BOMBAY PAT SETS THE DERBY STANDARD AGAIN

Ian Fortune

The second round of the BOYLE Sports Irish Greyhound Derby came to a conclusion at Shelbourne Park on Saturday night.

Despite windy conditions and some heavy rain at various points on the evening, there were some outstanding performances but the headlines simply had to go to Bombay Pat as he fastest of the Derby 29.17 in the first heat on the card.

It was the second week running in which the brilliant tracker would go faster, and he is now just 5-1 for outright honours with the sponsors.  

Others to impress included Glengar Silent and Toolmaker King, while Paul Hennessy recorded a fine double with Priceless Romeo and Barefoot On Song.

Faypoint Ranger T1, Prince Naseem T3, Sunshine Sioux T2, Bombay Pat T6 and Ballymac Tibet T5 race to the first Bend in Heat 9 Rd 2 of the BOYLE Sports Irish Greyhound Derby.         Pic: Imelda Grauer

Heat 9 – BOMBAY CONTINUES TO PURR

After going fastest in the opening round, the Graham Holland trained Bombay Pat produced another faultless display to go even faster in the second round when coming home clear in Heat 9.

In fact, the brilliantly fast son of Pestana and Clear Mountain would post the fastest time of the Derby thus far, clocking a sizzling 29.17.

Breaking as smartly as he ever does, the red-hot favourite would quickly move through the gears to head the fast-starting Prince Naseem into the bend. The latter would run an incredible race to eventually finish second, although Faypoint Ranger would use his inside line to chase Bombay Pat into the back straight.

There was no stopping Bombay Pat as he galloped on relentlessly for his owners Pat and Justin Muldoon, but Prince Nassem would keep him honest. Moving past Faypoint Ranger at the third turn, Prince Naseem stayed on really strongly to finish just two lengths adrift with Ballymac Tibet running on well to grab third, some three and a half lengths further back.  

Heat 10 – ROMEO GUNS DOWN RIVALS

Priceless Romeo produced a power-packed display to win Heat 10 for the long-standing combination of Paul Hennessy and Bryan and Kathleen Murphy.

This would have been an especially satisfying result for the trio as he is a home bred son of Priceless Jet and Priceless Opera.

The Other Wild went to the front early, just clearing Cushie The Best on the turn but the writing was on the wall when Priceless Romeo moved second on the second turn. He had gone up in third before checking wide on the bend.

Despite this, he recovered well to move beyond Cushie The Best as they straightened up into the back straight. Once doing so, he always had his sights on the leader. The Other Wild did all he could to contain Priceless Romeo but it was futile.

Priceless Romeo went to the front between the last two bends before staying on well to see off another big finisher, Blastoff Heffo, by a length and a half in 29.63. The Other Wild would finish another two and a half lengths adrift in third.  

Heat 11 – NOTHING SILENT ABOUT GLENGAR

With each outing Glengar Silent seems to improve and that was certainly the case in Heat 11 as he mowed down Phoenix Memphis to emerge a comfortable and most impressive winner for Tom Nolan and Pat Buckley.

Phoenix Memphis predictably set the pace from an inside draw but he was a sitting duck when Glengar Silent went up a good second. Showing his now trademark back straight pace, the exciting son of Droopys Sydney and former Derby runner-up Singalong Sally would fly to the front by the third turn.

There was simply nothing Phoenix Memphis could do to counter Glengar Silent. Once going to the front, the latter eased right away in the style of a greyhound with a big future. The November ’23 whelp would go on to hit the line six lengths clear in 29.48. Lennies Madge ran on to take second, while Phoenix Memphis was just a head further down.  

Heat 12 – HEIRESS RIDES HIS LUCK

The Mark Wallis trained Proper Heiress would ultimately win Heat 12, justifying favouritism in the process, but he had a fair share of luck.

Left in front at the second turn after missing the start and looking in a battle to even qualify, his supporters will certainly feel they played the get out of jail card.  

Magical On Fire and Droopys Orator went up fastest, chased by Ballymac Stud but the trio conspired to cuase each other’s downfall. Magical One Fire had her heels clipped on the bend by Ballymac Stud, who was then forced to check wide, while Droopys Orator was also hampered although he did manage to lead around the bend only to find Proper Heiress up his inner.

The UK’s best was only fifth into the turn but, in a matter of strides, found himself in front. Taking over at the second turn, he seemed likely to run out a comfortable winner only for both Lemon Joey and Ballymac Stud to press him hard into the third turn and on the run for home.

Proper Heiress, owned by the MWD Partnership, would go on to win by a length and a half from Lemon Joey in 29.88. Ballymac Stud, despite finishing a length away in third, impressed in defeat.

Heat 13 – SONG ON TUNE

Barefoot On Song was at her very sharpest in Heat 13, exploding from trap three to dictate throughout, completing a memorable double for Paul Hennessy and Bryan and Kathleen Murphy in the process.

Ballinabola Joe was the red-hot favourite but failed to come away racing, leaving Barefoot On Song to skip clear into the bend.

By this point in proceedings, conditions were very tough as the rain continued to pour but Barefoot On Song made light work of the task at hand. The daughter of Grangeview Ten and Jaytee Osprey flashed from three to dominate.

Ballinabola Joe did make up eye-catching ground to sit a close second around the final turn but Barefoot On Song stuck on well to win by a length and a half in 29.90. There was an eight length gap to Maireads Diamond in third. 

Heat 14 – A REGAL DISPLAY FROM KING

Robert Gleeson endured a tough night on Friday but Toolmaker King gave him consolation in Heat 14 showing fine early pace and determination to get up the inside of the favourite Rural Pest on the corner before emerging a superb winner.

Willie Hyslop’s son of Droopys Sydney and Droopys Curio would force his way up the inside of the fast-starting Rural Pest to lead from halfway between the opening two bends. Once doing so, he quickly set about putting the contest to bed.

Showing fine back straight pace, Toolmaker King would open a decisive advantage before coasting home two and a half lengths clear of the rallying Rural Pest in 29.43. It was a fine display by the winner and one that highlights his Derby credentials. Behind the front two, Alva Mist ran on really well to grab third on the line, some five and a half lengths behind the runner-up.  

Heat 15 – ROSSA WINS IN STYLE

Westway Rossa was at her best in Heat 15, showing fine pace and determination to run down Hopes Teddy before going on to contain Magical Sapphire to lead home a 1-2 for the fairer sex.

Hopes Teddy broke on terms before moving to the front into the bend but he was always under pressure when Westway Rossa turned a close second.

The latter made her move into the third turn, rounding Hopes Teddy, while also forcing him to check. She was quickly followed by Magical Sapphire but the leader saved ground off the final bend, staying tight to the fence to extend her lead.

Running right to the line for Damian Maginn and Henry Scimia, Westway Rossa would emerge a deserving two and a half length winner in 29.61. Magical Sapphire was second with Highview Plan running on very strongly to take third a length and a half further adrift.

Heat 16 – KEITH GIVES RIVALS THE SLIP

Magical Keith displayed all his early dash to dominate in Heat 16.

A four-dog race after two withdrawals, he made full use of the extra room in the early yards, clearing the corner with a bit to spare. As his rivals clashed on the bend, Magical Keith took the opportunity to race into a commanding advantage by halfway.

Droopys Deploy did emerge from the pack and closed notably on the leader but Magical Keith was too far clear. Trained by Pat Guilfoyle for S Harvey, the son of Ballymac Cashout and Burgess Sarah would go on to see off Droopys Deploy by a quickly disappearing length in 29.69. No More Fiftys after his early traffic problems would take third, another seven and a half lengths back.