DE LAHDEDAH IS BACK AS EIGHT IRISH ON SHOW AS ENGLISH DERBY CONTINUES

    DE LAHDEDAH IS BACK AS EIGHT IRISH ON SHOW AS ENGLISH DERBY CONTINUES

    Ian Fortune

    Defending champion De Lahdedah leads the Irish challenge on night 2 of the Star Sports/ TRC English Derby at Towcester.

    Liam Dowling’s star is one of eight Irish trained greyhounds on show this evening and is set to start a hot favourite to take Heat 14.

    Lightly raced this year, the brilliant son of Lenson Bocko is perfectly drawn on the fence and will be hard to stop if coming away on terms. He is chosen to get his defence off to a flying start at the expense of the powerful Clona Curly.

    HARVEY SET TO GO CLOSE

    After a hat trick on Thursday, Graham Holland will be hoping to add to his tally with Faypoint Susie or Faypoint Harvey.

    Both boast fine form around Towcester in the past but Faypoint Harvey is Holland’s best hope of a winner in Heat 15. He is drawn on the right side of his main rival, Romeo Steel, and is chosen to come home in front.

    SUSIE AND JIM MEET IN HEAT 13

    Faypoint Susie needs to find some form to threaten in Heat 13.

    She has been lightly raced over the past year and may have to settle for a minor role. Instead, the Pat Buckley trained Ballinabola Jim is nominated as Ireland’s best fancy in this contest.

    Big Jim, as he became known during a wonderful Irish Derby campaign, recently returned from injury layoff and performed well to reach the final of the Shelbourne 600. Thoe runs can leave him ready to put his best foot forward and he is chosen to come home in front.

    MOLLY AND BLUE EXPECTED TO FIGURE

    Pat Buckley also sends out Singalong Molly.

    She chased home Ballyhooly Bruno in the final of the Shelbourne Open 600 at the weekend and is clearly in tremendous form. Her lack of experience at Towcester is a concern but don’t be surprised if she goes close from an ideal draw in the stripes.

    Standing in her way is a resurgent Boylesports Blue. He won a Derby Trial stake recently and ran well in the Juvenile Championship for Paul Hennessy. He has a perfect draw on the rail and is also likely to have a big say in the outcome.

    EXPECT A DYNAMIC DISPLAY FROM FORCE

    Dynamic Force is another in action for Paul Hennessy.

    He is the sole Irish trained runner in Heat 18 and will have room to race from six with a vacant trap on his immediate inside. Antigua Kestrel and Droopys Pivotel can offer the greatest resistance to Dynamic Force.

    SOLE MIO TO SING

    After the disappointment of Randolph Scotts on Thursday, Peter Cronin will be praying for better luck with Sole Mio in Heat 17.

    The rapidly improving son of Coolavanny Hoffa faces a tough test in his first outing since running up the Kirby Memorial but has the pace to mount a bold bid. March On Freddie will be a warm favourite but Sole Mio might just get first run along the fence and could take some catching. 

    WATCH THE ACTION LIVE

    All the English Derby action can be viewed live throughout the classic via www.sisracing.tv or via the Gone to the Dogs – Live YouTube channel, offering live presentation, interviews and full replays. It can be seen at: https://www.youtube.com/@GoneToTheDogs-Live