Lessons from Last Year: Insights for the 2024 Star Sports/TRC English Derby Final

As punters gear up for the opening round of the 2024 Star Sports/TRC English Derby Final, it's worth reflecting on the lessons learned from last year's event.

One key takeaway is the performance of the Irish contenders. Last year, 27 Irish runners participated in the first round, winning 10 out of the 31 heats. While this 37% strike rate is impressive, it's a decline from the previous year when nearly half of the Irish entrants won their heats, with 15 victories from 33 runners.

Outright favourites dominated 15 of the 31 heats (one race was voided), but notably, seven odds-on favourites were defeated. Additionally, there were 19 empty traps throughout the heats.

Trap three emerged as the most successful starting position, producing nine winners—equaling the combined total of winners from the three outermost traps.

Among the six eventual finalists, five won their first-round heats, with four of those posting times under 29.00 seconds. The only exception was Ninja Kerry, who did not win his first-round heat.

These insights highlight the potential unpredictability and competitive nature of the Derby, offering valuable lessons for this year's punters and participants.