Mark Pierrepont surveys the Derby second round. He selected 15 of the 32 first round winners.
BALLYMAC KINGDOM Photo: © Steve Nash
What a heat to get the second round of the Star Sports and TRC Events & Leisure English Greyhound Derby underway. Liam Dowling’s Ballymac Kingdom (11-4) put up one of the performances of the first round when despite winning by 2 3/4 from Frankies Jet in a top class 29.34 calculated he left plenty on the track. He’d prefer to be drawn slightly off the rail but I suspect he’ll get plenty enough room to run in behind Graham Rankin’s pacesetting Jaguar Macie (3-1). Rankin’s kennel star put to bed any fears that she wouldn’t act around Towcester when putting up a superb display when accounting for Cold As Ice in 29.23 calc. Macie won’t be easily reeled in but I fancy Kingdom can just about get there with Pat Buckley’s Glengar Bale (4-1) , also an impressive first round heat winner selected to qualify in third. Others: Signet Ace (7-2), Newinn Jacko (15-2), Auxerre (11-1)
LUNA ROCKET (t4 right) leads at the turn from wide running Pacemaker Ted (t6) in heat 16 Photo: © Steve Nash
Paul Hennessy’s Beach Avenue (4-6) was beaten at a shade of odds on in the first round but the path looks clear for him to turn in a very menacing position out wide here. Lee Field’s Luna Rocket (10-1) made a few people open their eyes with an excellent winning performance in round one and she can once again lead here before being claimed in the second half of the race by Beach Avenue. Patrick Janssens multiple category one winning Kilara Lion (3-1) isn’t best placed right against the rail in the red jacket , he’ll be moving off from there but can soon drop into a qualifying position and claim third. Others: Dualla Prince (33-1), Icaals First (50-1)
GLENGAR BALE (T4) leads Ballymac Ariel (t5) round the first bend in heat 12. Pat Buckley’s bitch is fancied to atone tonight Photo: © Steve Nash
Liam Dowling’s Ballymac Ariel (Evens) had to settle for second behind Glengar Bale in the first round but it was a more than decent effort from the Irish challenger and she can go one better here from an ideal draw in trap 5. Bubbly Magnum (7-2) ran well when winning his first round heat and he looks set to qualify in second behind Ariel with Paul Burr’s Swift Cope (9-2) qualifying in third despite being poorly positioned in trap 1. Cope will be moving off from there of that there is no doubt however chances are that the two dogs drawn to his immediate right will be engaged in their own battle for track position and thus Cope can soon drop into a qualifying position. Others: Hopes Doggy (33-1), Anynamewilldo (11-2), Chasing Turkey (12-1)
KAMEKO (t1) and BALLYMAC FAIRONE (t3) pictured in their first round heat battle it out again to night Photo: © Steve Nash
Another heat right out of the top drawer. Graham Holland’s Native Maestro (8-13) was awesome when accounting for a high class first round heat field in 2910 calc. Perfectly drawn once again he’ll take some beating but there are a few who will be trying to do just that. Liam Dowling’s Ballymac Fairone (11-2) was supported heavily in the ring for his first round heat and despite eventually only finishing third this young unexposed greyhound gave glimpses of his undoubted ability. He should improve for that run both for race fitness (just the fourth start of his career) and for what was just his second look at the track. Fairone can take second with Patrick Janssens Perrysblueeyedboy (14-1) sticking on late and wide to claim third. Others: Bettys Book (14-1), Kameko (6-1), Gymstar Elusive (16-1)
BOCKOS BELLY (t3 rails) on his way to 29.32 in heat 14, where Troy Firebird (t6) and Luminous Socks (t4) followed him home. Photo: © Steve Nash
Patrick Janssens Bockos Belly (7-4) ran like a greyhound who has rediscovered his confidence in a comfortable first round heat victory. His trainer was ultra confident pre race and my belief is he’ll now go from strength to strength. Despite this being a tougher race he can soon find himself at the head of affairs to put down a major marker as being one of the UK’s leading challengers for outright honours. Warzone Tom (9-4) can claim second for Liz and Rab McNair whilst Romeo Magico (7-2) who I thought was slightly disappointing when qualifying from his first round heat in second behind Jonno You Go can go through in third. Others: Coom Leo (13-2), Glenlara Mac (12-1) Luminous Socks (20-1)
Tight finish to heat 17 as BALLYMAC WILD (t1) gets up by a short head from Roxholme Sheikh (t2) with Soul Warrior a head back in third. Photo: © Steve Nash
The betting for this heat is likely to revolve around the Mark Wallis trained Drumcrow Brent (11-8) who is perfectly housed in trap six and Gary Carmichael’s Little Emir (7-2) who isn’t perfectly housed in red. Emir will be moving off from red and as he’s causing crowding for both himself and for others in the race Wallis’s runner can once again put himself into an ominous position by halfway. Brent is a greyhound with a super attitude to racing and often wins races he doesn’t really have an entitlement to due to this. Qualifying positions in behind are difficult to forecast with much crowding likely. Therefore selections for second and third place finishers are passed over. Others: Shelone Milo (10-1), Bramble Toby (20-1), Magical Silas (8-1), Soul Warrior (4-1)
*Withdrawn – positive sample
JUMEIRAH SPRITE (t6) holds Bandicoot Sammy (t5) in heat 6. Photo: © Steve Nash
Brendan Matthews De Machine (5-2) ran a storming race in his first round heat eventually qualifying in second position in the race won by Kameko. He moved off wildly at the first bend and is likely to move off again although I suspect with the benefit of that run under his belt he’ll hold a much better line this time around. Matthews Irish trained Puppy Derby finalist can prove much the stronger in the latter stages over Peter Cronin’s Angry Dad (5-2) who took the eye with an impressive 2931 calc heat success. Cronin’s talented pup can claim a comfortable enough second place with Graham Hollands Gaytime Milo (11-2) taking third. Milo looked a sure bet to be reclassified as middle heading into the second round and there looks no doubt that he’ll be moving off both on the run up and at the turn. Others: Fendale Nidge (50-1), Adeles Duke (3-1) Jumeirah Sprite (7-1)
TOOLMAKER SYDNEY leads Knocknaboul Sid (t2) at the first bend on his way to a fast 29.13 in heat 11. Photo: © Steve Nash
Pat Buckley’s Knocknaboul Syd (4-5) dodged a bullet when finishing a well beaten second behind Toolmaker Sydney in the first round. He should improve for that though and from a perfect draw in trap 2 he can smash out and make all from Liz and Rab McNair’s Queen Beyonce (5-1). The McNair trained bitch put up one of the performances of the first round when winning her heat in battling style and gave major indications that not only is she back on track but she’s back at something approaching her best form despite having reached veteran status in February of this year. Gary Griffiths local runner Badminton Conor (12-1) ran a game third behind Jaguar Macie in the first round and he can once again fill that spot to be the final qualifier heading into round three on the first night of second round heats. Others: Duke De Janerio (6-1), Springwell Sully (40-1), Frankies Jet (6-1)
