Everything you need to know about the 2025 Greyhound Derby
A stellar line-up take to the sand at Towcester on Saturday night for this year's £175,000 Star Sports/TRC Greyhound Derby Final, a seventh running of the Classic over 500m at the track.
Dating back to 1927 at White City, the Greyhound Derby is the pinnacle of the sport and pits the very best in both UK and Ireland across six rounds of racing in which the first three greyhounds progress through each week culminating in the prestigious and lucrative final.
Long-time ante-post favourite and reigning Irish Derby champion Bockos Diamond is one of three representing Irish-based Brit Graham Holland, who has won the Derby twice in the last three years.
Defeats in the opening round and quarter final are the only blots on Bockos Diamond's record in Northampton and he is well drawn in trap six, just as he was when sparkling in last week's semi-finals.
Holland's Irish Derby runner-up Cheap Sandwiches and speedy Bombay Pat are live threats racing inside the favourite, but both will need to be on their toes out of the boxes.
Defending champion De Lahdedah is bidding to become only the fifth greyhound in history to defend the crown and the first since the great Westmead Hawk swooped late to score at Wimbledon back in 2006.
Bred and trained by Liam 'Ballymac' Dowling, the champion has looked as good as ever during his second campaign with the ability to win both off the front and off the back.
Droopys Plunge is the sole British-based runner for Belgian Patrick Janssens, who won the Derby in 2021 with Thorn Falcon, and completing the line up is the speedy and exciting young dog, Sole Mio, for Ireland's Peter Cronin.
When Saturday, June 14. A 15-race card starts at 5.44pm, with the Greyhound Derby Final taking place at 9.15.
Where Towcester Racecourse
How to watch Live streaming on bookmaker websites, www.sisracing.tv and Gone To The Dogs - Live! on YouTube.
Runner-by-runner guide
1 Droopys Plunge
Trained by Patrick Janssens and owned by The Three Tall Men Syndicate
A classy sort with a big engine, favours an inside racing line and is well drawn for the final clad in the red jacket of trap one.
Yet to taste big-race success, but is certainly good enough and handled by a trainer who has proven himself at the highest level for a number of years - including winning the 2021 Derby with Thorn Falcon.
A nervous type and will likely be missing on parade, but has shown a great attitude in his racing throughout this campaign by battling through each round.
Odds 16-1
2 Sole Mio
Trained by Peter Cronin and owned by Aidan Comerford
Bidding to become one of the youngest-ever Derby winners, doesn't turn two-years-old until one week after the final.
Represents a trainer who has steered a number of classy sorts to Derby finals but is yet to win one, came close in 2022 with runner-up Kildare.
Is a railer, but has shown a tendency to move right from the boxes and his draw in trap two is not ideal - could come together with trap three early on. All hope will rest on him getting the start right and flashing out of the boxes, will look to employ catch-me-if-you-can tactics.
Odds 9-1
3 De Lahdedah
Trained by Liam Dowling and owned by The Garsuns Syndicate
An experienced and classy sort who runs the track at Towcester better than ever other dog in history. Glides around the bends and runs the 500m trip hard, highlighted by his victory in last year's Derby.
Bids to become just the fifth greyhound in history to successfully defend the title and is a leading player despite a tricky draw.
Can win by leading and also has the ability to grind out the victory from off the pace. Won last year's final from trap four, but cannot afford any mistakes at the boxes here with the speedy Sole Mio on his inside and likely to move off.
Odds 9-2
4 Bombay Pat
Trained by Graham Holland and owned by Eugene Buckley & Pat Muldoon.
One of a trio of superstars for Ireland's champion trainer Graham Holland, who has won two of the last three Greyhound Derbys.
Is the outsider of the field with most bookmakers and has fared worst in the draw getting trap four as a wide seed, but his hopes will rest on holding both Cheap Sandwiches and Bockos Diamond to the bend.
Began his racing career in Kilkenny last year when refusing to race, but has come on leaps and bounds, developing into one of the very best in training. Trapping is his Achilles' heel, but is blessed with tremendous early pace.
Has battled hard to qualify to this stage without leading in the last three rounds, but if he is to have any chance of belying his huge odds he simply must lead round the first turn.
Odds 20-1
5 Cheap Sandwiches
Trained by Graham Holland and owned by the Bark Wahlberg Syndicate
The second superstar hailing from Graham Holland's Riverside Kennels in Ireland and a model of consistency. Starts well and shows tremendous pace to the third bend.
Irish Derby runner-up and has continued to find kennelmate Bockos Diamond too good in their encounters, which includes last year's final at Shelbourne Park. Flanked by pace and no margin for error at the start but continues to churn out the big performances, both in success and defeat.
Boasts a superb record and will not be without his supporters on Saturday night.
Odds 6-1
6 Bockos Diamond
Trained by Graham Holland and owned by the Remember Them Syndicate
The sport of greyhound racing's brightest star who lit up last year's Irish Derby in Shelbourne Park and bids to become only the second dog in history to win both Derbys either side of the Irish Sea (Toms The Best 1997 & 1998).
Spearheads Graham Holland's team of three and has headed the ante-post betting every since his victory in Dublin.
Has not been fluent from the boxes at Towcester but showcased his class in last weekend's semi-final with a superb and dominant victory off the front. Will be looking to take control around the outside early on with his devastating early pace.
Odds 11-10f
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