Eden The Kid silenced the doubters in the first heat of the second round of the William Hill Greyhound Derby over 480 metres at Wimbledon on Friday.
There was a lot of scepticism about the value of the August pup Eden The Kid’s track 27.85sec track record set in last week’s second round but Liz McNair’s runner gave a start a beating to Yarmouth Derby winner Swift Keith.
John Mullins’ Swift Keith led from the opening turn to the third bend but Liz McNair’s new track record holder, who had turned second, swept past to score by three and a half lengths in 28.15sec.
The sponsors reacted by making Eden The Kid a 10-1 chance for outright glory. Swift Keith is 33-1.
Norah McEllistrim’s Badmoonrising was never a factor but kept on for third.
Droopys Nidge was every bit as impressive when landing the second heat in 28.21sec, causing the sponsors to cut him to 8-1 favourite.
Matt Dartnall’s runner, a 1-2 shot, led to the opening turn where he was almost joined by Heather Dimmock’s Wotnofiz.
However he cut across the bend and went clear, eventually scoring by almost six lengths from a running-on Riverside Pat, who just got up to deny Wotnofizz second spot by a head.
The Bower went round before heat seven in which Farloe Blitz dominated and clocked the fastest time of the night.
Owen McKenna’s runner forged clear on the run-up and went on to beat Rio Quattro, who was soon second and ran a cracker, by two and a half lengths in 27.99sec, the second fastest time ever at Wimbledon.
Farloe Blitz was installed the new 6-1 favourite and 10-1 bar.
Salonika was the first Irish winner of the night in heat three but not the one everyone expected.
Jaytee Jet was the 7-4 favourite but flopped out and it was Peter Cronin’s 8-1 shot Salonikia who flew out of the six box and turned the first bend clear of Glenpadden Lord and Aimnfire with the favourite Jaytee Jet well off the pace.
Salonika went on to hold Glenpadden Lord by a neck in 28.46sec with Jaytee Jet coming late to deny Aimnfire for third place.
Salonika is now a 50-1 chance.
Salonika’s connections were hoping for a quick double with Tynwald Rodney, who was backed from 2-1 to 11-8 but he never got into contention after crowding at the start and opening turn.
The race went to Hayley Keightley’s Roxholme Kid, who was soon in control, and went on to beat Diegos Flight by a length and a half in 28.40sec.
Roxholme Kid is now a 33-1 shot outright.
Liz McNair, successful with Eden The Kid earlier, had a double with Leamaneigh Turbo in heat five. The son of Ace Hi Rumble, the 5-4 favourite, was soon clear and went on to beat Roxholme Ted by four lengths in 28.53sec.
Leamaneigh Turbo is now a 25-1 shot.
The biggest shock of the night was the elimination of Scottish Derby winner Swift Hoffman in heat six.
Pat Rosney’s runner was on the outside in fifth place at the opening turn when King Dec cannoned into him knocking the dog completely out of his stride. He eventually finished fifth.
The race went to Mark Wallis’s Evanta Fantasy, who led from start to finish to beat Lenson Sanchez, who was bumped at turns one and three, by just over three lengths in 28.56sec. Shotgun Harley was a further length back in third.
Evanta Fantasy is now a 40-1 chance with Lenson Sanchez at 33-1.
Charlie Lister’s main hope Ted Last made a complete hash of the start in heat eight and looked to be exiting the competition when stone last off the second turn.
Meanwhile Paul Young’s Jaytee Berlin had got away to a flyer and made the turn well in front. He was never challenged and came home two and a half lengths clear of kennelmate Millwards Davy in 28.40sec, emphasising how fast the ground had become after the bowser went round before the previous race.
Teds Last got up in the dying strides to deny his kennelmate Old Joe Golden third place.
Jaytee Berlin is a 50-1 chance.
