Greyhound Racing

Ratings for every heat of the 2025 Star Sports & TRC English Greyhound Derby

The start of this year’s English Greyhound Derby is about to begin with the first-round split over three days.

Published on

May 6, 2025

By Peter Walker

The start of this year’s English Greyhound Derby is about to begin with the first-round split over three days.

After the recent events of Crawford closing with Swindon and Perry Barr shutting up shop later this year, we have something to look forward to over the next six weeks at Towcester.

If you can’t get excited about what is the pinnacle of the open race calendar, you’re in the wrong game.

There are still many issues which need tackling head-on before the industry secures a long-term future, but let’s get behind the best greyhound spectacle this country has to offer.

Perhaps we should now call it the British Greyhound Derby as sadly, we have no Welsh or Scottish equivalent anymore.

The competition has been given a massive boost as the Tote retention at the track will be reduced to 10% for win and place bets with all other options much lower at 15% as well.

It has been proven in Ireland how successful it can be with a huge increase in turnover.

Big success

The pre-Derby meeting at Towcester was also a big success. Let’s hope it becomes the norm at all the well-attended track competitions in the future.

We also have full coverage of every night broadcast on ‘Gone To The Dogs’ via their YouTube channel!

My selections at this early stage include the Irish contender Bombay Pat. He was very unlucky not to get through to the Irish final last year, and has taken to the track very well.

Not discounting the brilliant Bockos Diamond of course, but he does represent a bit of value, although his odds have shortened since his impressive trial stakes performance.

As far as the British entries are concerned, Proper Heiress boasts the best recent form but one to keep onside was the very promising Droopys Plunge, runner-up to him in the TIME Greyhound Nutrition invitational race at 25/1.

I wouldn’t write off March On Freddie’s chances just yet either. He doesn’t have to lead to win, and up to the final, he is more than capable of finishing in the first three if not winning.

He is very consistent and could still make the final if back to his best.

Similar to previous derbies, until we get down to the third round with the last 48 qualifiers, the ratings are calculated on an individual race basis.

However, before the start of the event, the highest-rated Derby entrant based on the latest track races and/or trials belongs to BOMBAY PAT.

The best relative outsider is the inexperienced puppy HEADFORD ASHER who clearly has the potential to go onto bigger successes.

However, as the saying goes, if you’re good enough, you’re old enough!

Needless to say, it’s a tough campaign.

Good luck to connections of all our canine athletes taking part this year, and as always, come back safe and sound, win or lose.

Thursday 18.35