We started out with 16 and still have 11 in the Derby going into the third round so I can’t complain. Obviously we lost Clares Rocket last week but the big disappointment this week was Ballydoyle Honey going out on Thursday.

Honey was quite disappointing and was a bit lethargic in running. I think her problem is that she puts so much into her big races that she struggles to recover in time. She did it in last year’s Derby and also in the Oaks. You can get away with it in the bitch’s competitions and still qualify, but not in this company. Thankfully she is fine and will recover, it is just one of those things.

We had three winners on the night but started off with Jo Jo Fantasy finishing third to Laughil Duke. Our dog is really between distances, he probably wants 600 yards and when Laughil came away as well as he did, we were always just hoping to qualify. Next up was Skywalker Manner who I was very happy with when he finished second. He has had a couple of niggles which we have overcome, and he was just unlucky having the wrong dog behind him off the second bend. I have been very impressed with Farloe Joey who ran very well to beat us.

We also had three winners on the night. Sidarian Pearl missed her break last week but breaks better from the middle and ran exceptionally well to win in 29.84. Rural Hawaii is really showing how he has matured and calmed down quite a lot. He is a true wide runner with very good early and although he still takes the last bend very wide, 29.67 was a very good run on the night. Looking a the third round draw, I think he should get plenty of room on the outside. Sonic looks a real superstar in the making. In terms of temperament, he is a bit of a young Rural Hawaii and gets very excited. He needs to be more consistent at the traps but should develop into an exceptional greyhound. I was thrilled with his winning time of 29.44, which was only one spot slower than Laughil Duke.

Larry Dunne who owns the two ‘Slippery’ bitches Thelma and Louise, is a great supporter of Shelbourne and it was lovely to see Slippery Thelma reward him with a win (30.02) on Saturday night. She was our only winner. Louise later ran second, also to qualify. We are going into the third round and we might be near their limit, but they should win many more races, I think Louise may stay 750.

We lost both Hovex Blaze and Bull Marker from the competition in the same heat when they both missed their breaks, Bull Marker absolutely fell out. Notorious Ben ran on well to finish second in a tough heat. Milldean Puma qualified behind Burgess Popeye and Louise after missing his break. He is a strong dog though and I like his draw in the third round; if he gets the inside rail, he qualifies. Highview Event finished second beaten a length by Lenson Rocky who looks very comfortable in this company.

I also thought that Skywalker Rory was exceptional when finishing second in the last heat. I feared the worst drawn on the outside of Peregrine Falcon going into the bend because Falcon moves of slightly and it is hard to get around him. But he is though and I like his draw on the rail in the third round; though it is a tough race where he is also taking on Highview Event.

 

THURSDAY, AUGUST 18

Heat 1                                      550 Yards

  1. LAUGHIL DUKE 4/6 (2) 29.43

(Premier Fantasy-Laughil Lass) bk D Nov 12. Mr. Paul Jennings

  1. Holycross Leah (4) 4.5L
  2. Jo Jo Fantasy (6) 2L
  3. Shutthe Backdoor (1) 5L
  4. Newlawn Simon (3) 1.5L
  5. Varra Sailor (5) dnf

Heat 2                                      550 Yards

  1. FARLOE JOEY 5/4 (5) 29.62

(Top Honcho-Air Force Ellie) bk D Dec 13. Mr. Paul Ellis

  1. Skywalker Manner (3) 3L
  2. Leave At Dawn (6) 1L
  3. Ashbank Martin (2) 3L
  4. Confident Cato (4) 5L

Heat 3                                      550 Yards

  1. SIDARIAN PEARL 3/1 (4) 29.84

(Vans Escalade-Rockburst Pearl) bk B Jun 14. The-Sidarian-Syndicate

  1. Vivaro Swift (6) 1.5L
  2. College Paradise (1) 4L
  3. Deanridge Wazzo (2) 0.5L
  4. Sober Call (5) 1.5L
  5. Droopys Awesome (3) 1L

Heat 4                                      550 Yards

  1. RURAL HAWAII 4/7 (5) 29.67

(Head Bound-Duck Fat) bk D May 13. Mrs Helen O’Dwyer

  1. Newlawn Luke (1) 3.5L
  2. Ballymac Belle (3) 2.5L
  3. Martinstown Hawk (6) 1L
  4. Tyrur Van Gaal (4) 7L
  5. Whatcatch (2) 1.5L

Heat 5                                      550 Yards

  1. URBAN GOSSIP 10/1 (6) 29.68

(Brett Lee-Kildallon Maid) wbk B Jul 13. Mr. Robert F. Roberts

  1. Razldazl Tierna (2) 4L
  2. Droopys Tee (4) 1.5L
  3. Coolykereen Jack (3) 1L
  4. Ballydoyle Honey (5) nk
  5. Drumsna Legend (1) 3.5L

Heat 6                                      550 Yards

  1. GYP ROSETTI 3/1 (1) 29.59

(Head Bound-Acela Express) bk D Jul 13. Mr. Sydney Harman

  1. Tiernans Gift (5) 2.5L
  2. Starbucks Star (6) 2L
  3. Tyrur Siucra (3) 6L
  4. Droopys Smasher (4) nk
  5. Must Be Jack (2) 12L

Heat 7                                      550 Yards

  1. SONIC 7/4 (4) 29.44

(Knockglass Billy-Vickis Dream) bk D Jun 14. Mrs Marian Moloney

  1. Ballyhooly Henry (1) 2L
  2. Aghaburren Lola (2) 8.5L
  3. Trade Freddie (5) 2.5L
  4. Keplar Nine (6) 1L
  5. Ballymac Darragh (3) 2L

Heat 8                                      550 Yards

  1. COCONUT CORKER 6/1 (6) 29.81

(Premier Fantasy-Rossa Baby) wbk D Sep 14. Mr. Richard Newell

  1. Doctor Zhivago (2) 2.5L
  2. Roxholme Barkley (1) 3L
  3. Shaneboy Freddie (5) 1L
  4. Borna Sounds (4) nk
  5. Kilara Lexy (3) 1L

 

SATURDAY, AUGUST 20

Heat 9                                      550 Yards

  1. LENSON ROCKY 6/4 (3) 29.72

(Droopys Scolari-Momentinnewyork) bk D Jun 14. Mr. Leonard P. Ponder

  1. Highview Event (5) 1L
  2. Jumeirah Larry (2) 8L
  3. Slippery Snowy (4) 0.75L
  4. Highview Madison (6) 4L
  5. Mountaylor Queen (1) hd

Heat 10                                    550 Yards

  1. SLIPPERY THELMA 5/1 (1) 30.02

(Brett Lee-Kildallon Maid) bk B Jun 14. Mr. Larry Dunne

  1. Ballymac Sarahjo (2) 1.5L
  2. Boylesports Duke (6) 7L
  3. Priceless Brandy (5) 1L
  4. Boherash Messiah (3) dis

Heat 11                                    550 Yards

  1. DROOPYS FORD 7/1 (1) 29.78

(Blonde Snapper-Droopys Donna) wbk D Apr 13. Mr Mark Wallis

  1. Shugabear Barber (2) 2L
  2. Amanita Chic (3) 5L
  3. Hovex Blaze (5) 1.5L
  4. Bull Marker (6) 0.5L
  5. Tyrur Blondie (4) 1.5L

Heat 12                                    550 Yards

  1. SWORDS ACE 4/1 (2) 29.72

(Iso Octane-Highview Bally) bk D Aug 13. Mrs. Barbara Lowndes

  1. Notorious Ben (5) 2L
  2. Ballymac Matt (4) 5L
  3. Vancouver Colin (1) hd
  4. Jaytee Dutch (3) 1L
  5. Ribbonman (6) 4L

Heat 13                                    550 Yards

  1. BOYLESPORTS JET 6/1 (4) 30.15

(Foleys Folley-Toms Delight) wbk D Jan 13. Mr. John Boyle

  1. Escapism (6)
  2. Farloe Rumble (2) nk
  3. Kilgraney Denver (5) 2.5L
  4. Alpha Carinea (3) 7L
  5. Tyrur Gene (1) 1L

Heat 14                                    550 Yards

  1. BURGESS POPEYE 4/1 (2) 30.05

(Sparta Maestro-Popular Speed) bk D Jun 14. Mrs. Sheila Spillane

  1. Slippery Louise (5) 1L
  2. Milldean Puma (1) 3.5L
  3. Blue Cafu (3) 1.5L
  4. Ballintee Annie (4) 4.5L

Heat 15                                    550 Yards

  1. ELA ALECKO 7/1 (4) 30.10

(Brett Lee-Ballymac Eugenie) bk D May 14. Mr. John Scofield

  1. Cahir Castle (2) 2L
  2. Skywalker Luke (3) 2.5L
  3. Athboy Bound (5) 2L

Heat 16                                    550 Yards

  1. COMBO SIDNEY 7/1 (6) 30.12

(Hades Rocket-Tyrur Hilary) bk D Mar 13. Mr. P.J. Fahy

  1. Skywalker Rory (3) 4.5L
  2. Country Legend (4) sh
  3. Peregrine Falcon (1) sh
  4. Droopys Roddick (2) 2.5L
  5. Grangeview Puma (5) 2L