EYES down for another rip-roaring night of action at Towcester - live on sisracing.tv and Ayozat - as the semi-finals of the 2024 Star Sports/TRC English Greyhound Derby take centre-stage with places in the world’s greatest greyhound race, worth £175,000 to the winner, up for grabs.

The battle between English and Irish-trained runners has also reached crunch time. Each semi-final has three home-trained runners against three visitors and it couldn't be more finely balanced, albeit the betting lists will show you that hopes of an English victory are heavily reliant on King Memphis!

Behind him in the long odds list are the Irish battalions - a hugely powerful team headed by Paul Hennessy's runaway semi-final winner Boylesports Bob plus defending champion Gaytime Nemo and reigning Irish Derby champion The Other Kobe, the pair both trained by Graham Holland.

Holland is looking to make it a joint-record three-in-a-row victories in English Derbys and retains high hopes, as does Liam Dowling whose team has performed magnificently at Towcester. He has three runners left in the Ballymacs Gizmo and Slick plus De Lahdedah.

Hove trainer Richard Rees continues to get a great tune out of Churchfield Syd with his early and all-round pace impressing every time he steps on the track, while credit, too, to Romford's Maxine Locke with her two semi-finalists Droopys Pivotel and Coss Tokyo.

Two other Derby-winning trainers are also in the mix. Patrick Janssens is still flying the flag - be Belgian or English! - with Edwards, while champion trainer Mark Wallis is pinning his hopes on the gutsy Whyaye Man, last year's Derby Plate winner over C&D who just thrives at Towcester.

Here's my look at the Star Sports/TRC English Greyhound Derby semi-finals:

First semi-final (19.47): First impressions suggest De Lahdedah (Liam Dowling) has a great pitch inside - for the first time in the event. He should go well. Likewise Gaytime Nemo (Graham Holland), last year's Derby champion who eyes history with back-to-back wins in the famous competition and three-in-a-row for his handler. He's due to come away smartly and might well need pegging back. Edwards (Patrick Janssens) needs to trap well to get busy early doors, while both Coss Tokyo (Maxine Locke) and Whyaye Man (Mark Wallis) will never give up in behind. However, Boylesports Bob is just so difficult to get away from. The draw is perfect outside and the way he raced away from his field in last week's quarter-finals was brilliant and, if close enough, Paul Hennessy's powerful runner is certainly good enough. 

Second semi-final (20.05): A good or bad draw for the ferociously fast King Memphis? Probably somewhere in between. Liz McNair's Olympic champion has yet to really ping-start in this year's Derby but could do from this midfield slot. Equally, he might NEED to! Unlike the rails, trap four gives him no second chance. Either way, it will be a rollercoaster ride for his backers. Irish Derby champion The Other Kobe (Graham Holland) is, like kennelmate Gaytime Nemo, eyeing history and could well lead the charge if the favourite does miss it. Ballymac Slick (Liam Dowling) and his kennelmate Ballymac Gizmo both stay well. The former has better all-round speed and is progressive, probably the revelation of the competition. Similarly, Churchfield Syd (Richard Rees) has flourished in this year's Derby and his consistency and early gears have proved a joy to watch. Droopys Pivotel (Maxine Locke) is a young star for connections but might find King Memphis cutting across him - unless he also smash breaks.

A packed card sees a host of competitions, with Belinda Green's back-to-top-form Bombout Bullet (6.01) catching the eye in the first semi-final of the Hope Jeal Sprint Trophy, while Romeo Command (8.57) might have too much all-round pace and class for his rivals in the first semi-final of the BGBF TruFrame Champion Stakes - despite a touch-looking midfield draw.

Towcester Tips

Bombout Bullet (6.01)

Boylesports Bob (7.47)

King Memphis (8.05)

Romeo Command (8.57)