BOMBAY PAT SENDS OUT A DERBY WARNING

Ian Fortune

Bombay Pat was one of the very fastest greyhounds on the planet in 2024 and his return to action on Sunday afternoon suggests that will again be the case in 2025. In what was his first start since winning at the Winter Racing Festival, the Graham Holland trained star posted a stunning 28.60 in a Star Sports/ TRC English Derby Trial Stake at Towcester.

Taking on some hugely talented rivals including March On Freddie and Barntick Bear, Bombay Pat displayed zero signs of rust, showing fine early speed on the outside of the track to assert into the bend. Once doing so, he drove right away down the back straight before going on to see off March On Freddie by two and a half lengths.

It was a brilliant first run of the year for Bombay Pat and he will now take his place in the Star Sports/ TRC English Derby as one of the favourites.

His two kennels companions had less luck on the card with both Faypoint Susie and Ardera Sam finishing last in their respective races.

Paul Hennessy also had a runner on the card in the form of Dynamic Fair. He finished second to Ballymac Kobe despite missing the start and finding opening bend traffic. He will need to find his trapping boots but is likely to come on considerably for the run.