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Backers stay loyal to Honcho

Loyal Honcho has proved the market springer ahead of the quarter-finals of the Derby.

With the Greyhound Derby reaching its most rigorous phase for the dogs, the remaining 24 quarter-finalists will be thinned down to just 12 on Tuesday evening.

Although Loyal Honcho was beaten by some four-and-a-half lengths by competition favourite Phoenix Paddy (currently available to back at 3.5) on Saturday, this has not detracted the backers from getting stuck into him in Betfair's ante post market, as Seamus Graham's charge appears to have been granted plenty of favours by his draw in the next phase.

Few in the game could begrudge Graham a slice of luck after his Mineola Farloe almost wrestled the classic away from Westmead Hawk last year, and the trainer, who has a rich history of reaching big finals in his native Ireland, is more than capable of gleaning improvement from run-to-run.

The son of Top Honcho was allocated the striped jacket in the last of the four quarter-finals and will be pitched against Westmead Lord (15), Express Ego (11.5), and three relative outsiders in the competition.

Following the announcement of the make-ups, the backers have forced the dog into 12.

Droopys Robinho, who defied a substantial market drift to score on Saturday night, is relatively solid at 5.6 while Blonde Dino (21) is conversely friendless in the market.

The pair are set to meet in the first of the quarter-finals and with heat winners, Dilemmas Flight and Full Bloom among the opposition, this appears to be the most wide-open heat of the round.

The races will form part of an eight-race spectacular on Sky Sports this Tuesday evening and a full service will be available on Betfair.