Kathleen steals the Derby show

It was the quarter finals of the 2024 Boylesports Irish Derby but it was 18 month old Droopys Kathleen who stole the show with possibly the most incredible performance ever seen at Shelbourne Park.

Contesting just her fourth race and having gone to within 10 spots of Paradise Madison’s 12 year old record in her last race, the Robert Gleeson trained white and black reduced the clock by nine spots with a 27.58 run.

The race, a semi final of the Irish Puppy Oaks was the fourth of her career for an aggregate winning total of 37 lengths. The other qualifier was won by Darbys Queen in 28.15.

 

Graham Holland goes into the Boylesports Irish Derby semi finals with two unbeaten runners, ante post favourite Bockos Diamond and Bombay Pat (with Cheap Sandwiches he has the top three in the betting) but it was David Murray’s Carrick Aldo who was the quickest of the four quarter final winners with a 29.15 run.

The four qualifiers largely went to form with English Derby winner De Lahdedah the biggest name to exit the event in the first quarter final.

The draw for the semi finals sees 10 of the field with wide seeds.

Sponsor’s betting: 5/4 Bockos Diamond, 8/1 Bombay Pat, Cheap Sandwiches, 10/1 Boylesports Bob, 12/1 Callaway Knegare, 14/1 Carrick Aldo, Da Bold Falcon, March On Freddie, Ballinabola Jim, 16/1 Seven Beach, 25/1 A Lucky Julie, 40/1 Singalong Dolly.

 

Semi-Final 1

1 Callaway Knegare (I)
2 Seven Beach (W)
3 Bockos Diamond (W)
4 Bombay Pat (W)
5 Carrick Aldo (W)
6 A Lucky Julie (W)

Semi-Final 2

1 Singalong Dolly (I)
2 Da Bold Falcon (W)
3 Cheap Sandwiches(W)
4 March On Freddie (W)
5 BoyleSports Bob (W)
6 Ballinabola Jim (W)