Trainer Graham Holland previews this week’s 2019 Irish Derby third round heats – but with an additional twist, we are including the thoughts and betting of the sponsors Boylesports.
Graham says: “We have two in the first heat, Ballyhimikin Jet and Lenson Bocko, neither of whom broke as well as they could in the heats, but both were impressive in their own way.
“Jaytee Taylor is 12-1 joint fourth favourite to win the competition but I think that is based on reputation, not what he has shown so far in the first two rounds. Personally, I see it as a three runner affair with Run Happy likely to lead on the inside, and hopefully our two in close contention at the bend. I think they can then reel him in.
“I have a terrible reputation picking the wrong one when we have two in the race but given the draw, with a slow breaker on his outside, I would narrowly edge it to Lenson Bocko. But seriously, no one would be less surprised if Ballyhimikin Jet was to come out on top. I think he stays on better than Bocko and the pair are two of the best young dogs still in the Derby.”
Boylesports view: “The opening heat sees Run Happy the 9-4 joint favourite for Pat Buckley. This is probably the best heat of the night with Lenson Bocko (9-4), Jaytee Taylor (5-2), Ballyhimikin Jet (9-2), Winetavern Don (9-1) and Jumeirah Buddy (12-1). Run Happy has a 17.13 sectional so he should set the pace here. He just gets the 550 yards trip so Jaytee Taylor in trap six is the likely contender to be coming with a huge run. Lenson Bocko is well drawn as he should lead up on the outside giving Run Happy a run for his money.”
Graham says: “I have this between Ballymac Anton and Slippy Cian and I think our dog is good enough to edge it. Allaghaun River has enough early to make life difficult for Anton on the inside, albeit Anton looks somewhere back to his best form.
“Cian ran well to pick up Ballyanne Sim last time out, though he did course the hare and ran very wide. Hopefully, he will stay a little closer in on Saturday. He needs to avoid Boylesports King who looks like a dog with stacks of pace but very green. Last week he was behind the field and decided to make his run on the rails from the second bend.”
Boylesports view: “Ballymac Anton is firing on all cylinders since the start of this Derby and at 13-8 favourite he can progress into the quarter-final next Saturday for Liam Dowling. Anton has been superb, breaking well, showing great early pace and coming home strong. He is turning into a real derby prospect for his connections so it’s hard to oppose him in heat two from trap two.
“First round heat winner Allaghaun River (6-1) done 29.46 for John Lenihan and has trap one again here. Anton is faster to the third turn than all these runners here but Slippy Cian, who was a finalist in the derby last year, has a huge chance. He returned to winning ways last week clocking 29.48 and at 7-4 he can put it up to Anton. It’s a hot heat with BoyleSports King (5-1) in trap five. This powerhouse only gets going down the back straight and comes home like a train. He is a dog you don’t want on your heels coming off the last bend but all he must do is qualify?
Graham says: “We aren’t represented her but I think Droopys Pension will get an absolute solo down the outside. Music Toour Ears will almost certainly cut straight across to the rails from five. Six has the quality to win the race anyway and is currently in great form.”
Boylesports view: “Droopys Pension is the 2-1 favourite to land heat three for John A. Linehan but what a heat this is. Deadly Dynamite is the 9-4 second favourite from trap one, the trap he clocked 29.59 from in the opening round cleaning the bookies out after a 5-2 into 6-4 gamble.
“He is a talented tracker for Karol Ramsbottom and faces his kennel mate Sliabh Liag (4/1) in trap three. Trap four Great Eastern is 7-2 and cannot be ruled out either with the early burst of speed he possesses. These are all inside runners here, so some traffic problems are expected but if Pension, who used to be a wide seed, can overcome this draw he has every chance with 29.66 and 29.44 recorded respectively in the last two rounds.”
Graham says: “We have three in here of which Lenson Blinder looks the best drawn on the rail, though he is a middle to wide runner. Murts Boher is a middle runner and Totos Park is middle to wide.
“Hopefully Blinder should get a run on the rail and set off after Droopys Hunch who looks a very good bitch and is the one to catch. She is definitely better drawn than our three and looks the most likely to get a clear run.
“Blinder is running on very strong and may have a 600 yard competition in him after the Derby. Murts Boher is slowly starting to adapt to Shelbourne. Totos Park is a seasoned quality open racer. Given the draw, I just hope that our three avoid each other in running. Let’s just qualify!
Boylesports view: “Lenson Blinder is one classy greyhound with a massive heart. He showed serious guts and determination to win last week for Graham Holland and he is one the favourites in the kennel at home. Lenson can win heat four with his odds at 5-4. He races from trap one and has two of his kennel buddies to his right, Murts Boher in trap two (8-1) and second round heat winner Totos Park (4-1) in trap three.
“The biggest danger could be the in-form bitch Droopys Hunch in trap five at 7-4. She turns two years of age next month and is improving with every run. This is perhaps her biggest test to date, but she has every chance.”
Graham says: “I would always prefer to see Wolfe closer to the rail. In an ideal world, I would like to see Grangeview Ten crack away in front. If Wolfe can avoid Laughil Josh at the first bend – he is a good young dog but still a bit novicey – I would take our chances that Wolfe would pick up the leader in the second half of the race.”
Boylesports view: “Wolfe is 5-4 to redeem himself in heat five. His victory in the second round was sensational. He clocked the fastest time of the competition so far in 29.22 by twelve lengths. Then he came out in the second round and finished second to Toolmaker Me Dad in 29.46 having a clear run more a less.
“It’s rare to see a greyhound win every heat for six weeks though and Wolfe has a chance here to qualify to the next round from trap three. Grangeview ten runs from trap two and his 11-8 looks a nice bet.
“Another star for Patrick Guilfoyle, this Produce Stakes winner is the fastest dog to the third bend in this derby with sectionals of 17.04 and 16.94. His kennel companion Laughil Josh runs from trap one and is 15-2. He needs to trap better if he is going to come back next week.
Graham says: “We have nothing in here but I look forward to watching Killmacdonagh, I am a huge fan. She ran a cracking race to beat us in the last round. It is one thing to win seven in a row, it is something else to do it the company that she has.
“She is up against one of Ireland’s most highly rated pups in Ballymac Cooper. But this is a big step up for him against seasoned runners and he still looks as though he is still learning where he wants to run. For that reason, I make Toolmaker Me Dad the biggest danger. If he comes away like he did against Wolfe and then cuts the bend, anything could happen.”
Boylesports view: “There are only so many superlatives you can use to describe Killmacdonagh. Kieran Lynch is in flying form with his kennel having a double last weekend at his local Curraheen Park but the journey up to the big smoke this weekend looks set to be worthwhile. Killmacdonagh is 5-4 favourite against the boys here from trap two and it’s good value.
“The 2019 Oaks champ has to face five lads here, but it shouldn’t pose a problem for her. Ballymac Cooper is the 2-1 second favourite and looks to be the only one who might chase her down, should she lead. Her performance in the second round was one of the highlights in the derby so far as she cruised by Magical Bale and Lenson Bocko effortlessly. Form can be temporary in greyhound racing but class is permanent and Killmacdonagh should progress to the quarter-finals.”
Graham says: “We have Newinn Lester in here who continues to impress me as he runs himself back into full fitness. I am hoping that he can find another couple of lengths and can avoid Our Surprise who may move across him if Lester doesn’t trap at his best.
“At this stage of the competition I would settle for second behind Magical Bale. He was well beaten behind Killmacdonagh last time out but we had Lenson Bocko in the race and I watched it very closely from the second bend. Both Bale and Bocko took a real whack and as highly as I rate the winner, I don’t think the video shows just how well Magical Bale, or Bocko, did to recover. I expect Bale to win this.”
Boylesports view: ” Magical Bale is the shortest priced favourite of the night at 4-5. Patrick Guilfoyle’s wonderful servant is heading for his 17th victory on Saturday wearing the red jacket in heat seven. He loves the inside and won the first round from this very same box in 29.62. He qualified last week after leading from a tricky draw of trap four but was headed down the back straight and well beaten by Killmacdonagh. He has his box tonight so it should be a matter of how far this English and Irish Derby professional will win by. Newinn Lester for Graham Holland is the 2-1 second favourite with Our Surprise at 10-3.
Graham says: “I quite fancy Mucky Brae in this one. I would expect Ballyanne Sim to lead up on the outside and Brae to outrun him in the later stages.
“Does that mean that Ballydoyle Valor can’t win it?. Absolutely not. He is a very fast dog, but the proviso with him is always ‘will he get a run?’ If things go how I expect, it will be 1-2-4 at the first bend. We are then gambling on whether Valor can avoid trouble and set off after whoever takes up the lead.
“One of these nights, Valor will get a clear run and in my opinion, he is well capable of a 29.50 run. Until then he is gradually being drawn closer to the rail. So for Saturday, he is another who falls into the category of ‘happy to qualify’.
Boylesports view: “Mucky Brae can continue to clean up his act in heat eight at odds of 11-8. He won well in the second round recording 29.62 for derby winning trainer Curly O’Donovan. He clocked 28.16 from trap one around this circuit for the 525 yards trip so a big run is expected from this inside draw.
“The 2018 BoyleSports irish Greyhound Derby champ Ballyanne Sim is the 15-8 second favourite and looks set to lead again. For the first two rounds he flew out through the bars and made all only to be caught in the dying stages of the race. His owner Eamon Cleary reckons his star is getting fitter with every race and can see him progressing further. Another fast starter is Monbeg Bakayoko for Eamonn Doyle in trap two who is 13-2 behind 5-1 shot Ballydoyle Valor in trap three.”
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