Towcester Confirmed as Venue for 2026 English Derby
Patrick Janssens, the winner of this year's English Derby with Droopys Plunge, supports keeping the next Derby at Towcester despite the reduction of the first prize to £125,000.
Janssens Welcomes Towcester's Selection
The 2026 Classic has been awarded to Towcester, now managed by Mike Davis, over Dunstall Park. Janssens praised the venue:
“It’s a proper track with good facilities and recent renewals of the Derby have been great. It’s a safe track and one which dogs can stride out on with a decent run for home.”
Comparison to Dunstall Park
Although Janssens has seen top-class racing at Dunstall Park, where his Fabulous Aria reached the recent PGR Oaks final, he believes moving the Derby there would be a mistake.
“We enjoyed our time at Dunstall Park and it’s great to see a track open, but switching the Derby there would’ve been a disaster for us.”
He explained the difference in track style affects the choice of dogs:
“Every dog in our kennel is bred, bought and trained for a 500m Derby at Towcester. It’s two very different types of dogs for each track, Dunstall Park is a fast four bends and leading is everything there.”
Prize Money Reduction Response
Janssens acknowledged the lower prize money but remains positive about the competition's value:
“Any drop is bad news, but it’s still a substantial amount of money for winning the Derby.”
Author's Summary
Patrick Janssens supports the decision to keep the English Derby at Towcester, valuing the track's qualities despite a reduced prize fund.