AND then there were six.

Saturday’s semi-finals of the 2024 Star Sports & TRC English Greyhound Derby over 500m at Towcester have given us the line-up for the world’s greatest greyhound race this coming Saturday with each of the runners less than 30 seconds away from an exceptional £175,000 first prize – and greyhound racing immortality.

And the English v Irish battle is still perfectly poised – with three finalists apiece!

The first name in the drum for Monday’s draw at the traditional Derby lunch was De Lahdedah as Liam Dowling’s greyhound sauntered to victory in the first semi-final, making full use of his first time from the inside-box in this year’s Classic to lead into the first bend and stretch his field out behind him.

Last year’s Irish Derby semi-finalist trapped smartly inside and, while defending champion Gaytime Nemo also came away, De Lahdedah used the inside line to best effect as he paced up well to lead into the turn and was on his way to securing not just a place in the final but the fastest time of the two semi-final winners.

Not stopping in front, the near 36-kilo October 2021 son of Lenson Bocko and Ballymac Sarahjo crossed the line two and a half lengths clear of Whyaye Man, Mark Wallis’s Derby Plate champion of 12 months ago, who was always handy off a slick break and kept on well ahead of Paul Hennessy’s staying-on Boylesports Bob.

The winning time was 28.79sec (normal), with both Wallis and Hennessy both now having a shot at a third English Greyhound Derby title for either. However, there will be no shot at a third Derby in a row for Graham Holland after Gaytime Nemo finished fourth here, while Irish Derby winner The Other Kobe finished fifth in the second semi-final.

And what a race the second semi-final proved to be!

It saw a home-trained one-two as the ultra-consistent and gutsy Churchfield Syd secured a third English Derby finalist for Hove trainer Richard Rees as he once again blazed the trail into the turn and onwards and held the challenge, a brilliant one at that, of Liz McNair’s King Memphis by a short-head in 28.98sec (normal).

King Memphis, who has very much vindicated his standing of ante-post favourite to reach the final, faced a tricky looking midfield draw and, while coming away with his rivals before pacing up, Churchfield Syd and The Other Kobe were sharper from lid-rise and dominated the early exchanges, albeit King Memphis was soon in full flow.

Up front, however, Churchfield Syd piled on the pressure and kicked on as the June 2021 son of Droopys Sydney and Millbank Jade made the best of his way home, being chased by King Memphis who steadily got closer and challenged for the lead as the line approached, albeit not quite getting to the winner.

Third place here went to Irish raider Ballymac Gizmo, who stayed on best of the rest to give Liam Dowling a second finalist. De Lahdedah’s kennelmate will line up as the youngest runner in Saturday’s showpiece event – being still a pup until just a few days after the 2024 Star Sports & TRC English Greyhound Derby is run.

*THE trap draw for the 2024 Star Sports & TRC English Greyhound Derby will be made at the traditional Derby lunch for connections of the six finalists. The lunch, held in the grandstand at Towcester, is due to start at noon today.