Greyhound Derby Odds: Liz McNair will be tough to beat at Towcester

A field of 184 hopefuls went into the drum last week for the first-round draw of this year's £175,000 English Greyhound Derby at Towcester and, after Irish dominance in recent years, a British-bred winner could be on the cards.

Kent-based Liz McNair has lit up the UK greyhound racing scene in recent years with her star-studded kennel of British-bred Kings and Queens.

Every tracker bred, reared and trained by Liz and her husband Rab carries either their 'King' or 'Queen' prefix depending on whether they are a dog or bitch and all are owned by the dominant K.S.S. Syndicate headed by businessman Brendan Keogh.

The McNair team feature heavily at the top of the ante-post market for the six-round English Greyhound Derby over 500m at Towcester, which kicks off on Thursday, 23rd May and culminates in the final at Towcester on Saturday, 29th June.

Greyhound Derby outright odds

King Memphis

Despite tasting defeat recently at Hove and in a trial stake at Towcester, the market suggests this is the greyhound to beat in this year's Derby and he has held his position at the head of the ante post betting for some time.

Liz McNair's English Puppy Derby champion and Olympic winner is speedy and powerful over the 500m trip as well as being versatile when it comes to the trap draw.

The first round draw has also been kind to the British-bred star, who heads the market at 14/1.

Queen Joni

Another leading contender for Liz McNair, with husband Rab going on record suggesting that he thinks Queen Joni should be shorter than King Memphis in the outright betting.

The Brighton Belle, Produce Stakes, Kent Plate and British Bred Derby champion is available at 16/1 and comes into this event in red-hot form.

After leading the McNair team to victory in the recent PGR Trainers' Judgement Night - formerly known as the Trainers Championship - Queen Joni followed up with a sensational trial stake win over 500m at Towcester earlier this month.

She is explosive from the boxes, flies into the opening turn and opens up nicely down the far side, if continuing to get it right at the boxes she is going to prove hard to beat.

Farloe Verdict was the last bitch to win the Greyhound Derby back in 2003 but Queen Joni looks capable of ending the wait for another win.

Clonbrien Treaty

Graham Holland is an Englishman living in Ireland and is widely regarded as one of the best greyhound trainers in the world.

The Holland kennel has dominated the Greyhound Derby in recent years with numerous finalists and winning the last two renewals with Romeo Magico (2022) and Gaytime Nemo (2023). Clonbrien treaty is their shortest-priced runner in the outright market at 20/1.

The recent Easter Cup champion packs a huge early punch and boasts smart all-round speed.

However, he'll need to brush up on his cornering having steered a wide course throughout his trial stake success earlier this month.

Bens Teddy

Bookmakers across the country will be hoping the powerful Pat Buckley-trained tracker doesn't provide the Irish trainer with a second Derby title after sustained support for him in the outright market.

The 2023 Irish Derby third is available at just 25/1 but has been heavily backed at much bigger prices and is the type of greyhound who will prove tough to keep out of the top three qualifying spots in each round - making him an appealing wager to each-way punters.

The stiff 500m trip at Towcester will suit, providing all is well after taking a tumble at Shelbourne Park during the recent Easter Cup.

De Lahdedah

This is a talented sort handled by renowned breeder and trainer Liam Dowling, but not a representative carrying his famous 'Ballymac' prefix.

A semi-finalist in last year's Irish Derby, this could be the greyhound to provide Dowling with his elusive first English Derby success and is respected in the market at 25/1.

Dowling has sent out a number of finalists but has yet to land the top prize, although this well-bred tracker is lightly raced for his age and will no doubt improve on his 29.38sec trial earlier this month - which is his only spin around Towcester to date.

Jaytee Craze

As well as a man who has trained a Cheltenham Festival winner, Paul Hennessy sits among a select few top greyhound trainers who have handled English, Scottish and Derby winners - this is the shortest-priced runner hailing from his Irish base.

A finalist in the recent Maiden Derby at Towcester, an event which 2021 winner Thorn Falcon landed on his way to Derby glory, Hennessy's well regarded and scopey Jaytee Craze is 25/1.

A powerful sort who will be very strong over 500m, similar to Bens Teddy, this is a greyhound expected to go deep given his running style and an ability to stay on past beaten rivals to keep on qualifying.

King Capaldi

Another British-bred star for Liz McNair with unfinished business at Towcester after narrowly missing out in the English Puppy Derby final last year over Derby course and distance.

A recent sprint trial at Central Park, where he dipped inside the 277m track record, suggests all is well and this is a speedster expected to improve with each outing.

Blessed with huge early speed, he struggled to hold on from litter brother King Memphis in last year's Puppy Derby decider, but will have improved and strengthened up with age as well as experience.

He has shown a tendency to favour an inside racing line, which could count against him if drawn any wider than trap three in top-class company, but this is certainly a greyhound fast enough to win the Derby and will have his supporters at 25/1.

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.