IRISH GREYHOUND DERBY PREVIEW: Barry Caul previews Saturday’s first round heats 14-26 with recommended BETDAQ selections.
Irish Greyhound Derby Round One Preview Heats 14-26 Saturday
First three to qualify plus eighteen fastest fourth place finishers.
Heat 14: Droopys Supply impressed in his recent trial at Shelbourne Park when clocking 28:03. He won well at Cork previously and obviously has a big engine. He does lack a yard of early pace and could find himself behind some useful rivals in this. Castleivy Ginge is no slouch and is still progressing after her seasonal break. Ballymac Briar finished third in a red-hot Juvenile Derby and looks one to keep on the right side of. Phoenix Memphis caught the eye in a hot contest behind Carrick Aldo last time but faces a tricky draw outside two real speedsters. I would suggest playing both the inside runners at decent prices. One of them should get to the front and both are capable of big performances.
Heat 15: This year’s English Derby runner up Boylesports Bob returned to action with a bang last week when running out an emphatic winner of a red hot 550 at the track. Flashing from traps Bob was always in control and his supporters never had a moments worry. If he can start like that again he will be impossible to beat in here. Tuono Charlie has been one of the stories of 2024. Charlie has now won his last sixteen starts and bids for victory number seventeen this Saturday. The draw has worked out well for Charlie. He is drawn on the outside of six bend performer Crescent Emily and Charlie should have more early pace on the run to the corner. Short Grip deserves a mention, she has recently returned to action and will surely have a say. Bob still looks the one to beat, but everyone in attendance will be hoping Charlie runs a cracker for Sharon Hunt.
Heat 16: The main UK challenger March On Freddie goes in heat sixteen-Race three on Saturday night (20:03). I was there for Freddies first trial over two bends, and it was clear he would improve for the run and that he did when posting a quick 29:59 for the derby trip last weekend. He has a perfect draw to work from this weekend and will be odds on to win this heat. Miami King and Syd Zafiro are quality greyhounds who have experience around here but if Freddie is to pose a real Derby challenge, he needs to win this. I for one am looking forward to Freddies Dublin Debut and hopefully he can show us what he’s all about.
Heat 17: Trainer Graham Holland has the three inside runners in heat seventeen. Faypoint Harvey has a good drawn in one, Harvey ran well in the Laurels at Cork recently and is drawn to play a big part here. Riverside Scotch will be doing his best work late in the day and Tempestade needs to step up a little on his recent efforts. Tribal Syd looks the one to beat in here for Murt Leahy. Syd was runner up in this years International at Dundalk and has some fine form around here earlier in the year. Syd clocked 29:32 back in August and a repeat of anything like that run would see him come home comfortably clear.
Heat 18: Hawkfield Blue will be favourite to take heat eighteen. Blue ran well in a couple of rounds of this years English Derby and has returned in terrific form. He has won his last two starts by a combined fifteen lengths and is running as well as ever. It’s a good contest, Ballymac Gizmo was a finalist in this years English Derby. Yorkie Ollie will have his supporters, -ignore his latest trial he stumbled badly at traps and lost many lengths. Of all the greyhounds I witnessed in the recent trial sessions none impressed me as much as Deadly Disco. He has eased on the opening corner on a couple of occasions but when offered the room to run there are few greyhounds faster in the competition. Deadly Disco has only won one race, an A2, but do not let that put you off, this is a greyhound with a huge engine.
Heat 19: Mustang Fever is my idea of the winner of heat nineteen. Patrick Guilfoyle’s daughter of Droopys Sydney is another who has recently returned to action and was hugely impressive when getting the better of Ballymac Danica at the start of the month. Neko Harbour was an excellent when making all last weekend, but he faces a tricky draw on the outside of his kennel companion and litter sister Grangeclare Lady. Scooby The Boss got back to winning ways last time out and can improve further but Mustang Fever gets my vote.
Heat 20: Current English Derby Champion De Lahdedah is the star name in heat twenty. He showed his well-being in a handful of trials before his reappearance last weekend. De Lahdedah carried no luck in that contest when running from trap four. Back on the fence this weekend he can get back on the winning trail. Dashing Toro is hugely fast and holds the track record for this trip at Tralee. Ballinabola Jim won the Yvonne Barry Open 600 here recently and stepped back to this trip last time when winning well. De Lahdedah will be odds on for this and if he can keep the rail seeking Val Tashadelek at bay in the early yards, he can prove too good for his rivals.
Heat 21: All eyes will be on Knockeen Dazzler in this. This years Kirby Memorial winner is now under the care of Patrick Guilfoyle as his former owner/trainer Daniel O Rahilly concentrates on his Leaving Certificate exams. He is in good hands with Pat and is one of the most interesting runners on the night. May Bozada was unlucky last time out and Rapido Bob is a much-improved greyhound for Peter Cronin. Knockeen Dazzler has not had a race since August, but I expect him to take all the beating in this.
Heat 22: Untold Dollar was hugely impressive when winning last week and he lost a couple of lengths as they entered the far side. He could have been drawn in a much tougher heat and I expect he will be odds on to take this. Glengar Martha has been a real credit to connections and will surely step forward for this run, her first since July. Droopys Avatar was another to impress over the trip last week, but I expect Untold Dollar to prove too strong in here.
Heat 23: Carrick Keano is an interesting runner in this. Keano had been running well over this trip in recent months. He led clearly over six hundred yards here on 14th September but lost his action at halfway and finished down the field. If he is back to his best, he should win here, and I am sure Robert Gleeson is happy with him to take his chance. On his best form he would be impossible to beat here but that little doubt remains. Born To Perform, Bonkersinyonkers and Fahy Hazel have all been running well around here recently and will make Carrick Keano go if he is not at his best.
Heat 24: Deadly Choice impressed with his recent pre derby workout when clocking 28:16 for the 525-yard trip. Choice also clocked 29:49 for this trip back in May and has been lightly raced in recent weeks. In Good Time has some outstanding form in Tralee but is only one from ten here at Shelbourne Park. Blackeyed Turbo (Formerly known as Gneevebawn Girl) has pace is spades and will be running on powerfully from halfway. Neon Lights is a real credit to Paul James and Alan Byrne, he has top form over four and six bends and always gives his all. The lightly raced Deadly Choice will be popular and I feel we have yet to see the best of him.
Heat 25: Romeo Taylor was a finalist in the recent Irish Laurels at Cork, Taylor finished third in the final behind Crafty Shivoo. Blessed with decent early pace he is best off the front and will be looking to make every yard in the penultimate first round heat. Hello Diego was a finalist in the recent Juvenile Derby but will need to step up on his recent trial effort. Prince Naseem and Quarry Boy both have good form around here and are not without hope, but for me the early pace of Romeo Taylor can prove key, and he can make all.
Heat 26: We must wait until the very last heat of the opening round to see the wonderful Crafty Shivoo. The recent Irish Laurels winner also won the Oaks around here last year and any track seems to come alike to her. Cheap Sandwiches is her main rival in this. He ran a cracker behind his kennel mate Bockos Diamond last time out and can fly to the corner. Ballyhimikin Leo is no back number and will be popular at a big price. I will side with Cheap Sandwiches to take the last, he has recent form over the track and trip against some of the best around and he could prove too strong for Crafty Shivoo.
All the best
Barry
