For every fan of greyhound racing, there is no event quite like the Greyhound Derby, which is the biggest and most prestigious race of the sport’s annual calendar. With the first-round heats beginning with 192 greyhounds, the field will eventually be whittled down to the final race on July 10th, and then of course a champion will be crowned.
Last year, Deerjet Sydney reigned supreme for trainer Pat Buckley, with the race held in October as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.This year, as the race returns to a slightly more familiar time of the year, every trainer will be hoping that one of their dogs can emulate that success. This year, the Greyhound Derby returns to Towcester, one of greyhound racing’s most famous venues. With excitement already beginning to build, let’s take a look at a few early contenders who are being tipped on the greyhound racing betting exchange.
Native Maestro
One of the early favourites to go all the way at Towcester is the Irish-bred Native Maestro, trained by Graham Holland and owned by Mrs. Beverley Lochead. The greyhound recently earned a fine win in the Waterford Select Stakes semi-final, and there are plenty of reasons to be optimistic that Native Maestro could give a good showing at the 2021 Greyhound Derby.
Irish-bred greyhounds have won the Derby in each of the last two editions of the race, and Holland will be hoping to secure his maiden triumph come July.
Knocknaboul Syd
Another Irish-bred greyhound likely to cause a stir is Knocknaboul Syd, who triumphed at the famous Easter Cup at Shelbourne back in March. It was a fine performance by the Buckley-trained dog, and the Irish trainer will have his sights set on a second successive triumph at the Greyhound Derby. Momentum is everything in a sport like greyhound racing, and if Buckley can continue to get the best out of the two-year-old, then it will give him confidence heading to Towcester.
With plenty of other victories to his name in recent times, it’s clear why Knocknaboul Syd is a major contender for the Greyhound Derby.
Tenpin
Another strong contender, who can be found at similar odds to Native Maestro and Knocknaboul Syd, is Tenpin. Trained by David Mullins, Tenpin made everyone sit up and take notice by winning the Puppy Cup last year, and now he’ll head to Towcester as a contender for the biggest event in greyhound racing.
With some slightly more experienced heads likely to be in the mix, it’s possible that this year’s Derby might be too much too soon for the young greyhound, but his talent means he can’t be ruled out.
With plenty of time still to go until the 2021 Greyhound Derby, there will be many opportunities for other dogs to work their way into contention for the famous old race. But it’s clear that the three greyhounds we’ve mentioned will take some stopping when push comes to shove at Towcester. Either way, it’s guaranteed to be a terrific occasion with plenty of thrills and spills. Greyhound Racing: Early favourites for the 2021 Greyhound Derby.
