Barntrick Bear bolstered the home-trained challenge with a commanding performance in the second round heats of the 2024 Star Sports & TRC English Greyhound Derby at Towcester on Saturday. The Patrick Janssens-trained greyhound, who was runner-up in the Monmore Puppy Derby, clocked the fastest time of the night in heat 26. The April 2022 son of Droopys Sydney and Barntick Smokey surged ahead at the second bend, securing a five-and-a-half-length victory over Ballymac Gizmo and Coppice Ella with a time of 28.68sec (+10).
Connections were thrilled with the performance. Ria Janssens, the trainer’s daughter, praised the track conditions and expressed pride in Barntick Bear's run. Part-owner Kevin Dear emphasized the importance of making it through the heats, and Paul Carpenter highlighted the potential for further improvement as the dog gains more experience.
High Trend, trained by Graham Holland, continued his impressive form with an all-the-way win in heat 25, clocking 29.09sec (+10). Ireland's successful night continued with Liam Dowling and Pat Buckley both scoring doubles. Buckley’s Road Exile won heat 21 in 29.14sec (+10), and Glengar Martha took heat 24 with a time of 28.75sec (+10), the second fastest of the night.
Dowling's brace came from Ballymac Slick in heat 27, who secured a victory in 29.14sec (+10), and Ballymac Senan in heat 30, who led from trap to line in 28.80sec (+10).
Towcester promoter Kevin Boothby enjoyed a double as an owner. Savana Top Cat, trained by Chris Hamblin, won heat 22 in 29.20sec (+10), while Clona Curly triumphed in heat 29 with a time of 29.14sec (+10), both adding to Boothby's successful night.
Other notable performances included Mike Burton’s Droopys Priority winning heat 23 in 29.37sec, Richard Rees’s Clona Kody taking heat 28 in 29.31sec (+10), and Liz McNair’s King Combs winning the final heat in 28.86sec (+10).