FACES DROOP AS DROOPYS JET MAKES HIS EXIT AND THERE IS NO PARADISE FOR MADISON
Gee Whiz… Dramatic and shocking results from the Park Saturday night as some of the greatest greyhounds in training left the Derby which leaves this incredible classic even more wide open. The duration of this year’s Derby has been a rollercoaster of emotions, one race you are jumping around cheering and the next race you have your hands in front of your eyes as the dogs approach the first bend, but thankfully for all of us, it’s not over yet. The standard of greyhounds is phenomenal this year, without fail we have been treated to some great battles and action and the semi-finals look even juicier… Woohooo ROLL ON SATURDAY…
The youth of today
What a month of sport I have ahead of me and yes I know you can sense what I am on about but I just can’t help myself, COME ON YOU BOYS IN BLUE. Not only do I have the Derby Final this month but the All Ireland Football Final and Dublin take on Mayo, not to rub it in or anything. Deadly…! It is not an easy task to go all the way in any type of competition but you have to give it to Conor Fahy and Robert Gleeson as they have produced their dogs in great form week on week without disappointment and as young trainers in this Derby the future is looking very bright for the greyhound industry, well done lads. Robert has gotten through Slippery Robert for Larry Dunne who is a massive supporter of the dogs, and Conor has the danger dog Tyrur Sugar Ray, but don’t forget that Conor knows what it takes to win a Derby Final, can Tyrur Sugar Ray make it to the Final and win another Derby title for the Fahy clan? Anything is possible in this Derby my friends.
It’s time to discuss the heats, and what sensational heats they were
Heat 1 – Ballymac Vic, although a little rusty after his cut foot and five stitches, what a warrior, even with a wound he still made it through and fair play to trainer Liam Dowling for maintaining the form of this super hound, he has survived another heat and faces a tough task in the semi-final. The traps went up and after a level enough break it was Cabra Buck who hit the front first and made all the running, it was all over once he took the lead but he only won by three quarters of a length with the mighty strong running Droopys Adler chasing Cabra Buck home and got second place in 29.69. Ballymac Vic was third another two lengths back and was a bit tired coming home understandably but a decent effort none the less.
Heat 2 – Slippery Sooty for Larry Dunne lead in this heat from trap five and had no neighbour to his right as Holdem Spy was a non-runner in trap six. As Slippery Sooty opened up his advantage he was being challenged by the youngest contender in this year’s Derby Hawaii Kinsale and the son of Westmead Hawk wasn’t going away, he has a lovely style about him and was really impressive. Hawaii Kinsale eventually caught up on Slippery Sooty and Hawaii Kinsale stuck to the inside off the last bend and ran on comfortably to win in 29.78 by one a half lengths from Slippery Sooty. Carrowgarriff ran on well to make third, this bitch has been very consistent
Heat 3 – Isabels Boy broke the best but moved out to the middle. Droopys Jet was done by the draw and was bumped numerous times and ended up an unlucky fourth. Holycross Gerry never got a run but the son of Accordello is one to watch for the future. Around the first bend they went with Isabels Boy leading. Melodys Gamble and Borna Gem battled it out in behind Isabels Boy but neither one could pass Isabels Boy. Off the last bend the three dogs bunched closer together and Isabels Boy just held on by a neck in 30.03 with Melodys Gamble making second place, but if she remained on the inside of Isabels Boy she would of won. Borna Gem was third three quarters of a length behind Melodys Gamble. A great race for sure.
Heat 4 – Kereight King was savage yet again and done the fastest time of the night, not surprising though. We have watched this dog improve each week and his consistency is pretty impressive let it be said, let’s hope he keeps it up as he deserves to be in the final. Judging from the break it looked like Paradise Madison was in a nice position leading into the first bend with Kereight King who bumped off Glenanore Dancer a little but the draw didn’t suit Paradise and he was crowded at the bend and didn’t run on after that. A sad ending for one of my favourites, Paradise Madison but there is plenty left in the tank and we look forward to seeing him run in the future, he already has litters on the ground so the future looks bright for him. Kereight King, a true performer ran beautifully and powered into the lead off the first bend after a not so fluent break and opened up a nice advantage that guaranteed him a win. Slippery Robert moved into second position and Tyrur Sugar Ray moved into third down the back straight. Slippery Robert closed the gap bit by bit but Tyrur Sugar Ray railed as usual and came flying home to make second place two lengths behind Kereight King. Slippery Robert was third by only a head behind the Sugar Ray. Ringtown Snowy didn’t make it through but trap five was always going to cast a cloud over his Derby dream, a Classic winner already though so a pity to see him go. The race was won in a blistering 29.57. As I have said before, all hail the King. Wonderful win.
I spoke to Dominic Rennicks after the Derby heats and he thinks Kereight King will win the Derby. He said the dog is not very big at 67lbs but he is a nice dog and the most consistent. Dom also mentioned that Tyrur Sugar Ray is the danger if he makes it to the final and gets trap one as he has huge pace and runs his best from this box. Oh I took some photos of some of the regulars Saturday night if you want to have a nosy below!
DERBY SEMI-FINAL DRAW
HEAT 1 – *NB* there are 3 Westmead Hawks in this heat
1 ISABELS BOY – consistent form, cannot fault but he needs to set the pace and lead I think as a hot race to come from behind?
2 DROOPYS ADLER – ran on very strong last week to be second to Cabra Buck in a fast 29.69, can he reproduce?
3 CARROWGARRIFF – one of my outsiders from the start of the Derby, there is a big run in this bitch, too far out perhaps to have a chance?
4 TYRUR SUGAR RAY – trap four is a pity but he has savage pace and should make up enough ground to qualify if he misses the kick?
5 HAWAII KINSALE – too far out BUT does his best running on strong, but can he ping the lids and lead? I think he will need to here?
6 SLIPPERY ROBERT (W) – the only wide seed left, surely this should enable him a place in the final if the rest of the field wants the inside?
I predict 6-4-2
HEAT 2
1 BALLYMAC VIC – you can never rule this dog out, will come on from last week’s race as was a bit tired coming home, will qualify
2 MELODYS DIAMOND – fantastic breeding line, powerful bitch and has a decent draw, will go close
3 BORNA GEM – done a 3.47 split from trap 3 in this Derby already, if she done that again she could win?
4 KEREIGHT KING – he will win, simple
5 SLIPPERY SOOTY (M) – lead last week but didn’t win, I think he is up against it here and will have too much work to do if he doesn’t lead
6 CABRA BUCK (M) – ran a cracker last week, I think he will run a similar race and is good enough to qualify
I predict 4-1-6
Graham Holland has been the leading trainer for some time now and rightly so, Graham had another cracking double Saturday night with Cabra Buck and Hawaii Kinsale but I think Cabra Buck has a better chance of qualifying for the final for this top trainer based on his draw as Hawaii Kinsale is too far out in trap five.
See you all Saturday night for some thrilling, mouth-watering action.
Yours in sport,
Sarah
PS: Dublin will win the All Ireland, you heard it here first! #COYBIB
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