There were four Irish winners in Thursday’s session of William Hill Greyhound Derby first round heats but the star performances came from Romford specialist Adageo Bob who set the standard with a 28.36sec performance.
Gaytime Hawk was made to work for his victory in the opening heat. Graham Holland’s runner was led by both Tinahue Pinto and Budgie Bypass until the third turn when he went into second and he picked up the leader Tinahue Pinto close home to score by half a length in 28.51sec.
Holland said afterwards: “I’m very pleased. He’s quite strong and was always going to win when he was so close.”
Glenpadden Lord was a surprise winner of the second qualifier. The favourite Lenson Tiggy didn’t fly out but paced up the turn and went five lengths clear. Glenpadden Lord started to cut into the lead around the bottom bends and got up close home to score by a length in 28.47sec.
A kennel spokesman said: “He’s not renowned for coming from behind so we’re pleased with that.”
Baile Mhic was the second Irish winner of the night when successful in heat 13. Outsider Deanridge Smurf led clear down the far side but Liam Dowling’s Baile Mhic came through in the inside and looked set for a comfortable victory but Lemon Laveer was catching him with every stride and only failed by a neck to catch the 28.59sec winner.
Dowling said afterwards: “We expect him to improve a tonne for that.”
There was a big priced winner of heat 14 when Sozzleberry upset the odds-on Coolavanny Jap.
Pat Buckley’s 4-9 shot was the meat in a sandwich on the run to the turn and had to check up at that point. Blackrose Rebel and Sozzleberry disputed to halfway before the Poole runner went clear. He held off the late flourish of Coolavanny Jap by a length in 28.72sec.
Marchant said: “He didn’t cost a lot of money and ran brilliantly. My best dog Costa was injured and we bought this dog for a run and he’s won his first race.
Holdem Bernado was another big priced winner of heat 15. Carol Weatherall’s runner was led by Romeo Ballistic, but he ran right off the last turn and Holdem Bernado got up in the show of the post to deny the fast finishing Blue Moment by half a length in 28.66sec.
Assistant trainer Darren Holmes said: “He’s been off for a while and is improving with each race back. There’s a long way to go.”
Romford specialist Adageo Bob was an impressive winner of heat 16. Mark Wallis’s runner flew out of the boxes and was two lengths clear around the first turn. The favourite Tynwald Rodney, who broke moderately, tried to close down the far side but Adageo Bob was not stopping and scored by just over three lengths in 28.36sec.
Sid Hewitt, kennelhand to Wallis said: “If he keeps coming out like that he will take some beating.”
The BowSer went round
Old Joe Golden was a trap to line winner of heat 17. Charlie Lister’s runner flew out and was soon well clear. Diane Henry’s Making Paper came out of the pack to take second but was still two lengths adrift of the winner who clocked 28.49sec winner.
Kennelhand Ian Sutherland said: “He’s trapped out well and was always going to difficult to catch.”
Kevin Hutton’s Jolly Tricks showed his magic in heat 18. Graham Holland’s Hoffs Nephew flew out and went clear, while kennelmate Riverside Pat dropped out. Jolly Tricks some four lengths behind the leader at halfway reeled him in and got up on the line to score by half a length in 28.62sec. It was desperately close for second with the judge deciding that Riverside Pat had snatched second by a whisker.
Hutton said: “He’s not flashed out like he can and ran well as he’s not the type of dog that usually comes from behind.”
Beaming Bucko, a brother of Lenson Sanchez and Coolavanny Jap, landed heat 19. Pat Buckley’s lightly raced runner was led to halfway by Dragon Big Bux but powered clear to score by three and a quarter lengths in 28.54sec.
Buckley’s daughter Sarah said: “He’s just back from injury and we’re delighted the way he ran. His brother Coolvanny Jap is likely to have his seeding changed to middle or wide.”
Clares Wonder was a trap to line winner of heat 20. Graham Holland’s runner was five lengths clear at halfway but Swift Keith, recovering well from a poor break, flew home and was only beaten a length by the 28.44sec winner.
Holland said: “It’s been a good night with three though and this dog did everything right.”
Jaytee Berlin came from last to first to land heat 21. Dolcino Rose and Aimnfire disputed the lead until the second turn when Aimnfire went clear. However he was running on empty on the home straight and Jaytee Berlin came flying through on the inside to score by two lengths in 28.64sec.
Jaytee China made it a quick double for Paul Young in heat 22. The pace was set by Southfield Jock who just edged Thirteen Bags into the turn but Jaytee China came flying up the inside on the run-in to score by a length and a quarter in 28.72sec. There was a photo finish for second, which went to Thirteen Bags by a short head.
Paul Young’s kennel hand Mim Emment said afterwards: “She’s a game bitch and kept on strongly.”
