HUNT FOR DERBY GLORY CONTINUES
Ian Fortune
The pursuit of the Boylesports Irish Greyhound Derby continues at Shelbourne Park this evening with twenty-three of Ireland best as well as the UK’s finest still in the hunt.
By the end of this evening’s action the field will be down to the lucky final twelve but expect plenty of drama.
Certainly, a number of big names are likely to exit this evening and predicting the twelve names that will go into the draw for the semi-finals is nearly impossible. One name that is fully expected to be in the draw is that of Bockos Diamond.
The sensational son of Dorotas Wildcat smashed the track record last weekend and will be a red-hot favourite for the final heat. His kennel companions Bombay Pat and Cheap Sandwiches will also top the market in their respective heats, while Carrick Aldo has been backed into favouritism for the remaining heat. Below is a heat-by-heat guide to this evening’s quarter final action.
PAT FACES HIS TOUGHEST TEST
The opening quarter final is perhaps the hottest contest of the Derby thus far.
Bombay Pat will likely start favourite from the outside box but only his very best will suffice with English Derby champion De Lahdedah, Ballinabola Jim, who is on a run of seven wins, and brilliant UK raider March On Freddie in opposition.
Superfast Gorden and Cheque For Cash may be available at much bigger prices but both have real ability and can’t be dismissed either. Certainly, Cheque For Cash has tremendous early speed and is likely to race prominently which could affect those around him.
Bombay Pat has a good draw but can’t afford to produce a tardy start. With Ballinabola Jim and March On Freddie drawn on his immediate inner, he needs to get into top stride soon after lid rise. Ballinabola Jim has been a revelation through the classic and will have support in five. Hcan get involved if producing another slick exit.
Much has been made of the draw of March On Freddie in four but this scribe firmly believes it has given him the best opportunity to return to winning ways. He is drawn on the right side of Ballinabola Jim and Bombay Pat as clearing them on the outside would be very difficult. If he were to come away racing, he could make a bold bid for Dave Mullins.
De Lahdedah will also have plenty of support from a kind draw on the fence. A fast start is required but his qualities are there for all to see. It really is a brilliant contest, one that would be fitting of the final itself. Bombay Pat is given the nod but nothing will come easy. March On Freddie, De Lahdedah and Ballinabola Jim will be waiting to pounce should the favourite make any errors, however small.
SANDWICHES TO SATISFY
Graham Holland has a particularly strong hand in the second of the quarter finals with the top two in the market.
After two ultra-professional displays in recent weeks, Cheap Sandwiches will be odds-on from the outside box.
Oaks winner A Lucky Julie lines up on his immediate inner in five. She won’t be shy of support, although she will most likely have to do it the hard way. A fast starter, she does lack a yard into the turn but finishes with real gusto.
Chap Sandwiches is likely to get the better of her into the turn, however. Untold Dollar, a kennel companion to the favourite, is seriously fast but his trapping is a major concern. There is no doubting the size of his engine and, were he to produce a slick exit, he would be a major player.
However, if he doesn’t come away on terms, it’s possible the likes of Ballymac Briar and Singalong Dolly could make his life difficult. Mustang Fever is running well but looks up against it. Cheap Sandwiches is chosen to come home in front with Untold Dollar, A Lucky Julie and Singalong Dolly expected to emerge as the main dangers.
ALDO WILL BID TO MAKE ALL
Styles makes fights is a famous adage in boxing. Well, styles will certainly make for excitement in Heat 3 where Carrick Aldo is set to set a blistering gallop only for a host of strong runners to come at him in the second half.
Carrick Aldo was brilliant behind Bockos Diamond last week, posting a rapid 29.15. A former Irish Sprint Cup winner, the David Murray trained star has tremendous pace and is an almost certain pace-setter from in the stripes but his many supporters will be throwing an anxious glance in behind at the second turn.
Da Bold Falcon, Undulation and Extra Gain are all blessed with incredible pace and power and would be hugely dangerous if turning close, as would English Derby runner-up Boylesports Bob. The latter has a massive engine and could have the race run to suit.
He has yet to get his trapping right but has been showing incredible pace, winning his opening round assignment in 29.25, while posting 29.23 behind Undulation last week. Were he to turn in second or third, which is possible, he would emerge a big threat to Carrick Aldo, who is a tentative choice.
DIAMOND CAN CONTINUE HIS WINNING WAYS
Bockos Diamond has already earned his place in history, smashing the track record for 550yds last weekend but he is after an even greater prize. He will aim to continue his march to Derby glory in the final heat.
Once again drawn in the orange jacket, the sensational tracker will go to traps a long odds-on favourite to bring his winning sequence to thirteen straight. Remarkably, he seems to be getting better with each and every appearance, culminating in last weekend’s incredible record-breaking effort.
Callaway Knegare and Seven Beach are the only runners, other than the favourite, at single figure odds. Juvenile Derby champion Callaway Knegare has struggled to find the gaps in recent outings but is incredibly fast. He requires a fast start to turn close enough to figure. Seven Beach has already locked horns with Bockos Diamond, putting it up to him in their first encounter. He can race prominently but it would require something very special for the Jennifer O’Donnell trained star to clear Bockos Diamond into the bend.
His kennel companion Scooby Pacemaker has been in the form of his career. He flies from the second turn and stays on strongly. Whether he can turn close enough has yet to be seen.
Short Grip can certainly turn close. A fast starter, she has been in superb form lately and can’t be completely dismissed, while the same can be said for Hawkfield Blue, although he will also need to be at his very sharpest in the opening yards.
Bockos Diamond remains the one to beat. Few can match him for brute speed and after twelve wins on the bounce, it seems safe to expect another despite the quality of his opposition.
Michael Fortune Memorial Derby Plate
The quarter finals of the Michael Fortune Memorial Derby Plate will also provide top-class racing.
The withdrawal of ante-post favourite Coosane Pickles (in season) is a blow to the competition but there are still a number of stars on show.
SYD TO PROVE TOO SLICK
Early speed could be the difference in the first two quarter finals.
Tribal Syd will be a hot favourite to win the opening heat. He flew to the turn last week only to lose a little momentum when beginning to turn left. It cost him a couple of lengths before he was picked up in the final strides.
A week on, he can make every inch from the outside trap to lead home Dark Dilemma, Scooby The Boss and Hawkfield Abbie.
DAZZLER TO SHINE BRIGHT
Knockeen Dazzler can follow up his opening round success in Heat 2.
He also has tremendous early speed and is set to lead his rivals into the back straight. Leger finalist Miami King also impressed last week and is the main threat, while In Good Time and Elite Josh could figure if the big two make any mistakes. Knockeen Dazzler is selected to make all to see off Miami King.
KING TO REIGN
In the absence of Coosane Pickles, Carmac King will be odds on for Heat 3 and is impossible to oppose. At one point during the summer, he was almost Derby favourite but has struggled to return to his very best since making his comeback after injury.
Last week’s success was a clear sign of a return to some form and he can improve further to come home clear of Deelish Nora and Ballyhooly Bruno.
HARVEY TO FOLLOW UP
Faypoint Harvey has the draw to follow up his impressive opening round success in the final heat.
With Phoenix Memphis expected to cut inwards from four, Faypoint Harvey could have room to race in the early yards.
A wonderful 29.24 winner last week, he would be hard to stop if getting loose. Magical Sapphire certainly has the pace to play a big part rom a wide draw but needs to contain Faypoint Harvey in the early yards.
The aforementioned Phoenix Memphis would also have claims if getting loose, while Ventry Faith and Rushy Meadows have plenty of pace but need to find a start.
Gourmet Island Puppy Oaks
KATHLEEN THE BIG DRAW IN PUPPY OAKS
On a night when the Derby and Derby Plate will provide fireworks, it highlights the incredible talent and promise of Droopys Kathleen that she is seen as one of the major attractions.
She is in action in the semi-finals of the Gourmet Island Puppy Oaks.
A winner in a scarcely believable 27.77 last week, she remains unbeaten for her owner, top jockey Dylan Browne-McMonagle, and handler Robert Gleeson. A trap six draw is a slight concern in Heat 2 but she is fully expected to maintain her unbeaten record. The battle for the minor placings could be far less straightforward with each posting very similar times last week.
ROXY HAS THE DRAW
Unanimous Roxy can take the opening heat for Pat Buckley.
She posted a rapid 28.17 last week, forcing her way to the front on the turn. From a favourable draw on the fence, the daughter of Ballymac Cashout is selected to win again at the expense of Shebetheone and Darbys Dancer.