GREYHOUND PREVIEW: It’s semi-final stage of this year’s Irish Greyhound Derby. Barry previews both races and the semi-finals of the Michael Fortune Memorial Plate. All four races will be live this Saturday on Virgin Media Three from 9pm.
Irish Greyhound Derby Semi-Finals – Saturday
We are down to the final twelve in this year’s Irish Derby. Twelve will become six just after 21:30 on Saturday night when we will know our finalists. Bockos Diamond once again impressed at the weekend, after a slow start he powered to the front to score comfortably. Carrick Aldo is another who continues to catch the eye while Bombay Pat was another winner on the night for Graham Holland. That trio all clash in the first semifinal along with the other quarter final winner A Lucky Julie. Let’s take a look at both of this weekend’s semifinals.
Semi-final One:
🟥 Callaway Knegare
🟦 Seven Beach
⬜ Bockos Diamond
⬛ Bombay Pat
🟧 Carrick Aldo
🔲 A Lucky Julie
Verdict: All four quarter final winners have been drawn in the one semi. To say there is little room for error is an understatement. Callaway Knegare has the best of the draw being the only inside seed in the race with the remaining runners all wide seeds. Seven Beach could be key to the race. How far will he move off on the run to the corner? If he can break better than Bockos Diamond and he heads for the outside there is likely to be trouble. The pair met in the semifinal of the Time Greyhound nutrition open 550 back in September when Seven Beach was drawn in three with Bockos Diamond in four. On that occasion Beach broke fast and just led Bockos Diamond, he did move off the rails ever so slightly at the corner but nothing too dramatic. I would be confident Seven Beach will keep a straight enough line on the run to the corner.
The afore mentioned Callaway Knegare has all the pace required to win a Derby, but his slow starts are leaving him with plenty to do. Bombay Pat broke well last week when making all, but he faces a tricky draw and needs to come away at least level. Carrick Aldo is the most dependable trapper in the field and will be looking to make all. Last years Irish Sprint Cup Champion was the fastest of the quarter final winners and will be looking to slip the field early. Favourite Bockos Diamond overcame a slow start last weekend to win in style. Diamond cannot afford another sloppy start with Seven Beach on his inside and Bombay Pat on his outer.
The race to the bend is crucial here. Seven Beach and Carrick Aldo are the more reliable trappers but Bockos Diamond and Bombay Pat both show rapid acceleration on the run to the turn. Off a level break Bockos Diamond should lead, but any of the middle four can lead up. A Lucky Julie will be flying from halfway and will be hard to keep out of the first three. It is a race worthy of a final itself, but at 4/6 Bockos Diamond looks short. At the prices I would rather have a small play on the consistent Carrick Aldo in the hope he can start fast and keep out of trouble on the run to the corner.
Semi-final Two:
🟥 Singalong Dolly
🟦 Da Bold Falcon
⬜ Cheap Sandwiches
⬛ March On Freddie
🟧 Boylesports Bob
🔲 Ballinabola Jim
Verdict: Cheap Sandwiches will almost certainly go off favourite in this. Again, the draw is important with four wide seeds in the race it looks as though Sandwiches has the worst of the draw in three. The answer is we don’t really know. The Graham Holland trained star has never race from trap three in his life. Sandwiches has had four starts from trap four resulting in one win and three second place finishes. The plus for followers of the favourite here is the lack of early pace around him. Off a level break I have no doubt Cheap Sandwiches will race clear and the current 2/1 on offer about him looks fair.
Any of the remaining runners are capable of picking him up and what ever gets first run at him will hold big claims. On form Ballinabola Jim looks as though he can race prominent. Singalong Dolly and Boylesports Bob can both be hit and miss at boxes but can go up strongly. Da Bold Falcon is giving himself plenty to do with his recent slow starts but is another who can go up well on his day. Sole UK representative March On Freddie has met trouble in running on his last two starts but remains much better than what we have seen recently. Apart from Cheap Sandwiches the others have similar enough running styles and for that reason I will side with the favourite to make all from trap three.
Michael Fortune Memorial Plate
Also, on the card on Saturday night we have the semifinals of the Michael Fortune Memorial plate. Coosane Pickles was withdrawn from her quarter final last week when outright favourite for the event. That position has now been firmly grasped by Carmac King for Owen Mckenna after his stunning 29:05 victory last weekend. King goes in the first semi where Knockeen Dazzler looks to be his main danger. Rushy Meadows has been a reported NR from that heat. Tribal Syd can get back to winning ways in the second semi for trainer Murt Leahy and he can get the better of the wonderfully consistent Miami King and Faypoint Harvey.
This weekend’s action will be live on Virgin Media three from 9pm.
The absolute best of luck to all connections.
Barry
