GREYHOUND PREVIEW: With the English Greyhound Derby set to start next Thursday, Barry takes a look at a couple of the lesser-known Irish challengers who could go well in the upcoming classic.
With the opening round of the English Derby due to commence next Thursday May 8th it’s now time to nail down some ante post selections. In this week’s piece I will give a run down on some of the lesser-known Irish challengers who will arrive at Towcester for next week’s opening round. Most of us are familiar with the Bockos Diamonds, Bombay Pats etc., but is there any value in some of the unsung Irish challengers.
Randolph Scotts – Peter Cronin 66/1
Named after an American Film star from the early/mid 1900s Randolph Scotts represents trainer Peter Cronin who has done well in the English Derby in previous years. By Australian Super sire Brett Lee out of Oi Oi Upenalty, Scotts is a half brother to Irish Champion Stakes winner Trinity Junior who also ran for Cronin.
Made his debut in the prestigious Denis Linehan Solicitors unraced stake around Cork when winning his opening round heat in a flying 28:29. He made it to the final of that event where he carried no luck and finished down the field behind Callaway Knegare (Juvenile Derby Champion & Irish Derby third). He then moved to Shelbourne Park and after two blistering trials he won on his Dublin debut in 28:30 in the opening round of the Juvenile Derby.
He would exit in the second round again behind Callaway Knegare. Scotts would be highly tried in his next couple of starts running with credit against the likes of Ryhope Beach, Jaytee Craze, Ballinabola Jim, De Lahdedah, and Ballymac Finn. By this stage Randolph Scotts had only had nine starts. He was knocked over in his tenth start, his first outing of 2025 but it was from here that he took another step forward. He won an open 525 beating Boylesports Blue comfortably before having a crack at the Easter Cup. His 29:29 run in the semifinal of that event remains the fastest time of the year so far at Shelbourne Park for the 550-yard trip. He ran well in the final behind Hopes Teddy and now heads to Towcester as a fresh greyhound with very few miles on the clock.
Randolph Scotts ticks plenty of boxes, blessed with good early pace and the stamina to see out the trip. He has a wonderful pedigree, and his trainer has gone very close in the past. Available at 66/1 with some firms you could do worse than keep him onside.
Ballymac Rapid – Liam Dowling 80/1
Representing last year’s winning trainer Ballymac Rapid is another with a wonderful pedigree. His dam Ballymac Areil was an Irish Derby semifinalist and posted some rapid (excuse the pun) times around Shelbourne in her career.
Ballymac Rapid improved with each of his qualifying trials and won the second round of the red-hot Juvenile Classic around Tralee before being withdrawn from the third round presumably with a slight niggle. He returned to action just over a month later when posting a slick 17:46 for the sprint around Tralee. (17:20- fastest time of the year). He again moved well in a 350-yard trial at Shelbourne Park four days later and made all to win on his return to action when taking an open 525 around Tralee. He met trouble on his next outing when behind Daleroad Mya and ran with real credit behind the excellent Daleroad Duke (2024 Irish Champion Stakes Winner) on his latest outing. Experience is certainly against him, but Liam Dowling knows what it takes, and he must think plenty of this lad to pitch him in here against the big boys. I’m sure we have yet to see the best of him and he has lots of scope for improvement.
Untold Dollar – David Byrne 50/1
A very interesting type, Untold Dollar now runs for trainer David Byrne having formerly been with Graham Holland. I backed this dog to win last year’s Irish Derby, and he was going well until the quarter finals. He has a bit of a habit of finding the trouble spots, but he certainly has the engine to mix it with the very best. Won at the Winter Racing Festival last year over 600 yards and returned to action in this year’s Easter Cup, where he made it to round two. Stepped back down in distance to beat the wonderfully consistent Meenagh Minsk on his latest outings and now heads to Towcester as a fresh dog for 2025. A strong sort Untold Dollar is the type who can do it off the front and with the power to win over 600 yards at Shelbourne he will have no problem coming from off the pace. Will be running for new trainer David Byrne when next seen in action and hopefully David can find that extra length or so that will see him in here as a serious contender.
Good luck.
Barry.
