Lenson Bocko is the sponsor’s 2-1 favourite to win the Boylesports Irish Derby following another impressive victory in the quarter finals at Shelbourne Park on Saturday night.

2018 runner-up Magical Bale is rated a 5-2 chance, followed by 7-1 Killmacdonagh and 8-1 Boylesports King. The top two in the market are drawn in different semi finals.

For Graham Holland, who also has Murts Boher in the first eliminator and Ballydoyle Valor in the second, the market reflects their respective chances.

He said: “I am never one to get too far ahead of myself, but on the evidence so far, Bocko and Bale look the two to beat. I thought Bocko did everything right again on the night. I am quite happy with his draw in the first semi. He is really a middle-to-wide runner, and five should suit him.

“What can you say about Murts Boher? For a dog who didn’t run Shelbourne, he has won his last two and is in a Derby semi final. No one deserves a bit of success more than owner Larry O’Rourke who is such a great sportsman.

“I think the second semi final looks a lot tougher draw and I think Pat Guilfoyle can feed a bit hard done by. I am quite sure he would have preferred Music Toour Ears in red with Magical Bale in white. There is a lot of early pace in that semi and they will all be looking for the inside.

“At this stage, that suits Ballydoyle Valor who tends to get himself into difficulties against slower dogs to the bend. I wouldn’t expect him to go to the bend with the three on his inside but can hopefully get a decent run behind them. I thought he ran a cracking quarter final to keep himself out of trouble at the last bend.”

Heat 1                                     550 Yards

  1. LENSON BOCKO 4/5 (6) 29.27 (Droopys Jet-Melodys Diamond) bd D Aug 17. Lochead-Ponder-Whelan-Synd.
  1. Run Happy (1) 7.5L
  2. Deadly Dynamite (3) hd
  3. Highview Micro (5) 2.5L
  4. Dromrich Altair (4) 2.5L
  5. Grangeview Ten (2) 5.5L

Heat 2                                     550 Yards

  1. SOPHIES MAN 6/1 (1) 29.45 (Droopys Jet-Badminton Maid) bk D Jun 17. Mr. Albert Putnam
  1. Boylesports King (5) 2L
  2. Mucky Brae (4) 2L
  3. Ballymac Cooper (6) nk
  4. Knight Rocker (3) hd

Heat 3                                     550 Yards

  1. MAGICAL BALE 5/4 (1) 29.35 (Zero Ten-Sizzling Sarah) bk D Jan 16. Westwell-Racing-Club-Synd.
  1. Ballydoyle Valor (2) 0.75L
  2. Killmacdonagh (3) 2.5L
  3. Droopys Pension (5) 1L
  4. Cabra Firmino (4) 2L
  5. Slippy Cian (6) 1.5L

Race 8                                     550 Yards

  1. MURTS BOHER 6/1 (3) 29.61 (Tullymurry Act-Ballyregan Paws) be D Jan 17. Mr. Larry O’Rourke
  1. Our Surprise (5) 0.75L
  2. Music Toour Ears (1) 2L
  3. Lenson Blinder (2) hd
  4. Toolmaker Daddy (4) 1.5L
  5. Cash Is King (6) 3L

 

Boylesports Irish Greyhound Derby Semi-Final Draw:

1st Semi-Final

1 DEADLY DYNAMITE

2 SOPHIES MAN

3 MURTS BOHER

4 RUN HAPPY

5 LENSON BOCKO (W)

6 BOYLESPORTS KING (W)

2nd Semi-Final

1 MAGICAL BALE

2 MUCKY BRAE

3 MUSIC TOOUR EARS

4 BALLYDOYLE VALOR

5 KILLMACDONAGH

6 OUR SURPRISE (M)

 

Sophies Man Trap (1) From “BoyleSports King (Trap 5) Knight Rocker (T3), Mucky Brae (T4) and Ballymac Cooper (T6) go to the first bend in the second quarter final of the BoyleSports Derby – pic Imelda Grauer