IRISH GREYHOUND DERBY PREVIEW: This Friday sees the start of the Boylesports Irish Greyhound Derby from Shelbourne Park. Barry Caul previews the first thirteen heats on Friday.
Irish Greyhound Derby Round One Preview Heats 1-13 Friday
First three to qualify plus eighteen fastest fourth place finishers.
Heat 1: Coosane Pickles has the best recent form in the book, she made it to the final of the recent Maiden Derby around here but was withdrawn from the final. Obviously, that is a worry for her supporters, but she is with one of the best greyhound trainers in the game and will arrive here ready to run her race. That withdrawal from the Maiden Derby would suggest not a lot has been done with her in the past couple of weeks and on this occasion, it could pay to side with local runner De Foxy Devil in one. Marie Gilberts runner has good form over the trip in the past and may be able to make the most of his good draw. Fairy Footsteps is much better than her recent form suggests with Coosane Pickles expected to come on for the run.
Heat 2: Its hard to look past the excellent Bockos Diamond, the current Derby favourite has now won ten of his eleven starts and displayed all his brilliance last time out despite missing the start. Bockos is expected to race clear of his rivals and put this race to bed before halfway. Ryhope Beach has long been one of Irelands very best and he moved well in a recent trial here. Ryhope should get a nice tow into the race and should follow Bockos Diamond home.
Heat 3: Maireads Prince has some cracking early season form over this distance and recently returned from a break when finishing down the field in an open race here over 525 yards. He will surely stripper fitter for that outing and should be on the premises. Clona Stand has been running well in hot company and has a good chance of getting his head in front in this heat. He clocked 29:36 when winning over this trip in Tralee in August and to me, this looks an easier assignment than he has faced in previous weeks.
Heat 4: One of the heats of the night. I have had a bet on Cheque For Cash and Carrick Aldo in the outright markets. Cheque For Cash has been underrated. He clocked a flying 27:93 when winning over 525 back in August and has kept hot company since. His recent 29:58 trial run is eye-catching, and he has a perfect draw to work from this Friday. I have long been a fan of Carrick Aldo and don’t think he will have any issues seeing out the trip. Last year’s Irish Sprint Cup winner has been very lightly raced in recent months but put in a huge performance to beat Clonbrien Treaty over 525 when last seen in action. He will need to step up on his recent trial run, but he is one I’ve been looking forward to over this distance for quite a while. Daleroad Devon had won his first six but fluffed his lines on Dublin debut last week, there should be better to come from him while Evolution led for much of the way in a hot contest last week. Ignore the recent trial of Getup Me Lad, he stumbled badly at boxes and lost many lengths. For me, it is one of the races of the night and I’m hoping Carrick Aldo can beat Cheque For Cash.
Heat 5: A Lucky Julie returns to action since forcing a dead-heat with Fleadh Saraide in the final of this years Oaks. Her comeback trial was smart, but she will surely step forward from the run. Its hard to look past Seven Beach in this. He has been running extremely well in red hot company recently and should be able to get to the front off a level start. I don’t think we have seen the best of Crokers Sydney just yet and he is of definite interest in this. Droopys Metaphor will be the main danger to Seven Beach early but may struggle to see out the trip. It’s a long time since Toolmaker Curio had much luck in running and Pharis Jerry ideally needs further.
Heat 6: Dark Dilemma could surprise a few in heat six at a price. David Murrays runner was running with real credit over 525 earlier this year but has caught the eye over this trip in recent weeks, running on well from off the pace. Dilemma can go up much better and could find himself in front if breaking like he can. Jaytee Craze has awesome pace and will surely be there at the finish, and it will be interesting to see how Rushy Meadows gets on in her first race since May of this year. Rolo Bucks won well last time out but will need more and track regular Glenlara Blue is sure to run on well.
Heat 7: Early pace is the name of the game in heat seven. Recent Mullingar track record breaker Glendale Zozo is very lightly raced over four bends but looks an exciting recruit. Whyaye Bonnylad has plenty of track experience and can put that experience to effective use. Dynamic Force was an impressive winner of a big race competition in Cork, and this longer run to the bend could suit him even better. Swords Hero is extremely fast but is a frustrating type, someday he will put it all together and this could just be run to suit him. It is a tough race for punters and only one of the early pacers can lead! A chance could be taken on Swords Hero, but it is a tricky one for punters.
Heat 8: Five last time out winners line up in heat eight. Undulation was quickest of those that won over 550 yards and there could be better to come. Magical Sapphire ran well in the recent Yvonne Barry Open 600 and stayed on strongly to get up close home last weekend. Highview Splash is a real Shelbourne Park professional and always gives you a run for your money while Superfast Gorden is another with high quality form and showed his well being with a fine victory at Tralee last time out. This is a real head scratcher as even the outsiders Extra Gain and Tinahue Pappone have chances. I will firmly sit on the fence and take a watching brief for this!
Heat 9: Innfield Destiny and Ballymac Danica look the two to focus on in this heat. Danica impressed on her return to action a few weeks back when just caught close home by Mustang Fever. She carried no luck in the final behind Undulation last time out but much better is expected here. Innfield Destiny was runner up behind Callaway Knegare in the recent Juvenile Derby and is a greyhound blessed with huge speed. Theres not much value left in the ante-post market but at 100/1 you could do worse than have a few quid on Innfield Destiny. He’s a strong runner, will be hard to keep out of the frame and I think he can run down Danica late on Friday night.
Heat 10: Many eyes will be on the promising puppy Droopys Bookem on his Shelbourne Park debut. Bookem has won four of his six outings and comes here with a big reputation. Down To Business has a vast experience edge on his rivals in this. He ran well in the recent Yvonne Barry Open 600 and has some decent early pace. The well bred Randolf Scotts has a big engine and will certainly have a part to play. Down To Business may go off a decent price and hopefully can put his experience to beneficial use.
Heat 11: Heat eleven is a real cracker, last years runner up Bockos Crystal put in a huge performance last week when just denied by Undulation. A repeat of that performance will see her right there. The impeccably bred House Martin has a good draw on the fence for trainer Pat Buckley but will need to step up a shade on recent trials if he is to get involved. Bubbly Shadow (Formerly Known as Merits Inclusion) was runner up in this years Kirby Memorial and has his first run for new connections this weekend- high class on his day he should be approaching peak fitness. Callaway Knegare was an emphatic winner of the Juvenile Derby at the end of August and is one of the leading fancies for outright honors. He may have been a shade disappointing in his last race but showed his wellbeing with a flying 29:39 trial effort last weekend. Knegare looks the one to beat but the level of the opposition leaves little room for error. UK raider Keefil Maverick will improve for his first look at the track and Tarsna Maasai ran well in the recent Maiden Derby. A cracking contest, But Callaway Knegare looks the one to beat.
Heat 12: Plenty of big names line up in heat twelve. 2022 Runner up Ballymac Finn is not quite the force of old but ran with credit last time out behind Churchtown Syd. Clona Duke is another who has tasted big race success in his prime but arrives here not having raced since April. His two recent trials runs have been decent, but it remains to be seen how he will fare on Friday night. High Trend ran well to get to the final of the Laurels having won that event in 2023. High Trend has some good form around here and could prove to be a bit of value in this. The obvious favourite will be Da Bold Falcon, John McGees 600-yard track record holder ran well behind Boylesports Bob last weekend and will have his supporters on the night. Falcon has won his last three from this box and word is he will strip fitter for last weeks outing. Da Bold Falcon can get the better of High Trend.
Heat 13: Friday night ends with the recent Maiden Derby winner Bombay Pat running from the stripes. Its safe to say Pat has been one of the most impressive greyhounds in the build up to the derby and can continue his winning run in the final heat of the night. Carmac King is no slouch and was running well around here at the start of the year. Coolavany Otto is another greyhound with a huge engine but needs to improve his starting. Bombay Pat is chosen to send favourite backers home happy.
All the best
Barry
