Diamond now 4/1 English Derby favourite after Towcester sighter
BOCKOS DIAMOND, the Irish Derby champion and winner of 16 of his 17 career races, is into 4/1 favourite with the sponsor for the Star Sports English Derby after posting 28.85sec (normal) in his first look at the Classic 500m course at Towcester.
Graham Holland's superstar rocketed out to a 3.98sec sectional from trap six then handled the track exceptionally well, cutting right across to the rails at the first bend before drifting back middle to wide as he perhaps tired a little on the rn-in.
Kennelmate Bombay Pat, eliminated behind Bockos Diamond at the semi-final stage of the Irish Derby, was fastest of session as he clocked 28.81sec off a 4.16sec sectional, while Holland's Irish Derby runner-up Cheap Sandwiches also dipped under 29sec when recording 28.91sec (4.00sec sectional).
Ahead of his Derby campaign Bockos Diamond is first expected to take in the Time Greyhound Nutrition Juvenile at the track on April 20th where he could face litter-brother March On Freddie as well as Greyhound of the Year Wicky Ned and recent Kent Plate winner Proper Heiress.
Bockos Diamond posts 28.85sec in his first look at Towcester on 30th March
Star Sports (English Derby, final Towcester 14th June): 4 Bockos Diamond, 12 Bombay Pat, Proper Heiress, 14 Droopys Kathleen, March On Freddie, 20 Bombay Birch, Droopys Plunge, Lennies Desire, 22 Cheap Sandwiches, 25 Callaway Knegare, De Lahdedah, King Memphis, Optic Pharaoh, 33 bar (e-w 1/4 1,2,3,4,5,6).