REG EYES A DOUBLE
THE OTHER REG eyes a famous double when he lines up in heat 25 of the Star Sports English Greyhound Derby at Towcester tonight.
Pat Rosney’s dog, who won the RPGTV Scottish Derby last month, now has his sights set on lifting the £175,000 prize at Towcester on Saturday, June 2, and emulating such canine greats as Farloe Verdict, Chart King and Some Picture – all previous double champions.
However, qualification is the name of the game with an original 150-plus entry reduced to 96 after tonight’s final batch of first-round heats at the Northamptonshire racecourse.
THE OTHER REG (8.59) can get first run on Black Farren, last year’s Irish Derby runner-up, in their clash tonight, although both should comfortably progress.
Black Farren represents champion trainer Mark Wallis and the two-time English Derby-winning handler will have high hopes of BOMBERS BULLET (7.38) in heat 20. He is much-improved.
The Irish challenge for this year’s English Greyhound Derby is a strong one, with a number of heat successes already; Droopys Biker and Droopys Davy are real outright contenders.
Their trainer Pat Buckley has gone close to winning an English Derby with dogs such as Mind The Net and Droopys Roddick, and in DROOPYS BIKER (7.16) FIRST ROUND: May 3,4,5 SECOND ROUND: May 11,12 and DROOPYS DAVY (8.41) has a major chance of lifting the famous trophy – first run for in 1927.
Both dogs came through the recent Kirby Memorial at Limerick, a race sponsored by leading horserace owners JP and Noreen McManus, and that event has been dominated by the Buckley kennel in recent years. Both hotpots should win tonight.
Other heat fancies are Puppy Derby champion MAGICAL BALE (8.12) to strike for Kevin Hutton, while Charlie Lister OBE, winner of the Derby a magnificent seven times, will have high hopes of TYRUR HAROLD (7.56) landing the odds in heat 21.
*Tonight’s Derby heats are live on RPGTV (Sky Channel 431).
*Towcester’s morning meeting is on ATR. (Sky 415). THIRD ROUND: Saturday, May 19 QUARTER-FINALS: Tuesday, May 22 SEMI-FINALS: Saturday, May 26 FINAL: Saturday, June 2