Newinn Yolo set the standard in Saturday’s session of second round heats in the William Hill Greyhound Derby over 480 metres at Wimbledon, while the highest profile eliminations were Easter Cup winner Sidarian Blaze, who broke a hock, and Scottish Derby finalist Save The Don.
Newinn Yolo was an impressive winner of the opening heat.
Pat Rosney’s dual Category one winner made one of his occasional fast starts and was soon clear. He was almost joined at the turn by Lenson Tiggy but he kicked on to go clear down the far side and beat Clares Wonder, who passed Lenson Tiggy on the third turn, by almost four lengths in 28.03sec, the third fastest time ever.
Owner Kevin Heilbron said afterwards: “When Yolo does it right he’s very special. He’s a once in a lifetime dog.”
The sponsors shortened the dog to 8-1 second favourite outright.
The new middle seeding worked the oracle for Coolavaanny Jap in the second qualifier. Pat Buckley’s Scottish Derby winner (evens) broke level and showed good pace to the turn to lead round. He went clear of Coolavanny Gooch and Tynwald Bish down the far side.
Tynwald Bish moved into second rounding the final turns but had no answer to the winner who went on to score by four lengths in 28.32sec.
The sponsors shortened Coolavanny Jap to 20-1.
Irish Puppy Derby winner Quietly (3-1) landed the heat of death (heat 11), which saw the elimination of Easter Cup winner Sidarian Blaze and Scottish Derby finalist Save The Don.
Ian Reilly’s Quietly was soon clear while Sidarian Blaze looked like turning in a handy position but he checked and hit the rail at the turn and checked off wide. He was later diagnosed with a broken hock. Save The Don was also involved in first bend trouble, which resulted in his elimination.
While all this mayhem was going on Quietly went at least six lengths clear of Pat Buckley’s Go Ahead and although his stride began to shorten, he held on gamely to score by a length and a half in 28.42sec. Making Paper was third.
Quietly was shortened to 14-1.
Geelo Vegas was a shock 6-1 winner of heat 12. The National Sprint winner forged clear on the run-up while last year’s runner-up Droopy Ward and Adageo Bob were in the wars around the opening turns.
Droopys Ward moved into second on the third turn but has no answer to the winner who scored by almost four lengths in 28.58sec.
The bowser went round before the four-runner heat 13, which turned into a thriller.
8-11 favourite Gaytime Hawk missed the kick and was involved in early crowding with main market rival On Alert. Meanwhile last year’s quarter finalist Ballymac Loch went into a length lead but it only looked a matter of time before 2-1 shot On Alert picked him up. However Ballymac Loch kept pulling more out and only succumbed to On Alert in the shadow of the post and was beaten by half a length in 28.51sec.
Gaytime Hawk finished strongly to just qualify in third.
The sponsors make On Alert a 25-1 chance.
Viking Jack justified 7-4 favouritism in heat 14. Jim Hayton’s Gold Cup winner flew out of the boxes and was soon clear. Arc runner-up Evanta Evita turned the first bend in second place but has no answer to the winner who went on to score by two lengths in 28.33sec.
The sponsors make Viking Jack a 16-1 chance.
Jet Stream Sound was a shock 12-1 winner of the penultimate qualifier. Jason Foster’s Sparta Flame led to the second turn where he was passed by Jet Stream Sound and Boyneside Fun. Kevin Hutton’s Jet Stream Sound led from halfway and saw off the persistent challenge of Charlie Lister’s former sprinter Boyneside Fun by three quarters of a length in 28.47sec.
Mark Wallis’s Blonde Nipper raised his game when landing the last qualifier.
The Harolds Cross Gold Collar winner shared the lead with Kevin Hutton’s Ibiza Rocks to the turn but the writing was always on the wall and he swept past on the third turn to eventually beat the running on Here We Go by two lengths in 28.42sec.
Hills make him a 33-1 chance.
