DIAMOND TO SHINE BRIGHTEST AT TOWCESTER
Ian Fortune
After almost six weeks of pulsating action, the Star Sports/ TRC English Greyhound Derby will this evening come to a conclusion at Towcester.
It has been a memorable competition for all concerned but for the Irish it has been particularly special and five of tonight’s final six will represent these shors with De Lahdedah and Bockos Diamond leading the charge as they chase history.
Twelve months ago, De Lahdedah raced to the most brilliant success in the classic and he is back to defend his crown. If doing so, he will become the fifth dual winner of the classic joining stellar names like Mick The Miller, Patricias Hope, Rapid Ranger and Westmead Hawk as a dual winner of the UK’s greatest prize.
Bockos Diamond is bidding to become just the second greyhound in the near 100-year history of the sport to win both the Irish and English Derby. He was nothing short of sensational in last year’s Irish Derby at Shelbourne Park and while the road to tonight’s English Derby final was a little more bumpy, he arrives into this evening’s decider on the back of his finest display of the competition.
Joining the duo are three of their compatriots, each of which would be a worthy winner. Sole Mio, the youngster with the world at his feet, will bid to hand Peter Cronin a first and long-overdue English Derby success.
After chasing home his kennel companion Bockos Diamond in the Irish equivalent late last year, Cheap Sandwiches has reached another Derby decider and will be a popular choice with punters, while they are joined by another kennel companion in Bombay Pat, a greyhound with the pace to match any in training.
The sole UK representative is Droopys Plunge, a greyhound who is the latest in a long line of classic finalists to emerge from the famous Droopys Stud in Portlaw. He began his career on this side of the Irish Sea, winning the Denis Linehan Solicitors Open Unraced at Curraheen Park. Now under the care of Patrick Janssens, he has been handed an ideal draw on the fence and could potentially spoil the Irish party if things went his way.
DIAMOND HARD TO BEAT
The odds are stacked against that happening, however.
It promises to be the most incredible final but there can be only one winner and the market suggests that Bockos Diamond is the one to beat. It’s hard to disagree.
He was brilliant in his semi-final, showing his trademark early speed to clear Cheap Sandwiches and others into the turn. Staying on better than he had done in the earlier rounds, the son of Dorotas Wildcat posted 28.51. A repeat of that run may well be enough.
DEFENDING CHAMP HAS BEEN COMFORTABLE
De Lahdedah has drawn three, a box from where he would normally be more than comfortable, but the presence of Sole Mio on his immediate inner is a slight concern.
The latter, who ran up the Kirby Memorial, does tend to edge off in the early yards.
Sole Mio is also capable of a fast start and looks a player but his tendency to move to his right is certainly not ideal for De Lahdedah. If the pair rub shoulders or worse, it would hinder their chances.
De Lahdedah has found a way through the competition. His sole defeat came in the second round and he comes into tonight’s contest on the back of perhaps his best success, coming from lengths behind to pick up the aforementioned Sole Mio. The champions always seem to find a way and De Lahdedah is certainly that.
SOLE MIO A FIFTH FINALIST FOR CRONIN
Sole Mio is a half-brother to Kildare (later known as Mr Chelm), who ran up the 2022 Derby behind Romeo Magico and he boasts very similar style of running.
He is Peter Cronin’s fifth English Derby finalist and few would begrudge Cronin were Sole Mio to come home in front.
TASTY SANDWICHES
Cheap Sandwiches races from five and he too has been brilliant through the preliminaries.
His only two losses this year have come behind Bockos Diamond, a short head defeat in the third round and a second placed finish in the semi-finals.
There is no doubt he needs Bockos Diamond to make an error at traps but Cheap Sandwiches remains a leading contender for Derby glory. If he were to get the better of Bockos Diamond into the bend, it’s conceivable he would be the dog to beat.
PAT MUST FIND A START
That leaves us with Bombay Pat.
As stated, he is as fast as any greyhound in training but is simply not consistent enough at boxes. He has massive early speed and has huge pace down the back straight but in this sort of company is very much a front-runner.
Can he find a start? His connections will certainly hope so as will a few punters that are tempted by the 20-1 available in places.
EXPECT AN IRISH WINNER WITH DIAMOND SELECTED
Barring an accident, the trophy is coming back to Ireland and Bockos Diamond is the most likely winner.
A sensational winner of the Irish Derby late last year, he is bidding to emulate Toms The Best by capturing the English Derby after an Irish Derby success.
If trapping on terms, he has proven that he has the early speed to get clear of his rivals into the turn while his back straight pace is truly exceptional. He is chosen to show his class once again, although any mistakes at trap rise, however small, could prove costly. Connections of Sole Mio, Bombay Pat and Cheap Sandwiches will be hopeful of a huge run, while nobody would be surprised if De Lahdedah confirmed his standing as one of the modern greats by defending his title but we can only make one selection. Bockos Diamond is set to shine bright. The best of luck to all involved.
GONETOTHEDOGS BROADCASTING LIVE
There will be many watching the action from Towcester via sisracing.tv due to the fact that they are also showing the Shelbourne action live but Gone To The Dogs Live is also available, providing live presentation, interviews, replays and so much more live from Towcester via their YouTube stream.
You can watch Gone To The Dogs production from 6.30pm at the link: https://www.youtube.com/live/_d-jwQ764xc?si=AY9ZozhHfAd70Cuq
For those interested there is also a live preview from the track at 1.55pm at the link: https://www.youtube.com/live/VLSPho-Q3vM?si=kIsj_UcpmX4Fl4Q8