BOYLESPORTS IRISH DERBY TO START WITH A BANG

Ian Fortune

After weeks and months of anticipation, the Boylesports Irish Greyhound Derby will finally get underway this evening with 156 of the best greyhound imaginable chasing the €125,000 winner’s purse.

This is an incredibly deep Derby with quality filtering down through each and every opening round heat but tonight’s fare seems just a fraction better than tomorrows with so many of the big guns at the head of the Derby betting in action. 

Chief amongst them is the favourite, Colavanny Hoffa who, despite a layoff of over ten months, seems primed to send out a clear message to his rivals. Others expected to announce themselves as serious Derby contenders are Clona Duke, Ballinabola Ed, Optic Chico, The Other Kobe, Trinity Junior and Ballymac Marino.

The likelihood is one of the aforementioned will suffer defeat this evening but, likewise, it would be no surprise if they were all to come home clear.

We also have the hottest heat of the entire round to look ahead to. Heat 3 is a bit special. Not only does it feature the two reigning Derby champions, the hero of Towcester Gaytime Nemo and defending Irish Derby champ Born Warrior but the pair will be joined by the Champion Plate winner Ballymac Walt and the talented duo of Good Zeus and Droopys Bro.    

A heat by heat guide to tonight’s session:

AN INTRIGUING START AS FERGIE TO BE TESTED

Carrick Fergie has yet to be seen since capturing the Champion Open Unraced at Kilkenny.

He looked a real prospect on that occasion but with just four starts under his belt he will be thrown in at the deep end this evening.

He may well start favourite for tonight’s opening heat but faces some notable rivals including Callaway Masters and Bulletromagun. There seems no doubt Carrick Fergie has a higher ceiling than either but a trap our draw is a concern.

He displayed a liking for the fence in his previous outings and needs to be at his sharpest in the opening yards. If not, Callaway Masters and Bulletfromagun could get first run and that could spell trouble for backers of the Robert Gleeson trained Carrick Fergie.

Capitan Garfio is set to go up fast from trap two but he would need a clear advantage to hold on, while Sporty Bigman and American Prince need a career best effort to add to their tally. In what looks a really competitive affair, slight preference is for Carrick Fergie.

MAESTRO CAN PLAY THE RIGHT TUNE

Good Maestro is set to start favourite for Heat 2 but he hasn’t been seen in action in some time.

He has just two career wins on his card and that is a concern. Certainly if producing his best, he would be hard to contain but Millroad Girl, Millridge Bryce, Swords Fudge and Pres Unlock have shown enough to suggest they could take advantage if the favourite were to make any mistakes.

This is potentially one of the weakest heats of the entire round and that can favour Good Zeus who is chosen to lead home recent 28.28 winner Millroad Girl and Millridge Bryce. 

WALT CHOSEN IN RED-HOT CONTEST

As stated, Heat 3 is the hottest contest of the entire round with defending champion Born Warrior taking on English Derby hero Gaytime Nemo, the talented duo of Good Zeus and Droopys Bro and perhaps most notably the Champion Plate winner Ballymac Walt.

Ballymac Walt has a very similar profile to that of Born Warrior twelve month ago. A young, progressive greyhound with superb early speed in the form of his career. In contrast, Born Warrior has yet to win a race in 2023 and is struggling to find his form.

The fact that he is urning up suggests that Jennifer O’Donnell is more happy with her charge and he is far from overlooked but he is far from a betting proposition.

Gaytime Nemo has probably had very little work since capturing the English Derby at Towcester and seems certain to come on for tonight’s run, no matter how he performs. He is an obvious threat to Ballymac Walt, while Droopys Bro is nominated as the best of the rest. One suspects Ballymac Walt is set to continue his winning ways, however. If coming away racing, he should be prominent into the turn and is likely to outgun Born Warrior from halfway. He can lead home Gaytime Nemo.

EXPECT A STYLISH DISPLAY

Up The Style is a massive talent with stunning pace into the corner and a longer run up seems certain to suit the Robert Gleeson trained National Puppy Stake champion on Heat 4.

She displayed her well-being with a stunning 27.94 return at Curraheen Park in the Shelly Fennelly Memorial semi-finals and if repeating that level of performance will be very difficult to stop.

Romeo Hanzo performed very well in the early round of the Englihs Derby and is respected. He needs to come away racing, however, as his kennel companion Cryptopunk is likely to edge off from the inside box.

Clonrooske Sydney is an interesting runner. He caught the eye on more than one occasion in the Champion Open Unraced but faces a tough draw and needs to show more urgency to the bend. Instead Newinn Port is nominated as the main threat. A real eye-catcher last week, he will be storming from the second turn but may need to take flight to catch Up The Style who can dictate from the early yards.

ED THE ONLY CHOICE

Droopys Got It and Ballymac Run are both hugely talented but the pair seem set to play a minor role in Heat 5 where Ballinabola Ed is expected and chosen to commence his Derby challenge with another brilliant display.

His only defeat this year came last time out when narrowly denied in the Dundalk International. Prior to that he has gone unbeaten through the Shelbourne OPen 600 and the Race of Champions and he can return to wining ways in some style.

The Pat Buckley trained star can go up fast on the outside of the track and dominate from the corner. Shelly Fennelly Memorial champion Ballymac Run can emerge as his nearest rival while Droopys Got It is the best of the rest. Ballymac Whispa has struggled a bit in recent weeks and needs to return to her brilliant best, while Box Office Benny and Guapo Chico need a career best effort to threaten.

CHICO TO PROVIDE THE RIGHT OPTICS

In terms of pure power and pace, Optic Chico is faster than the vast majority of those in the Boylesports Derby.

That will be tested in Heat 6 where he is certain to start a hot favourite. With a clear passage, the Robert Gleeson trained star will be very difficult to contain but hi chances of going deep in the classic would be greatly enhanced if he found an extra half yard to the bend.  

Of his rivals this evening, Millroad Bolger, Bredas Wood and Savana Hero have the ability to make him work hard but one suspects Optic Chico will take this assignment in his stride. He is selected to power clear from halfway to see off Millroad Bolger.

KOBE TO ATONE FOR 2022 MISTAKES

The Other Kobe was spoken o as a potential Derby champion last year only to crash out in the opening round after stumbling very badly at trap rise.

Fast forward twelve months and he is a considerably bigger price for outright glory despite showing no signs of losing any ability.

He can leave last year’s nightmare behind him in Heat 7 where he stands out as a certain pace-setter from trap three. With the strong running kennel companions Storys Cashout and Storys Peewee drawn on his inner, The Other Kobe should have no problem getting across to the fence in the early yards before building a sizable advantage.

Produce Stakes runner-up Hukum also has a decent draw with The Other Kobe likely to give him room to race, while Burj Khalifa has to be respected after reaching the semi-finals of the English Derby. Churchtown Syd moves well throughout but needs to be at his very sharpest. Of course, both Storys Cashout and Storys Peewee will be finishing fast but The Other Kobe won’t be easy to pick up if producing anything like his best form. He is chosen to come home clear of Burj Khalifa and Hukum.

DUKE CAN REIGN

Clona Duke will be amongst the hottest favourites on the night in Heat 8.

The Juvenile Derby and Select Stakes winner has his first outing since the English Derby decider and really does look the part. Unlike one or two that took in the English Derby, he looked ready to race in his most recent trial, flying around to post 28.06.

A reproduction of that form would certainly be good enough despite the talent on show in this contest. He is drawn on the right side of the early paced duo of Seven Beach and Sogna In Grande, while Salen Ollie and Garfiney Blaze would prefer further and need to hit the ground running to play a part into the turn.

Kapuka Warrior comes into the contest in fine form but is up in grade and needs a foot-perfect display to worry the favourite. Clona Duke can race prominently into the bend before asserting in the second half. As a potential pace-setter Sogna In Grande is nominated as the main threat, while Garfiney Blaze can run through beaten rivals for third.

JUNIOR TO DOMINATE

There will be another hot favourite in Heat 9 where recent Champion Stakes winner Trinity Junior looks the part.

Ballymun Boy, Run Faster and Typical Bono can go relatively fast but, if Trinity Junior turns up, this could be over very early.

The Peter Cronin trained star can assert into the opening bend before stretching clear to see off Ballymun Boy and Typical Bono. Storys Law has been a reported a non-runner in this contest but will likely be replaced by a reserve.

BAILEY TO PROVE TOO STRONG

The bookends dominate the betting in Heat 10.

Deadly Showtime will go up fast from the inside trap and is perhaps the most likely pace-setter, while Annagh Bailey may turn too close from his wide draw in the stripes.

Much will depend on whether Deadly Showtime can get far enough clear but Annagh Bailey, after lowering the colours of Clonbrien Treaty last time out, is selected to come home in front. A powerful galloper with the ability to race prominently into the turn, he will be difficult to contain.

This is far from a two-dog affair, however. Unreal Bruiser has shown glimpses of real ability but he needs to be at his very sharpest in the early yards. Catunda Syd will be finishing fast, Some Bolger is lightly raced and open to improvement, while the in-form Lotto Other News is also respected despite a tough draw in five.

HOFFA TO STRUT HIS STUFF

Heat 11 could be over in a flash.

Ante-post favourite Colavanny Hoffa hasn’t been seen in racing action since last year’s semi-finals but recent trial form suggests he will fly to the front before the turn and go on to lay down a marker.

Have no doubt, despite his layoff, Coolavanny Hoffa remains one of the fastest greyhounds on the planet and he can emerge a facile winner. The Karol Ramsbottom trained duo of Bonkersinyonkers and Cheque For Sir can chase him home, albeit a long way behind.

MARINO FACING A TOUGH TEST

Heat 12 is amongst the best and most intriguing of the round.

Not only are the well-established duo of Ballymac Marino and Magical Kuba present but they must take on the razor-sharp Well Met, Twoinarow, the talented bitch Undulation and a returning star in the form of Mr Chelm.

The latter was a finalist in the Kirby Memorial, ran up the English Derby and won the Derby Plate in a fruitful 2022 but his recent form in the UK has been anything but hot. He is now back with Peter Cronin and a recent 28.25 trial suggests he is happy to be back.

If he can repeat anything like his best form, he will be a big player both tonight and the coming weeks but he faces a tough test. Juvenile Classic winner Ballymac Marino was in brilliant form in the early round of the English Derby and has long been fancied to go far in the Derby. With a slick exit, he may well emerge as the one to beat.

Magical Kuba is greatly respected, however. He is top class and has an ideal draw in the stripes. Th Pat Guilfoyle trained star may have run extremely wide in recent outings but if repeating his best, would be a huge danger. Well Met is also entitled to a second glance. He can fly up the fence and is a potential pace-setter. It’s an intriguing contest with slight preference for Ballymac Marino over Magical Kuba and Mr Chelm.

MAGIC MOFO TO OBLIGE

There is no let up in the quality in tonight’s final contest, Heat 13.

Here reigning Bitch of the Year, 2022 Oaks champion and recent Dundalk International winner Raha Mofo will be favourite but only her best will suffice with the hugely fast Gaytime Hugo, the powerful Bens Teddy and the exciting Hawkfield Blue amongst her rivals.

In a contest that doesn’t seem to have a huge abundance of early speed, Raha Mofo can turn a little closer than in recent outings and that may prove decisive. Gaytime Hugo has a massive engine and is a big danger, especially if avoiding early traffic, while both Bens Teddy and Hawkfield Blue are also fast enough to make their presence felt. It’s a wonderful contest and can provide a fitting conclusion to what should be a special night of racing.