Farloe Blitz maintains his favourite tag for the William Hill Greyhound Derby over 480 metres at Wimbledon after the third round on Saturday.
Owen McKenna’s runner landed the heat of death, which saw leading English challenger Newinn Yolo eliminated.
The third round also saw the demise of Irish Puppy Derby winner Quietly, Scottish Derby winner Coolavanny Jap, last year’s runner-up Droopys Ward and Yarmouth Derby winner Swift Keith.
Irish Puppy Derby winner Quietly was a shock elimination from the opening qualifier.
Ian Reilly’s runner missed the kick as National Sprint winner Geelo Vegas flew out the traps and led clear round the opening turn.
Quietly came to join the leader at halfway and but his challenge petered out from the third turn halfway and he eventually finished last.
Salonika went second from the third turn and eventually finished two lengths behind the Craig Perry trained 28.36sec winner.
Diego Flight came late to deny Ibiza Rocks the third qualifying spot.
A kennel spokesman said afterwards: “It was unbelievable. He’s been missing the break out of these boxes but got it right tonight and seems to be getting stronger with each race.”
The sponsors reacted by going 33-1 Geelo Vegas.
Teds Last landed a scrappy second qualifier, which saw Irish runner Coolavanny Jap on the floor and Droopys Nidge qualify in third.
Charlie Lister’s Teds Last trapped out well and followed the early leader Badmoonrising until the third turn when going on to score by just over a length from a fast finishing Paradise Maverik in 28.30sec. Droopys Nidge was a further length away.
Ian Sutherland said afterwards: “The dog came away better tonight and ran a cracker. He’s only young and improving.”
Hills went 12-1 Teds Last.
Mark Wallis got his two Evanta bitches through to Tuesday’s quarter finals in the third qualifier.
Evanta Fantasy and Evanta Evita disputed to the turn where Evita went on. Leamaneigh Turbo and Swift Keith crowded at this point and Wotnofizz went round the outside to go second but could never get near the winner, who went on to score by almost three lengths in 28.38sec. Evantas Fantasy stayed on to take third.
Wallis said afterwards: “it was a race full of early pace but Evita came out and was always going to be hard to beat when tuning in front. She loves Wimbledon and hopefully she can keep it going.”
Hills went 33-1 Evanta Evita.
Lenson Sanchez was an impressive winner of heat four. The heavily gambled Clares Wonder was the first to show but the 2014 Puppy Derby winner got inside him at the turn and went on to score by four lengths in 28.12sec. Diane Henry’s Making Paper stayed on for third.
Sara Buckley said afterwards: “He ran a blinder, and when he came out with them was always going to be hard to beat.”
Leading English hope Newin Yolo was a shock elimination from the red-hot heat five. Pat Rosney’s runner led approaching the first turn but was passed on the inside by the moderate starting Farloe Blitz.
Newinn Yolo took a bump, which seemed to unsettle him as he was relegated to mid division and his usual burst of middle pace was missing.
Meanwhile Farloe Blitz, the 6-4 favourite, was a couple of lengths clear of Boyneside Fun down the far side and went on to hold Charlie Lister’s runner by just over a length in 28.36sec. Eden The Kid, a distant fourth down the far side, flew home and was only a short head further back.
Winning trainer Owen McKenna said afterwards: “It’s great to be through. It was his first time out of trap one and he didn’t break but showed his early pace. It’s great to be still there after a tough heat.”
Newinn Yolo came off lame.
Hills made him 7-2 favourite for the Derby.
Paul Young’s Millwards Davy was a shock 16-1 winner of heat six. The favourite Roxholme Ted held a slight advantage going into the turn but Millwards Davy ran a brilliant bend to emerge in front and he went clear.
Roxholme Ted couldn’t get near him and he was run out of second place near the line by Romany Rouge, who finished a length and three quarters behind the 28.25sec winner.
Millwards Davy was put in at 80-1 by Hills.
Mim Emment, assistant trainer said: “He’s a run a great race; this is for the owner Mitch Millward.”
Rio Quattro was only the second favourite to win by heat seven.
Danny Riordan’s runner was led to the turn by Lenson Tiggy but hit the front off the second turn only to be challenged all the way to the line by Tynwald Bish, who failed by half a length to catch the winner.
Blonde Nipper made significant late progress to finish third.
Margaret Harkness, assistant trainer said afterwards: “It was Danny’s birthday on Wednesday and this is great for him.”
Jaytee Jet found his trapping boots for the first time in the competition to win heat eight.
Paul Hennessy’s runner was challenged to the third turn by Gaytime Hawk but went on to score by just over two lengths in 28.27sec.
Viking Jack finished third, with last year’s runner-up Droopys Ward, a distance last with something clearly amiss.
Susan Hennessy said afterwards: “He was brilliant; we knew he could come out and we reckon a bump in an earlier race may have affected his confidence. We hope he can do it again.”
Quarter final draw:
1 Evanta Fantasy
2 Farloe Blitz
3 Millwards Davy
4 Diego Flight
5 Clares Wonder
6 Romany Rouge
1 Evanta Fantasy
2 Rio Quattro
3 Making Paper
4 Eden The Kid
5 Wotnofizz
6 Boyneside Fun
1 Gaytime Hawk
2 Geelo Vegas
3 Teds Last
4 Viking Jack
5 Jaytee Jet
6 Roxholme Ted
1 Paradise Maverik
2 Blonde Nipper
3 Lenson Sanchez
4 Tynwald Bish
5 Salonika
6 Droopys Nidge
