As we are about to begin this year’s Derby, I’ve calculated the ratings covering every race in the first round where applicable. This has been carried out using an automated process whereby each race is an independent assessment based on only the greyhounds entered in individual heats. Therefore, at this juncture, no direct comparison can be made between the ratings in all the first-round heats.
Trial only assessments are as indicated on the race cards. Any runners without recent trials and/or performances over track and distance at Towcester have not been assigned figures at this early stage of the competition. Subsequently, the top three ranked greyhounds represent only those allocated a rating.
| 500m | RD. 1 HEAT 11 (Towcester) | RATING | RANK | RATING | TRAP | |
| Trap 1 | El Tornillo | 179 | 1 | 200 | 4 | |
| Trap 2 | Faypoint Sean | 158 | 2 | 179 | 1 | |
| Trap 3 | Jim By Two | 140 | trial | 3 | 168 | 6 |
| Trap 4 | Queen Joni | 200 | ||||
| Trap 5 | Hopes Hurricane (M) | — | ||||
| Trap 6 | Clonbrien Treaty (W) | 168 | ||||
| 4 bends | ||||||
| OR1 | GREYHOUND DERBY | 4-1-6 | Top 3 | |||
Friday Race no. 4
| 500m | RD. 1 HEAT 12 (Towcester) | RATING | RANK | RATING | TRAP | |
| Trap 1 | Ballymac Finn | — | 1 | 200 | 4 | |
| Trap 2 | Brinkleys Magic | 158 | trial | 2 | 177 | 6 |
| Trap 3 | Droopys Prymtime | 166 | trial | 3 | 166 | 3 |
| Trap 4 | King Memphis | 200 | ||||
| Trap 5 | Milton Bangon (M) | 154 | ||||
| Trap 6 | Blake Delight (W) | 177 | ||||
| 4 bends | ||||||
| OR1 | GREYHOUND DERBY | 4-6-3 | Top 3 | |||
| 500m | RD. 1 HEAT 13 (Towcester) | RATING | RANK | RATING | TRAP | |
| Trap 1 | Ballinabola Bill | 166 | trial | 1 | 196 | 5 |
| Trap 2 | Bockos Crystal | 179 | 2 | 187 | 3 | |
| Trap 3 | Hawkfield Blue | 187 | 3 | 179 | 2 | |
| Trap 4 | Vixons Bagheera | 153 | trial | |||
| Trap 5 | Droopys Pivotel (M) | 196 | trial | |||
| Trap 6 | Deadly Style (W) | 135 | ||||
| 4 bends | ||||||
| OR1 | GREYHOUND DERBY | 5-3-2 | Top 3 | |||
Friday Race no. 6
| 500m | RD. 1 HEAT 14 (Towcester) | RATING | RANK | RATING | TRAP | |
| Trap 1 | Swift Maxwell | — | 1 | 196 | 6 | |
| Trap 2 | Rapido Bob | — | 2 | 191 | 5 | |
| Trap 3 | Westfield Sniper | 169 | 3 | 169 | 3 | |
| Trap 4 | Queen Georgia | — | ||||
| Trap 5 | Droopys Supply (M) | 191 | trial | |||
| Trap 6 | Burj Khalifa (W) | 196 | trial | |||
| 4 bends | ||||||
| OR1 | GREYHOUND DERBY | 6-5-3 | Top 3 | |||
Friday Race no. 7
| 500m | RD. 1 HEAT 15 (Towcester) | RATING | RANK | RATING | TRAP | |
| Trap 1 | Romeo Steel | 195 | 1 | 195 | 1 | |
| Trap 2 | Ballymac Dapper | 187 | trial | 2 | 187 | 2 |
| Trap 3 | Salacres Hang On | 162 | 3 | 166 | 5 | |
| Trap 4 | Maevas Boy | 153 | ||||
| Trap 5 | Wasted Monday (M) | 166 | ||||
| Trap 6 | VACANT | |||||
| 4 bends | ||||||
| OR1 | GREYHOUND DERBY | 1-2-5 | Top 3 | |||
Friday Race no. 8
| 500m | RD. 1 HEAT 16 (Towcester) | RATING | RANK | RATING | TRAP | |
| Trap 1 | Coolavanny Otto | 184 | trial | 1 | 200 | 3 |
| Trap 2 | Cochise | 160 | 2 | 184 | 1 | |
| Trap 3 | Swords Rex | 200 | 3 | 175 | 4 | |
| Trap 4 | Druids All Go | 175 | trial | |||
| Trap 5 | Romeo Havok (M) | 152 | ||||
| Trap 6 | VACANT | |||||
| 4 bends | ||||||
| OR1 | GREYHOUND DERBY | 3-1-4 | Top 3 | |||
| 500m | RD. 1 HEAT 17 (Towcester) | RATING | RANK | RATING | TRAP | |
| Trap 1 | Beatties Electra | 174 | 1 | 200 | 4 | |
| Trap 2 | Zebedee Fourteen | 161 | 2 | 174 | 1 | |
| Trap 3 | Mr Chelm | — | 3 | 167 | 6 | |
| Trap 4 | Wrighty | 200 | ||||
| Trap 5 | Savana Aurora (M) | 150 | ||||
| Trap 6 | Ballymac Rebel (M) | 167 | ||||
| 4 bends | ||||||
| OR1 | GREYHOUND DERBY | 4-1-6 | Top 3 | |||
Friday Race no. 10
| 500m | RD. 1 HEAT 18 (Towcester) | RATING | RANK | RATING | TRAP | |
| Trap 1 | Hawkfield Abbie | 174 | 1 | 200 | 4 | |
| Trap 2 | Intrepidity | 175 | 2 | 175 | 2 | |
| Trap 3 | Ballymac Patriot (Withdrawn) | — | 3 | 174 | 1 | |
| Trap 4 | Clonroosk Sydney | 200 | trial | |||
| Trap 5 | Antigua Hawk (M) | — | ||||
| Trap 6 | Wolf Moon (M) | — | ||||
| 4 bends | ||||||
| OR1 | GREYHOUND DERBY | 4-2-1 | Top 3 | |||
Friday Race no. 11
| 500m | RD. 1 HEAT 19 (Towcester) | RATING | RANK | RATING | TRAP | |
| Trap 1 | Faypoint Susie | 200 | 1 | 200 | 1 | |
| Trap 2 | Droopys Request | 161 | 2 | 172 | 6 | |
| Trap 3 | Emmybell Boy | 158 | 3 | 161 | 2 | |
| Trap 4 | Savana Titan | 153 | ||||
| Trap 5 | Noduff Sahara (M) | — | ||||
| Trap 6 | Newinn Port (M) | 172 | ||||
| 4 bends | ||||||
| OR1 | GREYHOUND DERBY | 1-6-2 | Top 3 | |||
Friday Race no. 12
| 500m | RD. 1 HEAT 20 (Towcester) | RATING | RANK | RATING | TRAP | |
| Trap 1 | Droopys Suprstar | 164 | trial | 1 | 186 | 2 |
| Trap 2 | Bluejig Baron | 186 | 2 | 183 | 3 | |
| Trap 3 | Gaytime Nemo | 183 | 3 | 172 | 5 | |
| Trap 4 | Dick Turpin | 139 | trial | |||
| Trap 5 | Bettys Jack (M) | 172 | ||||
| Trap 6 | Arthur Length (M) | 162 | ||||
| 4 bends | ||||||
| OR1 | GREYHOUND DERBY | 2-3-5 | Top 3 | |||
Prior to the first round, the ante post market has seen a few greyhounds shortened up and for obvious reasons. At the latest prices, I’m surprised that Aayamza Sydney is still available at 50/1, so if you’re looking for a bit of value (aren’t we all!), you could do a lot worse. Probably difficult to weigh up the best of the Irish contingent until we have had a couple of rounds. Of the other home runners, Links Maverick and Queen Joni stand out. It’s a tough campaign, but as long as Joni stays fit and doesn’t come into season (unless is suppressed), she will have many supporters rooting for her.
Good luck to all taking part and they come back safe and sound, win or lose. Friday and Saturday’s ratings to follow.
