of the training performances of the year from Rab and Liz (McNair) and it might look even better come Sunday!
“Certainly Towcester brings out the best in King Memphis given what’s he done here before,” added Rayment of the 2023 English Puppy Derby winner and 2024 Star Sports & TRC English Greyhound Derby finalist.
“All that said you can never rule out Patrick’s (Janssens) team. He came in with some big chances and hasn’t had a bad year at Towcester as we know, but things probably didn’t quite go to plan for the team - although it’s good that Romeo Ability got through.
“Kevin Hutton is no stranger to Towcester as a Derby-winning trainer at Towcester. He has the improving Venetian Will in the final, while it’s also good to see the ‘Coppice’ prefix of Tony Brealey’s represented with Coppice Lottie.
“I met Tony a few times during my time at Crayford where he part-owned winners of both the Golden Jacket (Dazl Rolex) and the Grand National (Signet Harper) and hurdles have been talked about here at Towcester, which is good. One to discuss further next year!
“I’d also like to say well done to Richie Taberner and Stuart Forsdike for getting Aero Boris through, and to Heather Dimmock and John and Gail May with Spiridon Zelus.
“Gail had Spiridon Louis back in the day - a former Greyhound of the Year no less - and Gail does some fantastic work with retired greyhounds and can often be seen here at Towcester with the ex-racers. And it’s great that Spiridon Zelus has made it through being very much part of the graded strength here.”
