WHAT A START! – BOYLE SPORTS DERBY GETS UNDERWAY AT SHELBOURNE
Ian Fortune
The BOYLE Sports Irish Greyhound Derby got underway at Shelbourne Park on Friday night and it predictably threw up many talking points including a first ever defeat at the famous Ringsend venue for the reigning champion Bockos Diamond.
He had his colours lowered by the brilliant Epic Ace yet lost nothing in defeat, while the winner sent out a clear warning that he is a serious Derby challenger. So too did Bombay Pat as he set the standard with a facile 29.27 success, while others to go fast, and highlight their Derby credentials, included Droopys Patriot and the UK’s best, Proper Heiress.
Leaving the traps for Heat 1, Round one of The BOYLEsports Irish Greyhound Derby at Shelbourne Park (T1 Desert Flower, T2 Hackney Tango, T3 Daraghs Sydney, T4 Ballyhimikin Rio, T5 Flight Club, T6 Cheap Sandwiches) Pic: Imelda Grauer
Heat 1 – BRIGHT START FOR SANDWICHES
After a shock reversal in his previous outing, last year’s runner-up Cheap Sandwiches made a perfect start to his Derby campaign in Heat 1.
Although headed at boxes by the fast-starting Ballyhimikin Rio, the son of Burgess Bucks and Hearthill Josie flew up the outside of the track to challenge for the lead on the bend.
Despite taking a bump, he forced his way to the front with Daraghs Sydney slipping around a close second. Hackney Tango moved third as they hit the back straight and the order would remain unchanged for the rest of the journey.
The Graham Holland trained Cheap Sandwiches didn’t put this one to bed to the third turn but did stay on well to increase his advantage from the final turn. Owned by thee Bark Wahlberg Syndicate, Cheap Sandwiches would go on to beat Daraghs Sydney by two lengths in 29.53. Hackey Tango was another length and a half adrift in third with Desert Flower sneaking through as the fourth qualifier.
Heat 2 – JOSEPE LEAVES IT LATE
Willie Hyslop’s Toolmaker Josepe left it late but arrived in the final strides to justify strong market support in Heat 2.
Brickhill Moana was a big price in trap two but set a strong pace for much of the way only to run out of steam on the run in.
Behind the leader, few could land a blow with the exception of Toolmaker Josepe. Despite being forced to check his stride on the turn, he was close enough to mount a decisive challenge. Closing into the third turn to go fourth, he was third by the time they hit the final turn.
Coming home fast, the Robert Gleeson trained son of Droopys Sydney and Droopys Dancert would take charge inside the final twenty yards to win by a length from Brickhill Moana in 29.95. Lennies Madge despite a less than clear passage would finish two lengths away third and Danzig Rebel fourth.
Heat 3 – PATRIOT SENDS OUT A CLEAR WARNING
Droopys Patriot was warm order in Heat 3 after his brilliant run in second in the Irish Sprint Cup and he proceeded to send out a clear warning to his Derby rivals that he means business.
In victory, he completed a rapid double for Robert Gleeson but also made it clear he can be a big player in the coming weeks.
Faypoint Harvey broke fastest from the inside box but the early speed of Droopys Patriot was pretty significant. Powering his way into the lead before the corner, the brilliant son of Dorotas Wildcat and Droopys Alyssa quickly set about opening up a race-winning advantage.
Faypoint Harvey and Lemon Joey did all they could to close the gap with the latter moving second around the last two bends but Droopys Patriot, owned by the Newmarket Racing Syndicate, would make stride out to the line.
Clocking 16.93 to the third turn, he proceeded to hit the line two and a half lengths clear in a very good 29.30. Lemon Joey was second with Westway Rossa running on well to take third, a further length and a half back. Faypoint Harvey progressed in fourth.
Heat 4 – CHEQUE BACKERS GRAB THE CASH
Cheque For Cash has long been a model of consistency.
The professional son of Dromana Bucko and Paradise Asia was sent to traps the 11-10 favourite for Heat 4 and his early speed carried him to yet another superb success.
Trained by Karol Ramsbottom for the Cash Back Syndicate, Cheque For Cash was fluent from the inside box, moving to the front in the opening strides. The Other Wild went up in second but was forced to check at the turn as Cheque For Cash slipped around in front.
It would prove decisive as Cheque For Cash never looked under threat thereafter. The Other Wild chased hard throughout to take second but could never get back on terms. At the line the pair were separated by three and a half lengths in 29.75. Harry Houdini, a kennel companion to the winner, was three lengths back in third. In Good Time was fourth.
Heat 5 – AN EPIC RUN FROM ACE TO SEE OFF DIAMOND
The aptly named Epic Ace produced a brilliant run to inflict a first Shelbourne Park defeat on the defending Derby champion Bockos Diamond in Heat 5.
This would turn into quite a buckle with the pair racing miles clear of their rivals.
All seemed to be going to plan for Bockos Diamond as he broke fastest alongside Harlequin Gee Up before moving into the lead in the early yards. Epic Ace isn’t always the fastest into stride but, on this occasion, he did produce one of his better starts to quickly emerge as the only challenger to Bockos Diamond.
The pair bumped on the turn with Bockos Diamond taking a narrow lead before opening up by a length. It was short lived, however, as Epic Ace really got moving after halfway and got up the inside of Bockos Diamond into the third turn to take over.
It seemed certain Epic Ace would assert from this point, but Bockos Diamond did rally. Despite his best efforts, Epic Ace would go on to score, crossing the line a length to the good in a fast 29.38. It was a massive run from Epic Ace but also an encouraging run, albeit in a rare defeat for Bockos Diamond. There was an eight-length gap to Ballymac Lake in third with Shanahee Boomer progressing in fourth.
Heat 6 – BRILLIANT FROM BOMBAY
Bombay Pat is a fast greyhound. That has never been in dispute and the manner in which he dispatched a top-class field in Heat 6 is just further evidence of the fact.
After a recent pipe-opener when posting a fast 29.32, the Graham Holland trained son of Pestana and Clear Mountain went even faster on this occasion.
Breaking on terms, which is always a bonus, Bombay Pat displayed his awesome acceleration to go to the front well before the turn. It was all one-way traffic thereafter. Toolmaker King turned second but found himself under severe pressure from Hello Diego but it didn’t concern Pat Muldoon and Eugene Buckley’s pace-setter.
Despite tying up a little on the run in, Bombay Pat would run out a comfortable three length in 29.27. Hello Diego would run a huge race in defeat in second, while Toolmaker King would finish a further six lengths back in third. Priceless Romeo would join them in the second round.
Heat 7 – HEIRESS LOOKS AT HOME
Proper Heiress could yet develop into a serious Derby contender for the UK. He looked right at home around Shelbourne Park in Heat 7 when shooting from trap two to make every inch for the birthday boy and 15-time Champion Trainer in the UK, Mark Wallis.
Ballinabola Joe was the favourite but fluffed his line at boxes. Instead, Phoenix Memphis would emerge as the only real threat but Proper Heiress was never going to be concerned by those in chase once going to the front.
Owned by the MWD Partnership, Proper Heiress would keep his rivals at arm’s length throughout, eventually staying on strongly to win by an ever-increasing four lengths from Phoenix Memphis in 29.45. Ballinabola Joe did show big pace to close on the front two into the third turn but faded a little on the run for home, eventually finishing a further three lengths adrift. Sunshine Sioux was fourth.
Heat 8 – DE LAHDEDAH STILL GOING STRONG
De Lahdedah had to be patient and show all his strength to justify favouritism in Heat 8 but it wasn’t a problem for the remarkable Young Garsuns Syndicate owned son of Lenson Bocko and Ballymac Sarahjo.
The in-form Oreo Ollie got loose in the early yards and led the field around the turn but he was immediately under pressure with De Lahdedah and Ballyhooly Bruno turning on his heels.
Oreo Ollie would prove a tough nut to crack, however. De Lahdedah attempted to slip up the inside of the leader at the second turn but it wasn’t to be with Oreo Ollie kicking again. Again, at the third turn De Lahdedah attempted to challenge but it was a similar story.
Indeed, Oreo Ollie led the field into the home straight where he made his first mistake, moving off the inside to leave a gap for De Lahdedah. The 2024 English Derby champion didn’t need a second invitation. Charging through the gap, the Liam Dowling trained superstar took over in the closing yards to claim a half-length victory in 29.53. Oreo Ollie ran a huge race in second with Coosane Pickles staying on well for third, just a length and a half further adrift. Ballyhooly Bruno was fourth.
Heat 9 – LIFE’S A BEACH FOR SEVEN BACKERS
Seven Beach may be turning four next month but after capturing four major titles in 2025 already, he remains one of the best in training and he made the perfect, understated start to his Derby campaign in Heat 9.
Trained by Jennifer O’Donnell for the Beach Boys Trio, Seven Beach was a red-hot favourite and he made light work of his task. Showing his customary early dash, the son of Pestana and Whitings Gift quickly asserted at the head of affairs.
It was very straightforward thereafter. Harlequin Paul did show pace to grab second in the second half of the contest but Seven Beach would coast to a six-length success in 29.72. Slipalong Duke was three parts of a length away in third and Great Morning fourth.
Heat 10 – NO LUCK NEEDED FOR LEP
Lookandlep has shown a willing attitude in his recent outings and that was again the case in Heat 10 as he emerged on top to complete a double for Karol Ramsbottom.
Owned by Michael and Noel Nash, the son of Ballymac Cashout and Pennys Baccata found himself second into the turn behind No More Fiftys despite coming away racing from trap three.
But for the second week running, he forced his way past that rival on the bend. Betgoodwin Ben then emerged as a serious threat to the leader. Closing into the third turn, he briefly struck the front before the home turn but, again, Lookandlep wasn’t going to go down without a battle.
Digging deep, the September ’23 whelp rallied to again force his way to the front before going on to beat Betgoodwin Ben and No More Fiftys by a length and a half and a length in 29.82. Droopys Slick overcame a slow start to take fourth.
Heat 11 – CORNER WITH AN IDEAL START
Hackey Corner may have been returning after a layoff but he had the pace and strength to get to the front early before containing the late charge of Ballymac Tibet in Heat 11.
Both greyhounds ran very well and never allowed any of their rivals get involved.
Ballymac Tibet was fastest into stride but Hackney Corner looked smooth into the opening bend, showing fine early speed to assert. With Ballymac Tibet turning second, it quickly developed into a two-dog affair.
Hackey Corner, owned by the Hackney Boys Syndicate, may have need the run but it wasn’t overly evident as he continued to gallop hard to the line. Ballymac Tibet began to bridge the gap off the final turn but the line came in time for Hackney Corner.
The Pat Buckley trained son of Here Comes Syd and Westpoint Jorgi would score by a head in 29.43. There was a three-length gap to Swithins Jim in third with Bushpark Rodney fourth.
Heat 12 – ANOTHER STYLISH RUN FROM SWORDS
Swords Style was one of the best backed greyhounds in the days leading up to the opening round and he fully justified his support with an emphatic trap to line success, sealing a treble for Graham Holland that had earlier been initiated by Cheap Sandwiches and Bombay Pat.
In truth, this was over as a contest after a couple of strides with the strong running Swords Style rocketing from the inside box to lead the field into the bend. Leger champion Drombeg Banner gave chase but he would run out of steam. Instead, De Bono Lad would take up the chase but there was no stopping Swords Style.
Barbara Lowndes’ son of Grangeview Ten and Emers Sally would power clear to win by five lengths from De Bono Lad in 29.56. The fast-finishing Doctor Darcy arrived late to take third, just a head further back. Blackeyed Turbo was best of the remainder.