# 2017 English Greyhound Derby

The 2017 Star Sports Greyhound Derby took place during June and July and the final was held on 1 July 2017 at Towcester Greyhound Stadium.
It was the first time since 1984 that the event was held away from Wimbledon Stadium and the first time in its history that it was held outside of London. The competition was sponsored by bookmaker Star Sports for the first time with a winner's prize of £175,000. The winner was Astute Missile who was the outsider at 28-1, his owner Geoff Hill won £175,000.

## Final

At Towcester (over 500 metres):
| Position | Name of Greyhound | Breeding | Trap | Sectional | Race comment | SP | Time | Trainer |
| 1st | Astute Missile | Kinloch Brae - China Doll | 4 | 5.18 | VQAw,Bmp&Led3 | 28-1 | 28.92 | Seamus Cahill (Hove) |
| 2nd | Tyrur Shay | Big Daddy Cool - Black Eyed Boss | 5 | 5.28 | RanOn | 7-4 | 28.98 | Patrick 'PJ' Fahy (Ireland) |
| 3rd | Clares Rocket | Confident Rankin - Lemon Madrid | 3 | 5.27 | EP,Bmp4 | 6-4f | 29.35 | Graham Holland (Ireland) |
| 4th | Murrys Act | Tullymurry Act - Brave Meave | 6 | 5.44 | VSAw | 14-1 | 29.46 | Kevin Boon (Yarmouth) |
| 5th | Droopys Acrobat | Tullymurry Act - Droopys Blossom | 2 | 5.28 | Blk2&3 | 8-1 | 29.60 | Seamus Cahill (Hove) |
| 6th | Hiya Butt | Hondo Black - Hather For Pat | 1 | 5.23 | Led1To3,Bmp,Bmp4 | 9-2 | 29.64 | Hayley Keightley (Private) |

### Distances

¾, 4½, 1¼, 1¾, ½ (lengths) The distances between the greyhounds are in finishing order and shown in lengths. One length is equal to 0.08 of one second.

### Race Report

Astute Missile broke very well from the traps alongside Hiya Butt, who produced his trademark early pace, to lead from the first bend until the third bend. Astute Missile then forced his way inside Hiya Butt at the third bend, the latter received a small bump at this stage and then tired into last place. Astute Missile went on to win from a strong finishing Tyrur Shay and the previously unbeaten Clares Rocket finished third after failing to make the fast start that was expected of him.

## Semi finals

First Semi Final (Jun 24, £5,000) :
| Pos | Name of Greyhound | SP | Time | Trainer |
| 1st | Hiya Butt | 5-2jf | 29.17 | Keightley |
| 2nd | Droopys Acrobat | 6-1 | 29.23 | Cahill |
| 3rd | Murrys Act | 10-1 | 29.25 | Boon |
| 4th | Droopys Buick | 10-1 | 29.37 | Harrison |
| 5th | Bruisers Bullet | 5-2jf | 29.54 | Wallis |
| 6th | Forest Con | 11-2 | 29.68 | Cahill |
Second Semi Final (Jun 24, £5,000) :
| Pos | Name of Greyhound | SP | Time | Trainer |
| 1st | Clares Rocket | 10-11f | 28.83 | Holland |
| 2nd | Tyrur Shay | 13-8 | 28.96 | Fahy |
| 3rd | Astute Missile | 20-1 | 28.98 | Cahill |
| 4th | Sallows Ford | 50-1 | 29.25 | White |
| 5th | Swithuns Brae | 9-1 | 29.42 | Cronin |
| 6th | Coolavanny Mason | 10-1 | 29.56 | Buckley |

## Quarter finals

Heat 1 (Jun 20, £1,000) :
| Pos | Name | SP | Time |
| 1st | Clares Rocket | 13-8f | 28.99 |
| 2nd | Astute Missile | 12-1 | 29.35 |
| 3rd | Bruisers Bullet | 7-4 | 29.69 |
| 4th | Shaneboy Freddie | 13-2 | 29.78 |
| 5th | Fweshfromthesesh | 7-1 | 29.89 |
| 6th | Ballinakil Clare | 10-1 | 29.96 |
Heat 2 (Jun 20, £1,000) :
| Pos | Name | SP | Time |
| 1st | Swithins Brae | 9-2 | 29.29 |
| 2nd | Forest Con | 2-1 | 29.63 |
| 3rd | Droopys Buick | 5-4f | 29.66 |
| 4th | Newinn Blitz | 20-1 | 29.69 |
| 5th | Crossfield Hugo | 20-1 | 30.13 |
| 6th | Carn Brea | 7-1 | 30.16 |
Heat 3 (Jun 20, £1,000) :
| Pos | Name | SP | Time |
| 1st | Droopys Acrobat | 4-1 | 29.02 |
| 2nd | Sallows Ford | 12-1 | 29.28 |
| 3rd | Murrys Act | 4-1 | 29.49 |
| 4th | Danzey Exception | 5-2jf | 29.55 |
| 5th | Cable Bay | 6-1 | 29.97 |
| 6th | Pacey Bambi | 5-2jf | 30.01 |
Heat 4 (Jun 20, £1,000) :
| Pos | Name | SP | Time |
| 1st | Tyrur Shay | 4-5f | 29.02 |
| 2nd | Hiya Butt | 3-1 | 29.07 |
| 3rd | Coolavanny Mason | 6-1 | 29.09 |
| 4th | Airport Jumbo | 50-1 | 29.33 |
| 5th | Jaytee Jet | 9-2 | 29.36 |
| 6th | Slaheny King | 25-1 | 30.05 |