Ballymac Matt (Tyrur Big Mike-Ballymac Scarlet, Jul 13) will be looking to become the first 
greyhound since Western Post in 1948 to achieve the Scottish/Irish Derby double in next week’s RPGTV sponsored final at Shawfield.
The Kelly Macari trained 4-7f had shown his battling qualities to win his opening heat. His semi final victory was simply ruthless. Running in red he (3.61) and the striped Hot Pipe (3.60) disputed the early lead before Matt pulled away form a four and a bit win over Jim Brown’s Hot Pipe (10-1) in 28.75. Locally trained 20-1 chance Fifo (T3) finished third.
The first semi was dominated in the early stages by Joe Hurley’s Blue Cafu (T2 12-1) who pinged away off a 3.59 sectional pursued by Francie Murray’s Fair Taxes (Head Bound-Pride And Glory, Oct 12). Second favourite Eden The Kid was in last place (3.81) going to the turn. The leading pair remained in that order until the last two bends where 4-5f Bound made his move around the outside. Eden The Kid (7-4) had worked wonders to get into third slot and he also closed in on Cafu. As they raced for the line ‘The Kid’ got to within a length and a nod of the 28.92 winner with Cafu a length further back and failing to qualify.
The third semi was the real talking point of the night however ad Droopys Buick (Yeah Man-Droopys Hilda, Nov 13) set a new track record of 28.63 for the 480 metres. The Juvenile of the Year bolted clear from four and was never headed. Broadstrand Cain disputed the early lead but it was 7-4f Leave At Dawn (T2) ran on for second with Diego Flight(T1) third.
RPGTV Scottish Derby final: 1 Ballymac Matt, 2 Leave At Dawn, 3 Eden The Kid, 4 Droopys Buick, 5 Fair Taxes, 6 Hot Pipe (m)
