GREYHOUND PREVIEW: Barry previews the second round heats of the Irish Greyhound Derby from Shelbourne Park on Saturday with recommendations on BETDAQ.
Irish Greyhound Derby Round Two – Saturday.
Heat 1
🟥 Superfast Gorden
🟦 Denos Bay
⬜ Southwood Stan
⬛ Clonfert Annie (m)
🟧 Bockos Diamond (w)
🔲 Carrick Aldo (w)
Bockos Diamond turned is a simply stunning display last weekend when stopping the clock in a blistering 29:03- just a half length off the track record. On that occasion he scorched to the third turn and clocked a record split to the mid-way point. If he breaks in similar fashion, he will be impossible to stop. Carrick Aldo was third behind Bockos Diamond in round two but remains capable of better if he can find a fast start. Superfast Gorden was denied by the narrowest of margins last time and has a good draw to work with and Southwood Stan will have his supporters. Bockos Diamond will be all the rage here and can get the better of Carrick Aldo and Superfast Gorden.
Heat 2
🟥 Ballymac Briar
🟦 Bubbly Shadow
⬜ De Lahdedah
⬛ Scooby Pacemaker (m)
🟧 Tarsna Maasai (w)
🔲 Deadly Choice (w)
A tricky heat for punters this. Tarsna Maasai will just get my vote, Maasai can fly to the turn when on song and he has a good chance to do so here with the slow starting Deadly Choice on his outer and Scooby Pacemaker on his inner likely to seek a rails pitch early. De Lahdedah was back to something near his best when making all last week but will need a similar start if he is to clear his kennel companion Ballymac Briar in one and last weekends impressive winner Bubbly Shadow in two. Bubbly Shadow was impressive last time and has a huge chance with a repeat. There is the possibility of crowding on the inside early in this contest and at a price I think Tarsna Maasai could be the value alternative to get the better of Deadly Choice.
Heat 3
🟥 Untold Dollar
🟦 Randolph Scotts
⬜ Fairy Footsteps
⬛ I She There (m)
🟧 Glengar Martha (w)
🔲 Seven Beach (w)
Untold Dollar once again displayed huge pace in defeat last weekend in a good contest behind De Bold Falcon and Cheque For Cash. Dollar is not the most fluent when in behind runners but looks to have a good draw on Saturday and has a big chance to race prominently. Seven Beach is running at the top of his game at present and has some good track knowledge, he is sure to have his supporters but may just find Glengar Martha a thorn in his side on the run to the corner. Had Seven Beach been drawn on the inside of Martha it would sway me in favour of Seven Beach. If Untold Dollar can break level in this contest, he should be able to hold his position into the first bend and make the most of a good make up to see off Seven Beach and Glengar Martha
Heat 4
🟥 Grangeclare Lady
🟦 Tuono Charlie
⬜ Extra Gain
⬛ Down To Business (m)
🟧 A Lucky Julie (w)
🔲 March On Freddie (w)
Grangeclare Lady is improving with each and every run. Her dam Susie Sapphire done similar when winning the Derby a few years ago and its hard to rule out further improvement from Owen McKenna’s runner. Tono Charlie ran a cracker behind Bockos Diamond last time and will be hoping to secure a clear run in behind the likely pace setter Grangeclare Lady. March On Freddie will be looking to do the same but does have more early pace than Charlie and will be looking to turn second at the very least. Oaks champion A Lucky Julie is another who will be powering home from halfway. Grangeclare Lady looks a very likely leader but one of the powerhouses will turn close. I think it could be March On Freddie, and if close to the leader at halfway he is the one to beat. Tuono Charlie and A Lucky Julie will be hard to keep out of the frame in what looks one of the heats of round three.
Heat 5
🟥 Singalong Dolly
🟦 Da Bold Falcon
⬜ Thats It Jack
🟧 Dynamic Force (w)
🔲 Ballinabola Jim (w)
Ballinabola Jim is in the form of his life at present and put in a huge run last weekend when breaking fast and making all in a flying 29:07. If Jim turns up in similar form, he will be hard to stop. Singalong Dolly is another who can go up fast and she should lead the inside trio with Da Bold Falcon sure to do his best running from halfway. For me there is better to come from Dynamic Force, the Paul Hennessy trained runner met trouble in running last time out and is open to much improvement over this trip. If Dynamic Force can find one of his better starts, he could lead this field and should improve on the clock on what he has done in recent weeks. Ballinabola Jim and Da Bold Falcon can follow him home.
Heat 6
🟥 Kapuka Warrior
🟦 Ballyhimkin Leo
⬜ Callaway Knegare
⬛ Short Grip (m)
🟧 Robbies Galaxy (w)
🔲 Bombay Pat (w)
The evergreen Kapuka Warrior is two from two in this years Derby and once again has his favourite red jacket. The old man of the party is running with real credit and could prove hard to keep out of the placings. Callaway Knegare has pace to burn but once again met trouble last time. Knegare seemed to break well last week but met trouble instantly and was left with a mountain to climb at halfway. He remains capable of much better and will have his supporters. Short Grip and Robbies Galaxy are others in form but may need a bit of luck. Bombay Pat will start favourite but will also need to start better than he has been in recent weeks. Pat has electric pace once he hits top stride and is the one to beat in this. Bombay Pat can get the better of Callaway Knegare and Short Grip.
Heat 7
🟥 Toolmaker Curio
🟦 Hawkfield Blue
⬜ House Martin
⬛ Mustang Fever (m)
🟧 Blackeyed Turbo (m)
🔲 Cheap Sandwiches (w)
Cheap Sandwiches has a fine draw in six in the penultimate heat of the third round. Drawn on the outside of the slow starting Blackeyed Turbo Cheap Sandwiches should race prominently on the outside on the run to the best. Hawkfield Blue remains capable of better than his last two runs. Hawkfield Blue is another who can fly to the turn and if breaking like he can Blue will make the favourite go. Blackeyed Turbo deserves a mention, she will go off a big price in this but could sneak into a place. Cheap Sandwiches and Hawkfield Blue look the big two, but its hard to rule out any of the others for the final qualifying position.
Heat 8
🟥 Beanos Podge
🟦 Whyaye Bonnylad
⬜ Cheque For Cash
⬛ Dashing Toro (m)
🟧 Undulation (m)
🔲 Boylesports Bob (w)
Whyaye Bonnylad and Cheque For Cash look likely to set the pace in this contest. Bonnylad may have been a shade disappointing when leading last week and you feel he needs to lead to have a say in this hot contest. Cheque For Cash has been running well of late and I think he can break better from trap three this weekend. Cash ran well behind Da Bold Falcon last weekend and will be looking to make all in the final heat of the night. Boylesports Bob ran a remarkable race to qualify last time after a poor start and some opening bend troubles and will likely go off favourite in here. Undulation is another who will be flying home from halfway and we have yet to see the best of Dashing Toro around Shelbourne Parl. Beanos Podge won well last week but has two early paced performers who will be seeking his line in the first part of the contest. I think Cheque For Cash can lead here, and if he can improve a length or two on last weeks run that could be good enough.
Good luck to everyone involved with a runner!!
Barry
