The last four winners of the English Greyhound Derby

As we enter a new year there is always that fresh optimism associated with the start of a new greyhound racing calendar. For the small, but dedicated following the questions on everyone’s lips will be about who is in good form for the English Greyhound Derby — perhaps the most prestigious race of the year.

Garnering a whopping £175,000 in prize money for the winner, the showpiece final, held at Towcester racetrack in Northamptonshire, is the pinnacle of success for a trainer, and over the years we have seen sites like Betdaq shocked when their predictions for the winner go completely up in the air due to a surprise victory. We know its early, but read on, as we go through previous winners of the English Greyhound Derby in ascending order.

2018 – Dorotas Wildcat

Knowing this was the last time for at least a year the Derby was ran at Towcester, Kevin Hutton at his local track oversaw a wonderful performance from Dorotas Wildcat, finishing with an impressive time of 28.85 seconds. Having picked up the Oaks at Swindon with Ravenswood Flo, Hutton came into the race in good form and victory earnt Dorotas Wildcat Greyhound of the Year for 2018, something Hutton was incredibly proud of.

“You always believe a Derby winner has a great chance of winning the top award, but this year was tough.” He said: “There was plenty of talent out there, especially with Rab and Liz’s dog (King Turbo) who is just a fantastic greyhound. His four titles showed that.”

2019 – Priceless Blake

Priceless Blake was the first winner of the Derby when it momentarily moved to Nottingham due to construction work taking place at Towcester. It was a thrilling race and one truly deserving of the £175,000 prize, as he saw off extremely stiff competition including the favourite, Magical Bale, also trained by Hutton. It was a great victory for Paul Hennessey, who also made history by winning the last Derby at Wimbledon with Jaytee Jet in 2016.

2020- Deerjet Sydney

It was famous Irish trainer Pat Buckley who was victorious in the 2020 English Greyhound Derby with Deerjet Sydney. The race, which was delayed to late in the year thanks to the coronavirus pandemic, took place behind closed doors as an eerily quiet Nottingham racecourse clapped home Buckley’s three-year-old, who used the win as a platform for an impressive career. With seven wins from 11 races, and five consecutive victories in the spring of 2021.

2021 – Thorn Falcon

It was a dream 20 years in the making for Leicestershire’s Keith Allsop as Belgian trainer Patrick Janson’s guided Thorn Falcon to victory in the 2021 English Greyhound Derby. The showpiece event clearly didn’t add any pressure to the mercurial two-year-old, who strolled out as a clear winner with an impressive finishing time of 29.06 seconds, seeing off competition from the likes of Kilara Lion and Liam Dowling duo Ballymac Fairone and Ballymac Wild. As well as the prize money, Thorn Falcon was also voted July’s Greyhound of the Month, with Janson full of praise for the champion.

“I’m also delighted for the owners – in particular Keith (Allsop). We’ve known each other for many years and he’s done most things in greyhound racing – but this topped the lot for him, as it did us!” He said: “We always felt ‘Big Bill’ might be something special after he beat Seaglass Smokey five lengths in a sprint trial at Towcester – and he just seemed to get better and better round Towcester.”