Could There Be an Irish Clean Sweep in the Greyhound Derby?
Six Irish and six English-trained greyhounds will contest the Greyhound Derby semi-finals on Saturday.
A place in the Greyhound Derby final is the prize that awaits six greyhounds this Saturday. How many will be Irish-trained? ©Steve Nash
Key Facts:
- Irish-trained dogs dominate the Greyhound Derby betting at the semi-final stage.
- Churchfield Syd is close to reaching back-to-back Derby finals.
- Defending Derby champion De Lahdedah is quoted on 6/4 to win his semi-final.
Half of the greyhounds contesting Saturday’s semi-final stages of the Star Sports/TRC English Greyhound Derby are trained on home soil. However, the remaining six dogs, trained by Peter Cronin, Liam Dowling, and Graham Holland in Ireland, occupy the top six spots in the competition’s betting.
With three runners in each semi-final, it is feasible the final could be an all-Irish affair. The UK’s best online betting sites believe Droopys Plunge, quoted on 20/1 odds in the ante-post market, is the best hope for the home defence. His dismissive price underlines the prospect of an Irish clean sweep this weekend.
Syd to the Alter of Greyhound Racing?
Heat betting suggests Churchfield Syd, trained by Richard Rees at Hove, carries England’s best hopes of having a representative in next week’s final. This remarkable greyhound officially entered veteran status at the start of June. He won the Kent Derby at Central Park and the Winter Derby at Monmore as a youngster.
More pertinently, Churchfield Syd was a Star Sports/TRC English Greyhound Derby finalist 12 months ago and reached the decider with quarter and semi-final winning form-lines. The brindle greyhound added the Ladbrokes Gold Cup to his impressive CV in August 2024 and reached the Category 1 Laurels final in April 2025.
Churchfield Syd would be a massively popular Derby finalist, but he is not the only potential winner who would deliver a memorable story. Bockos Diamond could become only the second greyhound to complete the English and Irish Greyhound Derby double.
De Lahdedah remains on course to become the fifth greyhound to win the English Greyhound Derby twice. Success for Droopys Bookem would give his home track, Newcastle (formerly Brough Park), its first-ever Derby winner. In fact, no Derby-winning greyhound has been trained north of Manchester.
How Can I Watch Saturday’s Action?
Saturday’s Greyhound Derby semi-finals take place at 9.15 pm and 9.24 pm at Towcester Racecourse. The action will be broadcast live on sisracing.tv and can be watched on the Gone To The Dogs – Live! YouTube channel.
Greyhound Derby Semi-Final Draw:
Semi-Final 1
- Sole Mio
- De Lahdedah
- Droopys Bookem
- Slick Sentinel
- Bombay Pat
- Churchfield Syd
Semi-Final 2
- No Better Feelin
- Prince Naseem
- Droopys Plunge
- Dynamic Force
- Cheap Sandwiches
- Bockos Diamond
Who Will Win the Derby Semi-finals?
Despite a short-head victory in the third round and head defeat in the quarter-finals, Bockos Diamond remains the Derby favourite. He is top-priced at 9/4 odds to take the title next weekend.
Based on historical form and times clocked in the previous round, his kennel companion, Cheap Sandwiches (7/2), appears to be a better ante-post bet. He was 6/1 a fortnight ago, and this has been a punter-friendly competition with many principles still in contention.
The duo will meet in the 9.34 pm contest where Dynamic Force could trouble these principles courtesy of his improving profile, early pace, and draw in trap 4 to the inside of Cheap Sandwiches and Bockos Diamond.
Whereas the second semi-final can be narrowed down to three contenders, the opening semi has a more open look. De Lahdedah is quoted on 6/4 odds to win the contest but Sole Mio, Churchfield Syd and Bombay Pat are quoted between 7/2 and 9/2 suggesting they have live chances of winning or, at least qualifying.
