Belgian aims for English winner in Greyhound Derby

Patrick Janssens previously won the Derby with his dog Thorn Falcon in 2021

Trainers are preparing for the Greyhound Derby, one of the biggest dates on the sports calendar, and the hopes of an English winner are down to a man from Belgium.

Droopys Plunge is running in Saturday's final at Towcester in Northamptonshire, up against five rivals from Ireland.

Patrick Janssens, now based in Norfolk, said his dog "is an outsider" but added he was "confident".

The event had previously attracted about 4,000 people to the track although some people concerned about animal welfare want to see the sport banned. In 2023 protesters attempted to disrupt the Towcester event.

Mr Janssens said he wanted to be involved in the sport from an early age, despite Belgium not being known for greyhound racing.

The 54-year-old said: "When I was kid, I lived between Antwerp and the border with Holland. I used to walk two Afghans and a greyhound, and I loved that greyhound.

"Racing is only a hobby in Belgium, but on a Sunday I went to a dog track, loved it and wanted a dog myself.

"My dad started to take me to the tracks at the weekends, and when I was 14 I finished second in the Belgian championships."

His love for the sport eventually brought him to England.

"In 1996 I went to my first Derby at Wimbledon and loved it, and I went to every Derby there until it closed. I also went to the Irish Derby," he said.

"By 2000, I'd decided I wanted to work with these greyhounds and do it as a profession."

After a stint away from the sport, he found a property just north of the Norfolk-Suffolk border and began running his dogs at Mildenhall before moving them to Towcester.

The trainer has had success in the Derby with first and second spots in 2021, and he had another runner-up in 2023.

He says of Droopys Plunge: "He's done very well to qualify through every round. He's qualified despite having some terrible draws so far."