A MID-WEEK BONUS AS PUPPY DERBY STARTS IN DUBLIN
Ian Fortune
The weather gods have certainly done everything in their power to delay the start of the TIME Greyhound Nutrition Puppy Derby but it will finally get underway at Shelbourne Park this evening, albeit at a slightly later than scheduled time.
For those that can make it to Dublin, it’s quite a mid-week bonus with the chance to see some stunningly fast and many hugely promising youngsters in action. There are eight heats in all and there is a wonderful combination of proven performers and lightly raced, ‘could be anything’ types.
There are one or two particularly hot heats but each of the eight heats feature a notable performer. The action gets underway at 8.30pm to allow for the evening air to cool a little with the opening heat of the Puppy Derby scheduled for 8.56pm.
Heat 1 - LOREAL LOOKS THE PART
The first heat looks a wide-open affair but Razldazl Loreal did enough in her latest defeat to suggest she can develop into a top-class performer for Richard Browne and Dolores Ruth.
Dolores has twice won the Puppy Derby in the past, with Prince Of Tinrah in 1998 and Razldazl Luke in 2012, and they way in which she has campaigned Razldazl Loreal in her short career suggests she feels she is a good one.
Her latest run was particularly eye-catching. She displayed massive early sped after a tardy start to chase Carrick Becks into the back straight before finishing a close third. It was a display of real promise and one that earned her the nod this evening. If trapping on terms, she will be difficult to contain into the bend and is chosen to make all.
Her rivals are no slouches either. Callaway Ryder has an ideal draw on the fence and is not short of pace. He may need to sharpen up in the early yards but the draw ensures he is a big player. Franchesco is perhaps the most interesting participant. He came from a mile off the pace after early traffic to win in graded company last time.
A well-bred son of King Sheeran and Derby finalist Maries Wedding, he is open to all manner of improvement for Michael Butler and Paul Hennessy. Burrows Clover is also very interesting. He made little impression on debut but flew around in 28.34 in a qualifying trial. It certainly is an intriguing way to start the puppy classic.
Heat 2 – PORTER TO FOLLOW UP
Droopys Porter gets the nod in Heat 2. Barry Clancy has his dogs purring at present and this son of Dromana Bucko opened his account last time, showing plenty of class and determination to do so.
He can improve again and is likely to have too much early dash for those around him.
Boltaway Wink is likely to up strongly along the fence. He took a tired tumble off the final turn when last seen but displayed enough to that point to suggest he will win a load of races. He may need to dictate the pace but is seen as the main threat.
Toolmaker Dynomo got lost in his two starts in Dublin but flew home on both occasions. He will need to show more early dash to get involved but it would be unwise to dismiss his claims. Grouchos Chief is an interesting newcomer.
A member of a talented litter, he has shown real ability in trials and is respected. Slippery Felix and Razldazl Thelma have also shown plenty in their previous outings and won’t need much luck to get involved. Droopys Porter is the choice, however. He seems to be improving with each outing and has the all-round pace to come home in front.
Heat 3 – BECKS TO STRIKE
Carrick Becks is the favourite for outright glory and is seen as the one to beat in Heat 3.
The Champion Open Unraced winner at Kilkenny, he has all you need to be a top lass greyhound. Blessed with fine trapping ability, early speed, plenty of back straight pace and the strength to get the 525yd trip and further, he will be very hard to beat.
His task is far from straightforward with some very promising types in opposition including Croydon Avenger, Roaming Shelby, Lennies Jamesmac and Shebeen Flyer. Carrick Becks is in superb form, however, and is set to make every inch off a typically fast start.
Lennies Jamesmac is of particular interest. A superb winner last time when known as Revolut Bull, he is now under new ownership and is under the care of Paul Hennessy. He could be anything in time.
Heat 4 – GUNBOAT TO SHOOT DOWN RIVALS
Heat 4 is one of the most interesting of the round.
There are three or four youngsters with huge potential including the ideally housed Group Gunboat. The latter really impressed last time, showing fine early speed to dominate.
The draw will again work in his favour but he certainly needs to get off the front. That means he must get the better of Anothercupoftea into the bend which is no easy task. The son of Mcinerney displayed huge early speed in his previous outings and will likely go up fast from three.
If he were to get to the front, he too could take a bit of catching, although he is vulnerable from the final turn. The likes of Carrick Yorky and Killers King will be waiting in the wings if the early paced duo fluff their lines. Killers King is very quick. He flew from the second turn in his latest outing and seems certain to get a clear run on the outside of the track.
Group Gunboat remains the choice but Anothercupoftea and Killers King are seen as serious dangers to the selection.
Heat 5 – JAMES NEEDS A START
Wi Can James, Ballymac Charbel and Im Here are all potential Puppy Derby winners and the trio clash in Heat 5.
All three have shown massive pace in recent outings and so much will come down to the start. The fact that Wi Can James has been handed a rails pitch just swings the nod in his favour.
His penultimate run when overcoming a little early crowding to win in 28.15 was nothing short of spectacular. If highlighted the fact that he has a huge engine.
The same can be said for Ballymac Charbel. A finalist in the Lee Strand, he flew home behind Carrick Becks in his Dublin debut and looks set for a big future. If he can turn close to the pace, he would certainly be a major threat.
Im Here is really interesting. He flew around Shelbourne last month in 28.02 before coming from an impossible position to win his latest start in the final strides. He has massive pace and is clearly very promising. It’s quite a contest and don’t be surprised if any of the trio go very fast.
Heat 6 – DIAMOND TO SHINE
Swords Diamond takes on the likes of No Tickets, Ballymac Scheff, Magical Fiona, Crash Bang Will and Glenger Phantom in Heat 6.
It’s a really top class contest with any of the six capable of making a bold bid.
The draw very much favours Swords Diamond, however. He was one of the stars of the Produce Stakes and is forgiven for his latest defeat at Shelbourne when he missed the start and found traffic. He can come on for that run and potentially dictate the pace into the bend. If doing so, he would take some catching.
Ballymac Scheff has a huge engine and will fly from the second bend. He is clearly a big danger, although any of the others could emerge as a threat.
Heat 7 –MONK GOING PLACES
Droopys Monk was one of the standout performers in the Denis Linehan Solicitors Open Unraced at Curraheen Park and has only improved since, winning his latest outing at Shelbourne in 28.12 while also hinting at better to come.
Blessed with tremendous pace into the turn and own the back straight, he is the one to bat in Heat 7 where his rivals include the very talented Ballymac Hitman and Slick Sanctuary. Throw in Supa Mac, Carrick Coley and Zanoosh and it is quite a contest.
But Droopys Monk gives the impression he is right out of the top drawer and is selected to get loose into the bend before building a decisive lead. Ballymac Hitman is entitled to plenty of respect, while Slick Sanctuary has the best of the draw and is also worthy of a second glance.
Heat 8 – COLEY JUST CHOSEN IN RED-HOT FINAL HEAT
The final heat of the round should provide a fitting conclusion to proceedings with a number of talented pups going toe-to-toe.
Each of the six have shown plenty of promise but Kapuka Coley is perhaps best equipped to emerge on top.
A really strong runner with the early pace to challenge to the turn, he is just chosen ahead of Denis Linehan Solicitors Open Unraced winner Fahrenheit Ace and Ballyhooly Cliff. Croydon Web and Southwind Storm are drawn on the inside of the track and can also get involved if doing things right at boxes, while Grouchos Frank can’t be completely dismissed if finding a start from three.