IRISH GREYHOUND DERBY Sat: We preview each race of the Irish Derby on Saturday with the second batch of the round two heats.
Heat 9
1️⃣ Maries Wedding
2️⃣ Hello Hammond
3️⃣ Twoinarow
4️⃣ Barefoot Supremo
5️⃣ Kildare
6️⃣ Born Warrior
Verdict: A stunning heat to start proceedings on Saturday night. Hello Hammond and Kildare were both English Derby finalists. Twoinarow has long been at the top of many ante post list for this event, throw in Champion Plate winner Born Warrior, superstar bitch Maries Wedding and the hugely fast Barefoot Supremo and we have a cracking starter. Born Warrior has electric early pace but can be slightly tardy at boxes and the same comments can apply to Twoinarow. Kildare ran with credit on his first start since that Derby final and you would expect him to come on for that run. Twoinarow possibly has the best of the draw with Barefoot Supremo not known for his early pace and Hello Hammond likely to stay middle to inside. It’s a tricky contest to start, but a tentative vote goes to Twoinarow.
Heat 10
1️⃣ Own Spice
2️⃣ Ballymac Bronze
3️⃣ Beepers Chris
4️⃣ Storys Cashout
5️⃣ Patient Crusader
6️⃣ All About Ted
Verdict: Last years beaten finalist All About Ted returned to something close to his best when making all last week, connections expect him to come on for the run. Storys Cashout is a dog with stunning pace from halfway but will need the gaps to appear as he mounts his usual late challenge. Ballymac Bronze is the youngest dog in the competition and his having only his fifth career start on Saturday. He ran well last week and is open to any mount of improvement. Bronze did move well to the opening turn last weekend and in a heat with not much early pace I will take a chance he can make all at a big price.
Heat 11
1️⃣ Droopys Nextone
2️⃣ Millridge Bryce
3️⃣ Da Bold Freddie
4️⃣ Ringabella Boy
5️⃣ Vincenzo
6️⃣ All About Annie
Verdict: Vincenzo is the standout name in this. He ran a fine race in defeat behind Sentimental Lad last week and if truth be told, he has been drawn in one of the weaker heats in this. All About Annie was a shock winner last time but she is very lightly raced and can improve again. Droopys Next One looks to be the main danger, she finished a fine third in the Oaks earlier in the year and is slowly coming back to her best. Da Bold Freddie is capable but has lost his trapping boots recently. It should be a formality for Vincenzo, as the betting would suggest.
Heat 12
1️⃣ Cryptopunk
2️⃣ Carrauntoohil
3️⃣ Storys Peewee
4️⃣ Raha Mofo
5️⃣ Ross Dame
6️⃣ Kilgraney Clang
Verdict: Oaks champion Raha Mofo is favourite to take this. Marissa Molly’s star was slightly disappointing when leading early last week but much better is expected this weekend. Carrauntoohil returned from a long lay off to finish second last weekend and can figure if getting the better of Cryptopunk on the run to the bend. Ross Dame showed plenty of pace last week and is a lively player at a big price. He has some fine early pace and could make a bold bid to make all.
Heat 13
1️⃣ Tullig Raven
2️⃣ Kingdom Bound
3️⃣ Disco Pants
4️⃣ Ballinabola Ed
5️⃣ Kilcolgan Zeus
6️⃣ Gortkelly Nestor
Verdict: Ballinabola Ed displayed massive pace to score on his Shelbourne debut last Saturday despite missing the break. It’s a habit he needs to shake off as he is likely to face better rivals each week. He has plenty of early pace and experience around him this weekend and will need to do everything right. His kennel companion Tullig Raven is the one for me in this, he was sensational last weekend and has an ace draw to work with. At the prices he certainly appeals more than Ballinabola Ed. Disco Pants has good early pace and will steer a middle course on the run to the corner.
Heat 14
1️⃣ Well Met
2️⃣ Oakfront Cadet
3️⃣ Bobsleigh Dream
4️⃣ Irelands Own
5️⃣ Annagh Bailey
6️⃣ Athalacca Zette
Verdict: Bobsleigh Dream was the quickest of the Saturday night session and a repeat performance would certainly be good enough. Well Met is a likely leader on the inside for Lawrence Jones while Annagh Bailey can go up well from five. Athalacca Zette was a fine winner for Noel Neenan and always gives his running around here. Bobsleigh Dream does have a big advantage on the clock. I expect her to track Well Met early before proving too strong late on. Annagh Bailey should be in the mix.
Heat 15
1️⃣ Ballymac Finn
2️⃣ Hoodoo Brown
3️⃣ Droopys Gloss
4️⃣ Skywalker Cilla
5️⃣ Fernandes
6️⃣ Decs Guinness
Verdict: Another standout heat. The Liam Dowling pair of Ballymac Finn and Hoodoo Brown both displayed massive pace in defeat last weekend. Ballymac Finn made Good Cody pull out all the stops. Not two until November, Finn has an ideal drawn on the fence and this will suit his kennel companion in two Hoodoo Brown as he should have plenty of room to operate in behind Ballymac Finn. Skywalker Cilla won the consolation derby here last year and Droopys Gloss is last year’s Juvenile Classic winner. Decs Guinness can go up strongly and Fernandes is running at the top of his game in recent weeks. It is a cracking heat, but I will focus on the inside pair and select Ballymac Finn to get the better of Hoodoo Brown.
Heat 16
1️⃣ Callaway Masters
2️⃣ Clampett Danny
3️⃣ Cu Mochua
4️⃣ Clona Blu
5️⃣ Conamara
6️⃣ Savana Hero
Verdict: Karol Ramsbottom is doubly represented in the final heat with Cu Mochua and Conamara. Both the Ramsbottom dogs are strong runners and can feature if securing clear runs. Clona Blu ran better than the bare form suggests last weekend and I fancy him to go well at a price. He ran well last week, and trainer Kevin Losty expects him to come on a lot for that run. Savana Hero and Callaway Masters will feature at the top of the market. Callaway Masters overcame trouble in running last week and is much better drawn this time round. Local runner Clampett Danny has good early speed and will give Callaway Masters room to operate early. But Clona Blu makes plenty of appeal to me in the lucky last.
Saturdays Best Bets
Tullig Raven: Two units win
Clona Blu: One unit win
