Greyhound Derby odds: King Memphis to reign supreme

The biggest greyhound race of the year takes place on Saturday night at Towcester, with the Northamptonshire venue hosting the final of the £175,000 English Derby.

Irish-based winners have landed four of the last five Classics, but it is honours-even in the big-money decider numerically, with three runners apiece for the UK and Ireland.

Two trainers in the field have both won the Derby twice before - Mark Wallis and Paul Hennessy - while the other three handlers represented are searching for a first Derby title.

It has been a vintage renewal this year with superb performances throughout by a number of greyhounds, shock eliminations early on as well as sublime performances - which even included the track record being equalled in the very first round!

Greyhound Derby Odds

Trap 1 - Whyaye Man (Mark Wallis)

Latest odds - 20/1

The 2023 Derby Plate champion boasts a great record at Towcester and has been handed the best draw of the four railers, bagging the inside box.

He has not tasted success since his second-round vcitory but has 14-time champion trainer Mark Wallis in his corner - who has two Derby titles to his name - Kinda Ready (2009) and Blonde Snapper (2012).

A classy and versatile tracker who has been to a number of big finals over both four and six bends, he is well suited to the stiff 500m at Towcester.

Will need a fast start to defend the inside rail, if doing so, he could go well at a big price but could well be shorter in the betting on the night.

Trap 2 - Ballymac Gizmo (Liam Dowling)

Latest odds - 20/1

Youngest in the field and has incredibly qualified through five rounds of racing without winning a race.

Possesses fine all-round speed and has yet to really fly from the traps, moves well down the far side and comes home strong.

Hails from the famous 'Ballymac Kennels' of Liam Dowling, who also bred the talented pup and is a sixth generation of Dowling breeding dating back to 1992 with his brood bitch Blonde Slippy.

One of two finalists for Dowling, who has been knocking on the door in the English Derby - the Classic is just about the only big race he has yet to win.

A fourth finalist in four years for Dowling, who stays on the site of Towcester trainer Peter Harnden for a couple of months while tackling the Derby.

Trap 3 - King Memphis (Liz McNair)

Latest odds - 5/4

The only British-bred finalist and has been ante-post favourite for the £175,000 crown since winning the English Puppy Derby over course and distance in November 2023.

Bred, reared and trained in Kent by Liz McNair and her husband Rab, who have won almost every big race in the UK except for the Derby.

They've handled a number of finalists in the past, most notably Eden The Kid, who finished third in 2015.

Hails from an incredibly talented litter, which includes Queen Joni who is the 4/9 favourite for the consolation final on Saturday night - the £5,000 Townview Kennels Derby Plate.

This is an immensely talented and powerful greyhound who starts and stays 500m well, he will rightly go to traps as favourite this weekend and will prove tough to beat if trapping smartly, due to the lack of early speed on his inside.

A prolific sort with 20 wins from just 31 career starts and a versatile railer having won from traps one, two, three, four and five during his career.

Equalled the 500m track record in the opening round with a sensational 28.58sec and will win if reproducing anything near to that in the final.

Trap 4 - De Lahdedah (Liam Dowling)

Latest odds - 9/4

A second finalist for top Irish trainer and breeder Liam Dowling, owned by the Garsuns Syndicate.

Somewhat of an enigma, both flying from the boxes and powering home during this Derby, but there is no doubting his class and pace.

Was fastest in last week's semi-finals, using his inside draw to lead early and then post a slick 28.79sec, he is not allowed that luxury in the final and will need to trap smartly to get across to the inside from trap four.

Has verdicts over Whyaye Man, Churchfield Syd and Boylesports Bob already in this Derby and rates as the main danger to favourite King Memphis.

Trap 5 - Churchfield Syd (Richard Rees)

Latest odds - 6/1

A champion greyhound who carries an incredible story with him, all about early pace and will need to lead to hold any claims to the £175,000 crown.

Trained by Hove handler Richard Rees who sends out a third Derby finalist and is bidding to emulate his grandfather and father who both trained Derby champions.

Picked up an injury as a puppy last year and looked as though his career was over, but was nursed back and, after five months on the sidelines, returned reaching a number of big finals.

Won the Kent Derby at Central Park and then the Winter Derby at Monmore, but was subsequently disqualified as winner of the latter.

Missed the break badly in the opening round of the Derby and looked out, but battled hard just to qualify and has improved in each round since.

Chasing a four-timer heading into Saturday's final after wins in his third-round heat, quarter-final and semi-final - all impressively off the front.

Trap 6 - Boylesports Bob (Paul Hennessy)

Latest odds - 5/1

One of two wides lining up on Saturday night and has fared well in the draw with trap five Churchfield Syd expected to edge across towards the inside on the run to the opening turn.

Irish trainer Paul Hennessy is also a horse racing trainer and even sent out a winner at the Cheltenham Festival, but he also has a brilliant record in big greyhound finals - a winner of numerous Irish, Scottish and English Derby titles.

This is an erratic starter, but a powerhouse who covers the ground well from halfway - nothing will be coming home any harder than Boylesports Bob in this final.

Paul Hennessy, who won the Derby in 2016 with Jaytee Jet and 2019 with Priceless Blake, is expected to produce the very best version of Boylesports Bob in this final - which makes him a huge player.

He lit up the quarter finals two weeks ago when trapping smartly and taking up the lead down the far side, he then drew 10 lengths clear and posted a rapid 28.68sec.

If Boylesports Bob can keep tabs on the early leaders he will go close in this Derby final.

This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.