Pat Buckley trained Ballinabola Ed starred in Round Three of the Star Sports and TRC English Greyhound Derby on Saturday night, clocking a stand-out time of 29.12 in Heat Seven.
The ante-post favourite trapped level with fellow qualifiers Aussie Captain and Bobsleigh Dream before an impressive turn of foot down the backstraight built up a margin sufficient enough to register a four-and-three-quarter length win.
Star Sports have since installed Ballinabola Ed as the 7/4 favourite to win the English Greyhound Derby Final on Saturday, June 25.
Second favourite Lautaro (6/1) meanwhile was involved in a thrilling Heat Six which was won by Diane Henry’s Savana Beau.
Savana Beau trailed long-time race leader Signet Denver by three-and-a-half lengths off the final bend in fourth but produced an extraordinary late run to beat Lautaro by a short head. Signet Denver finished a further short head behind in third.
Singalong Sally was another of the English Greyhound Derby’s ante-post market leaders to register another win during Round Three. Pat Buckley’s two-year-old bitch bettered her previous week’s win by clocking 29.24 in Heat Four from Signet Ace.
There was an upset in the same race as 2021 English Greyhound Derby winner Thorn Falcon was knocked out when finishing fifth behind qualifier Derrinasafa Boss and fourth-placed Glengar Scholar.
Earlier in the card, the exciting Kildare couldn’t follow up on his eye-catching Round Two win when Kilkenny Santy won Heat One by a length-and-a-half from Deelish Frankie.
Cape Cloud reversed his form with the well-supported Mickys Barrett in Heat Five when clocking 29.38. It marked a third Towcester success in five races for Peter Cronin’s two-year-old, with Saturday’s effort being his fastest to date.
There were also wins on the night for Ballymac Fairone, Signet Goofy and Global Vision.
The Star Sports & TRC English Greyhound Derby returns to action on Saturday night when the quarter finals start at 7.10pm – racing begins at 6.04pm. To view the full draw, please see below.
Quarter Final 1
Trap One – Kildare
Trap Two – Global Vision
Trap Three – Signet Ace
Trap Four – Cape Cloud
Trap Five – Coppice Fox
Trap Six – Priceless Jet
Quarter Final 2
Trap One – Ballymac Fairone
Trap Two – Aussie Captain
Trap Three- Hello Hammond
Trap Four – Deelish Frankie
Trap Five – Ballinabola Ed
Trap Six – Faughan Rebel
Quarter Final 3
Trap One – Bobsleigh Dream
Trap Two – Make Noise
Trap Three – Signet Denver
Trap Four – Romeo Magico
Trap Five – Derrinasafa Boss
Trap Six – Lautaro
Quarter Final 4
Trap One – Savana Beau
Trap Two – Kilkenny Santy
Trap Three – Ballymac Belvult
Trap Four – Singalong Sally
Trap Five – Signet Goofy
Trap Six – Mickys Barrett
Photo: Jim Tate
