2017 English Greyhound Derby Explained

2017 English Greyhound Derby
Date Start:1 June
Date End:1 July
Prize Money:£175,000 (winner)
Location:Towcester Greyhound Stadium
Prev:2016
Next:2018

The 2017 Star Sports Greyhound Derby took place during June and July and the final was held on 1 July 2017 at Towcester Greyhound Stadium.

It was the first time since 1984 that the event was held away from Wimbledon Stadium and the first time in its history that it was held outside of London.[1] The competition was sponsored by bookmaker Star Sports for the first time with a winner's prize of £175,000.[2] The winner was Astute Missile who was the outsider at 28-1, [3] his owner Geoff Hill won £175,000.[4]

Final

At Towcester (over 500 metres):[5]

width=50Positionwidth=180Name of Greyhoundwidth=260Breedingwidth=50Trapwidth=70Sectionalwidth=70Race commentwidth=50SPwidth=80Timewidth=220Trainer
1stAstute MissileKinloch Brae - China Doll45.18VQAw,Bmp&Led328-1 28.92 Seamus Cahill (Hove)
2ndTyrur ShayBig Daddy Cool - Black Eyed Boss55.28RanOn7-4 28.98 Patrick 'PJ' Fahy (Ireland)
3rdClares RocketConfident Rankin - Lemon Madrid35.27EP,Bmp46-4f 29.35 Graham Holland (Ireland)
4thMurrys ActTullymurry Act - Brave Meave 65.44VSAw14-1 29.46 Kevin Boon (Yarmouth)
5thDroopys AcrobatTullymurry Act - Droopys Blossom25.28Blk2&38-1 29.60 Seamus Cahill (Hove)
6thHiya ButtHondo Black - Hather For Pat 15.23Led1To3,Bmp,Bmp49-2 29.64 Hayley Keightley (Private)

Distances

¾, 4½, 1¼, 1¾, ½ (lengths)
The distances between the greyhounds are in finishing order and shown in lengths. One length is equal to 0.08 of one second.[6]

Race Report

Astute Missile broke very well from the traps alongside Hiya Butt, who produced his trademark early pace, to lead from the first bend until the third bend. Astute Missile then forced his way inside Hiya Butt at the third bend, the latter received a small bump at this stage and then tired into last place. Astute Missile went on to win from a strong finishing Tyrur Shay and the previously unbeaten Clares Rocket finished third after failing to make the fast start that was expected of him.

Semi finals

First Semi Final (Jun 24, £5,000)
width=30Poswidth=180Name of Greyhound width=50SP width=50Time width=100Trainer
1stHiya Butt 5-2jf29.17Keightley
2ndDroopys Acrobat6-129.23Cahill
3rdMurrys Act 10-129.25Boon
4thDroopys Buick10-129.37Harrison
5thBruisers Bullet5-2jf29.54Wallis
6thForest Con11-229.68Cahill
Second Semi Final (Jun 24, £5,000)
width=30Poswidth=180Name of Greyhound width=50SP width=50Time width=100Trainer
1stClares Rocket 10-11f28.83Holland
2ndTyrur Shay13-828.96Fahy
3rdAstute Missile20-128.98Cahill
4thSallows Ford50-129.25White
5thSwithuns Brae9-129.42Cronin
6thCoolavanny Mason10-129.56Buckley

Quarter finals

Heat 1 (Jun 20, £1,000)
width=20Poswidth=140Namewidth=40SP width=40Time
1stClares Rocket13-8f28.99
2ndAstute Missile12-129.35
3rdBruisers Bullet 7-429.69
4thShaneboy Freddie 13-229.78
5thFweshfromthesesh 7-129.89
6thBallinakil Clare 10-129.96
Heat 2 (Jun 20, £1,000)
width=20Poswidth=140Name width=40SP width=40Time
1stSwithins Brae 9-229.29
2ndForest Con 2-129.63
3rdDroopys Buick 5-4f29.66
4thNewinn Blitz 20-129.69
5thCrossfield Hugo 20-130.13
6thCarn Brea 7-130.16
Heat 3 (Jun 20, £1,000)
width=20Poswidth=140Name width=40SP width=40Time
1stDroopys Acrobat4-1 29.02
2ndSallows Ford12-129.28
3rdMurrys Act4-129.49
4thDanzey Exception5-2jf 29.55
5thCable Bay6-1 29.97
6thPacey Bambi 5-2jf30.01
Heat 4 (Jun 20, £1,000)
width=20Poswidth=140Name width=40SP width=40Time
1stTyrur Shay4-5f29.02
2ndHiya Butt3-1 29.07
3rdCoolavanny Mason6-129.09
4thAirport Jumbo50-1 29.33
5thJaytee Jet9-229.36
6thSlaheny King25-1 30.05

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Towcester set for green light to stage Greyhound Derby. Racing Post.
  2. Web site: Four against the field. At the Races. 2017-06-25. https://web.archive.org/web/20170619044134/http://www.attheraces.com/blogs/greyhound-derby-countdown/30-May-2017. 2017-06-19. dead.
  3. Web site: Missile strikes at 28-1. Greyhound Star.
  4. Web site: There's no place like home as Towcester triumphs on Derby debut. Racing Post.
  5. Web site: The 2017 Greyhound Derby final. Greyhound Star.
  6. Book: Genders, Roy. NGRC book of Greyhound Racing (Timekeeper) p310. 1990. Pelham Books Ltd. 0-7207-1804-X.