SARAH KINSELLA: The 2016 Irish Greyhound Derby is underway at Shelbourne Park. SARAH KINSELLA is back for BETDAQ TIPS reporting on her trip to York’s Ebor meeting and predictions for Saturday’s heats.
It would seem that I missed a rather shocking week of Derby heats. I woke up at 4am yesterday morning in Harrogate, a beautiful idyllic town, feeling fresh as a daisy. I went racing in York on Thursday, Friday and Saturday and had an absolute ball, as I’m sure you can tell from my revelry on social media!
To top it all off, I backed the Tony Martin trained winner of the Ebor at 8/1, another big win for Co Meath, well you have to let the Royal County have something I suppose! I have however been brought straight back down to earth with a bang as I was in the office at 13:00 for the graveyard shift, but to my delight it was the last day of the Olympics so happy days, I am glad to see the back of it.
There has been serious shocks hasn’t there? Ballydoyle Honey had the fastest time of the Derby from round 1, she is gone. Droopys Roddick won his first heat and was quickest to the third bend overall, he is gone. English Derby winner Jaytee Jet gone and Clares Rocket, gone. Peregrine Falcon who has the most prolific CV without winning anything big, also gone. I thought I was going to cry when I saw the results. The man upstairs works in mysterious ways guys but this is just taking the biscuit! The weather was abysmal Saturday night too which didn’t help matters.
I spent my three glorious days in York drinking more pink champagne and Moet than you could shake a stick at. I met some wonderful people like jockeys Jamie Spencer, Andrea Atzeni and Cheltenham Gold Cup winning jockey Mark Dwyer while wining and dining in the best places York and Harrogate had to offer. I would urge you to visit these places, truly beautiful and only a stone’s throw away! Kind of! I must admit though I did miss the buzz of Shelbourne Park and the betting ring banter.
I’d say Ted Hegarty had a field day judging by the results anyway! Most of my ante post bets are now obsolete. Alas, the Derby must still have its winner and it is now a task to pick one but Lenson Rocky is looking mighty fine isn’t he. And what about Sonic, Farloe Rumble, Laughil Duke and Ballymac Matt is still there too. Rural Hawaii is running out of his skin as well, it’s bloody brilliant. Just because the early favourites are gone doesn’t mean it’s not a good Derby, the standard is still very much as high as ever so make sure you get yourself down to Shelbourne Park this Saturday.
It’s super great news that the Derby is getting extra coverage on RTE this year and will now show both the Semi-Finals and the Final LIVE on RTE2 on Saturday 10th and Saturday 17th September (so Ian make sure you iron the shirt!). Both programmes will be broadcast for 90 minutes each evening. #WINNING
So what do you think of the draw on Saturday? Here are my selections, although I saw a magpie on the way to work so my luck is probably doomed now.
Here are my selections:
Heat 1 – Farloe Joey – Comerford Cakes Open finalist, Race of Champions finalist. Really finding himself lately. Always running against the best and this race looks do-able.
Heat 2 – Holycross Leah – Oaks finalist who didn’t get a run. Has a beautiful card with 9 wins. Think she has enough early speed to clear this field. I would be afraid of trap 1 however.
Heat 3 – Escapism – Produce Stakes finalist. Winner of the Juvenile Classic. Plenty of pace and will love the draw. Against last year’s Derby winner Ballymac Matt but he is not in best of form of late, if he was he would win this, but the vote goes to Escapism.
Heat 4 – Leave At Dawn – Love this dog, won me plenty of cash on the Night of Stars. Has pace, stays well but lacks early speed. Do each way or without Milldean Puma.
Heat 5 – Urban Gossip – Exceptionally well bred. Only wide seed in the race. Must come away like she did last week though.
Heat 6 – Laughil Duke – Possible 2016 Derby winner in the hands of one of the greatest trainers alive! Duke is going for 8 wins in a row. He is in tremendous form, starts, stays and ticks all the boxes. The one to beat. Better dog this year than last. Trial stake winner around this track.
Heat 7 – Skywalker Rory – Leger Winner. Has to do everything right to beat some of these but I think the draw will help in trap 1.
Heat 8 – Sonic – Bright future ahead. Impressive card, brilliant run last week. Still young, lightly raced but fast and furious and fast enough to beat this lot!
See you all Saturday night, can’t wait!
Yours in uber excitement,
Sarah
£25 IN FREE BETS
