SARAH KINSELLA: The 2016 Irish Greyhound Derby has reached the quarter final stage at Shelbourne Park. SARAH KINSELLA is back for BETDAQ TIPS reporting on last week’s heats and fancies for Saturday’s action.
Does anyone remember Frankie Dettori and his magnificent seven winners in Ascot back in 1996? Of course you do, it’s hard to forget such great sporting achievements. I was eight years old back then but it is still fresh in my memory and maybe last weekend we saw greyhound racing’s magnificent seven by Graham Holland. His achievement getting seven greyhounds through to the quarter finals of the Irish Greyhound Derby could be remembered as one of Irish greyhound racing’s great achievements.
Graham Holland is such a gentle character, a lovely man to talk to and I’m sure he and his team are absolutely buzzing to have achieved this. Imagine if he had a whole field in the Derby final? If he did, the eye of more than the greyhound world would be on Shelbourne Park!
I had a brilliant weekend of sport, action packed and full of thrills and excitement. Dublin beating Kerry yesterday was terrific, a cracking match and Dublin were really pushed to their limit. Their skills, fitness and ability to remain focused when they were five points behind Kerry was a joy to watch.
Kerry are the only team that can get close to Dublin and traditionally they have an ability to rattle the Dubs but yesterday Dublin were in a different league. Dublin are in another All Ireland final and let me tell you this, the only ‘Mayo’ I will be enjoying is the mayo on my chips!
I was very jealous of Kerry trainer Shane Dowling’s snapchat though as I couldn’t get a ticket for the match. Maybe next year Shane you will leave Croke Park a champion, but there is still a chance you can leave Shelbourne Park a champion with Ballymac Matt again.
A big crowd filled the stands at HQ on Saturday night and I was enjoying my winning tips with Urban Gossip, Sonic, Escapism and the feared Sidarian Pearl with Holycross Leah in second. What a night, Shelbourne was alive with cheers and roars. I love the atmosphere that the Derby brings, it sucks you in and sets your heart racing!
I was sad to see Laughil Duke go out of the Derby, what a brilliant dog. But what about Sonic, he was just what this Derby needed, he has given the race the boost it needed with his 29.36 run on Saturday and he is definitely a worthy favourite at 5/1 now along with Buckley’s Lenson Rocky, who is running out of his skin and loves the track. If I was to tip one outsider at this stage it would have to be Highview Event, you can get him at 14/1 so hurry up!
SUPER SONIC FOR HEAT 2
So let’s take a look at the quarter finals and see if I can make you more money!
Heat 1 – Highview Event – This is a tough heat to pick the winner as I think there is a massive run in Cahir Castle. Highview is a very good dog with bundles of pace and I think he might just clear the field to the first bend.
Heat 2 – Sonic – Sonic is a dog that really lives up to his name! It is imperative that he leads in this race as I would not like to be chasing Ballymac Matt, Skywalker Rory or Rural Hawaii. A great battle is anticipated. The vote however goes to Sonic.
Heat 3 – Sidarian Pearl – There are three bitches in this heat and any of them could easily win this. I choose Pearl because of her run last week from the same trap was superb. Not many can say they have beaten Witches Belle but Pearl can!
Heat 4 – Lenson Rocky – Running out of his skin at present and loves Shelbourne Park. Has enough pace to lead all of these but I would be afraid of trap 6, Escapism.
See you all on Saturday! By the way, who is going to win the Liam McCarthy Cup on Sunday, Kilkenny or Tipperary? I’m feeling Tipperary!
£25 IN FREE BETS
