EXPECT MORE FIREWORKS IN BOYLE SPORTS DERBY
Ian Fortune
By the end of this evening’s action at Shelbourne Park we will have seen the BOYLE Sports Derby winner in action.
Friday’s action was of the highest quality with Bombay Pat setting a strong standard and it will be interesting to see if any of the many superstars in action tonight can go as fast.
There are twelve heats in all and it seems safe to expect many more brilliant displays ahead of the second-round draw after racing.
LILAC LOOKS A BRIGHT PROSPECT
Saturday’s action gets off to a flying start with a talented line-up contesting Heat 13.
To highlight the quality on show, the sponsors have installed the recent Munster Oaks champion Badly Behaving their 7-1 outsider.
It is a contracted market with Flashing Lilac the 2-1 market leader and she could well emerge as the one to beat if reproducing her latest effort when lowering the colours of Cheap Sandwiches. It’s difficult to believe that was her first career success but she left those on the stands in little doubt that she is a huge talent.
She will need to match that effort, however, as her remaining rivals are capable of going fast. Callaway Five and Grouchos Hoffa are nominated as the main dangers.
MAASAI TO SHOW HIS CLASS
Tarsna Maasai has shown on more than one occasion in the past that he is at his best over the 550yd trip around Shelbourne Park and his many supporters will ensure that he starts favourite in Heat 14 from an ideal draw in his beloved stripes.
A reserve will go into trap two after the withdrawal of Lemon Orla. The main danger to Tarsna Maasai is perhaps Glengar Silent. An exciting youngster with a Derby pedigree, being the son of former runner-up Singalong Sally, he has looked as though a step up to 550yds will really play to his strength. He has a massive engine but didn’t fly in his most recent trial.
Headleys Trump has some superb form and could get involved, while Barefoot On Song is capable on her night but from an ideal draw Tarsna Maasai is selected to dictate from the opening yards.
SCHOLSEY TO STRIKE
Carrick Scholsey made headlines after a stunning debut around Kilkenny in the Champion Open Unraced in early May.
He would ultimately run out of luck in that competition but came to Shelbourne and landed the valuable Summer Cup.
He would run out of luck in his subsequent starts before a return to his very best last week when a change of seeding seemed to do the trick. Showing alacrity at traps, he again races from five and is selected as the one to beat in Heat 15 where he faces some very quick rivals including Ballymac Kamala, Untold Rufiyaa, Fahee Phantom and trial stake winner Kereight Pimple.
Much will depend on whether Carrick Scholsey can match his latest fast start but if doing so, he can quickly assert to see off Ballymac Kamala and Kereight Pimple, although none of the others can be completely dismissed.
MAJOR TO MARCH CLEAR
Easter Cup champion Hopes Teddy returns to the scene of his greatest triumph in Heat 16 and will certainly have support although Magical Major is set to go to traps a red-hot favourite after showing all manner of pace and promise in his five previous career outings.
The Pat Guilfoyle trained star has given the impression he is ready to step up on form and establish himself as one of the fastest on the planet. His ceiling is extremely high and from a relatively kind draw in four, he will be hard to contain if trapping on terms.
Of the others, Sallagh Curly is defending an unbeaten record but this is by some margin his toughest test, while Ballinabola Jim remains a talented tracker, albeit perhaps not the force he once was. Hopes Teddy is perhaps the most likely pace-setter but Magical Major is chosen to send out a clear and very loud warning to his potential rivals in the coming weeks.
PEST TO POUNCE
Rural Pest is set to start a hot favourite for Heat 17 where Body Mind Spirit and Bartlemy Mainoo are reported as non-runners.
It isn’t known which reserves will go in but Rural Pest will likely remain the one to beat.
A Juvenile Derby finalist after some stunning efforts in qualifying, he has the draw in his favour and is proven over the Derby trip. If starting on terms, he would prove very difficult to contain and can emerge a comfortable winner, potentially at the expense of Magical On Fire, although the ultra-consistent Leger finalist Cagey Billy can also make the frame.
BALLYMAC TO PROVE HE’S A STUD
It would be no surprise to see Liam Dowling have a big say in this Derby and he sends out two of his best in Heat 18 with Ballymac Stud and Ballymac Danica set to head the market.
Danica was last seen finishing fourth to Seven Beach in the Champion Stakes.
She has had her issues over the past year but remains a top-class performer. Her kennel companion Ballymac Stud is just at the start of his career and looks set to be a classic contender going forward. The longer run to the turn will suit the son of Droopys Sydney and he can dictate from the drop of the hat to justify favouritism.
Blastoff Heffo has a big engine and ran well in the recent Leger. He can emerge as the best of the remainder but it would be something of a shock if one of the Dowling rained duo didn’t oblige. Stud is chosen to lead home Danica.
KNEGARE READY TO GO DEEP AGAIN
Callaway Knegare was one of the undoubted stars of 2024, winning the Juvenile Derby and finishing third to Bockos Diamond in the Derby.
He is back for another crack at the Derby in Heat 19 and can show his class.
Lightly raced in recent months, he was third in the Shelbourne Open 600 and ran up the Race of Champions at Tralee. A recent 28.44 spin around Tralee would have blown away the cobwebs and he can take some stopping tonight.
Despite a tricky draw in four, he is chosen to race prominently before making his superior pace and power count from halfway. Rolo Tokyo has the best of the draw on the fence but will need to turn in front. Cushie The Best has tremendous early zip and would be a big player if repeating his best form while Cloverfield Clan and Barefoot On Fire has bits of form that would put them in the reckoning but the overall body of work from Callaway Knegare suggests he is the one to beat.
DUKE GETS NOD IN COMPETITIVE CONTEST
Heat 20 is one of the most open of the round with most of the field holding strong claims.
The Pat Guilfoyle trained Daleroad Duke is hugely talented but can be a bit hit and miss. If he hits tonight, he could be hard to contain from trap two but he needs to come away racing to clear his talented kennel companion Magical Keith.
A former kennelmate of the pair, Coloursaregreen, is also a big player especially if hitting the ground running from three. He is one of two runners for Paul Hennessy who also sends out the very strong Boylesports Blue. The latter is drawn in four and will need luck in running.
The third of Pat Gukfoyle’s runners Magical Sapphire has a great draw in the stripes but must be at her very best. Blossoms Syd will be a huge price, meaning it could come down to a shootout between Paul Hennessy and Pat Guilfoyle. Coloursaregreen can run well for Hennessy, but Daleroad Duke has done enough to earn the vote.
BOB CAN SHOW HIS POWER
There is plenty of contrast in the style of racing of the big two in Heat 21.
Kirby Memorial champion Faypoint Ranger has exceptional pace to the third turn and seems likely to step up on recent form from an ideal draw on the fence. He has obvious claims but may find the powerful Boylesports Bob too strong from halfway.
The 2024 English Derby runner-up has been lightly raced in recent months but Paul Hennessy is expected to have his charge ready to race and he can show his immense power and pace to come through in the second half.
Daleroad Devon and Razldazl Kamaria can offer the most resistance to the big two but it’s hard to see beyond Faypoint Ranger and Boylesports Bob with the vote going to the latter.
DEPLOY TO FOLLOW UP
Droopys Deploy finally returned to winning ways last time, emerging a comfortable winner in 29.44. That was his first success since capturing the Northern Puppy Derby at Newcastle in February. The draw couldn’t have been kinder this evening.
Drawn in six, he should comfortably lead up Highview Plan and Da Bold Falcon which should set him up for another successful run. Born Braver is a promising tracker and can emerge as a threat from the inside, while Lennies Dream ran well in the recent Maiden Derby but Droopys Deploy can be seen to best effect from the front. He is chosen to lead home Lennies Dream and Born Braver.
MAG TO PRODUCE SOME MAGIC
Magical Mag has been in electric form since late May, winning four on the bounce before running a huge race behind Bombay Pat last time.
Blessed with superb pace from start to finish, the daughter of Ballymac Cashout is set to start a hot favourite from four and will quickly emerge as the one to beat if producing one of her better starts.
Ballymac Axel is now under the care of Murt Leahy but has certainly been amongst the best in training in the UK over the past year. He challenged for Kirby Memorial honours earlier in the year, running out a superb opening round scorer before making his exit after finding traffic a week later.
He has a big engine and can certainly play a big part in proceedings if avoiding traffic. Shelbourne Park will certainly suit and he must be respected. Droopys Map is a promising youngster but this may come too soon. Magical Mag can lead home Ballymac Axel.
DESIRE TO POWER HIS WAY TO SUCCESS
The final heat looks relatively easy to read with most expecting Solo And Go and Unanimous Leo to set a strong gallop.
Neither are particularly strong, and will b stretched by the 550yd trip and that will leave the door open for the immensely fast Lennies Desire and the talented Hot Wood.
Lennies Desire has shown all manner of pace in his previous outings and the Towcester track record holder will be very hard to contain if turning close to the pace. The Paul Hennessy trained star has all the pace required to go deep in the Derby and he can emulate his litter brother, Epic Ace by coming home in front.
Hot Wood can also outstay the early pacers to take third, while Solo And Go is chosen to cling on to take third behind the selected duo.