Punters fared slightly better than on Thursday in the second session of the second round of the Boylesports Irish Derby over 550 yards at Shelbourne Park on Saturday.
There were three clear winning favourites including the ante-post favourite Ballymac Matt, but a few big names failed to progress to next week’s third round.
Ballymac Matt, a 2-7 chance in the last heat was soon clear and went on to hold a gallant Ballyhooley Henry by a diminishing two lengths in a fastest 29.48sec.
Produce Stakes runner-up Amazing Dude was another winning favourite (evens) when making every yard in heat 15 to hold Offshore Bound by a head in 29.70sec.
Cesarewitch winner Paradise Maverick was the other winning jolly when he got up in the last strides to beat Whizzing Archie by three quarters of a length in 29.79sec.
The opening heat saw a shock when ante-post third favourite Laughill Duke failed to progress.
The race went to 7-1 chance Cable Bay, who got up late to deny Tyrur Tommy by a length and a half in 29.59sec.
Easter Cup runner-up Slippery Fred went out in heat 11, which went to all the way winner Ballybough Mike, who held Blue Cafu by a short head in 29.88sec.
Fred’s trainer Larry Dunne suffered a double whammy when his hot favourite Slippery Snowy was eliminated from heat 13. 6-1 shot Rockybay Yank led off the second turn to beat Triangle Jamie by three lengths in 30.08sec.
Impressive first round winner Urban Gossip was all the rage for heat 12 but she was never a factor as last year’s finalist Vulturi got up to deny Go Dex Go by two lengths in 29.75sec.
Michael O’Donovan’s Heathlawn Tiger was soon clear in heat 14 to beat Cabra Miller by three and a half lengths in 29.63sec.
In a case of what might have been; Tyrur Van Gaal clocked the fastest time of the night in a supporting contest when making all to slam Affane Scolari by nine lengths in 29.43sec.
Boylesports Irish Derby Draw for third round to be run on Saturday August 29.
English Derby beaten favourite Farloe Blitz will have to run from trap six in the third round of the Boylesports Irish Derby over 550 yards at Shelbourne Park on Saturday.
Owen McKenna’s runner is unbeaten so far but there will be little margin for error in a race which features Kirby Memorial winner Cable Bay.
Ante-post jolly Ballymac Matt has fared well getting trap one again in a heat in which he will be a very short priced favourite.
Draw:
Heat 1
1 Ballyhooly Henry
2 Secreto
3 Ardrahan Zindi
4 Vulturi
5 Jaytee Jet (W)
6 Rural Hawaii (W)
Heat 2
1 Rockybay Jack
2 Save The Don
3 Triangle Jamie
4 Cabra Miller
5 Paradise Maverik
6 Fair Taxes
Heat 3
1 Ravenswood Emily
2 Tyrur Tommy
3 Sidarian Vega
4 Offshore Bound
5 Ballydoyle Henry
6 Faypoint Rush (M)
Heat 4
1 Ballymac Matt
2 Highview Apollo
3 Boherna Pedro
4 Hovex Prince
5 Farloe Rumble
6 Uncle Paul
Heat 5
1 Gaytime Hawk
2 Cable Bay
3 Calzaghe Clampett
4 Dark Intentions
5 Mimis Ace
6 Farloe Blitz
Heat 6
1 Peregrine Falcon
2 Whizzing Archie
3 Jo Jo Fantasy
4 Creamery Bale
5 Heathlawn Tiger
6 Ivy Hill Bart (W)
Heat 7
1 Lemon Miley
2 Shutthe Backdoor
3 Blue Cafu
4 Go Dex Go
5 Burgess Four
6 Tyrur Mairead (W)
Heat 8
1 Priceless Lassie
2 Fordeflag
3 Samiya
4 Amazing Dude
5 Dolcino Flyer (M)
6 Ballybough Mike (W)
