We had a very good weekend when all 16 of our runners made it into the next round of the Boylesports Irish Derby. We are now looking forward to Friday and Saturday. The editor has asked for an opinion on all the heats, so here goes:
Heat 1 is a field where five of the runners finished fourth in the first round including our own Nice Charmer. He ran well to qualify from his heat after being crowded at the traps. In general the longer run to the bends of the 550 suits him. I would expect him to qualify here. Ping Putter has some good early pace and should lead, the quality hound in the field is Native Chimes who looks the one to beat.
We have two runners here. They are both well drawn on the inside and I fancy them both to qualify. Lenson Blinder did everything right in his heat. In fact, he needed the run and was blowing at the end. I would expect him to improve. Clonbrien Prince is showing natural improvement as he gets older and looks well drawn, though I expect him to move to the middle on the run to the bend. Frisky Luck is a very nice greyhound on the outside and should get a run because I think Brownstown Tango will try to move inside. Chespirito has tons of ability, but is a very nervous dog, to a point where I would even wonder whether it affects his performances which would be a great shame.
We also have two in the third heat. Ballyhale Blaze overcame all sorts of bother to qualify and I fear he will have to ride his luck again here. He lacks a yard of pace to the bend and could have done with an inside draw. Totos Park surprised me how well he ran considering he is only two races back after a groin injury. He is happy in the middle and I would expect more improvement this week.
Macaroon Cruz came from last place to qualify in a heat with plenty of trouble and it will take a similar performance to qualify. I hope he gets a clear run behind Doggy Mcdogface who looks the one they all have to beat. Pudgie Budgie also ran very well last time out. He isn’t the most consistent of breakers, but he will need to do something similar again if Howth Head isn’t to take his ground.
This is particularly tough race where thankfully the draw has been kind to our two; I am particularly delighted with Drive On Tipp in red. I hope he gets a run up on the inside of Rockbay Foley. Rockbay showed his quality in the Laurels, though at this stage, I need to be convinced that he has taken to Shelbourne. He has an unusual action and I don’t know whether that’s just him or whether he isn’t comfortable there. I was hugely impressed with Cash Is King in the heats, and was pleased that Clona Blaze is drawn on his outside as one of four wide seeds.
Our Slippy Cian was faultless in the opening round though I think he will find this a tougher race to dominate. Borna Gin is a real class act and looks far better drawn than in the opening round where I really don’t think trap six did him any favours and he didn’t come away. This is a tough race with plenty of quality throughout, and right now I would settle for qualification.
We have Beaming Paradise in the seventh heat and one of our poorer trap draws, I would love to see him closer to the rail. He showed great trackcraft to qualify, and it will need a repeat of that. I think Crossfield Will is the one to beat, providing he produces one of his better breaks. Budgie Marbh has good early though only just about gets home and there is plenty of proven quality and experience in Swithins Brae.
We don’t have a runner in the eighth heat though I will watch it with interest. As I have already mentioned, I think Droopys Verve is the one we all have to beat to win the Derby and nothing about the first round changed that opinion. He is taking on the promising pup Jaytee Taylor. I wonder whether trap six is ideal for Taylor. He is certainly an improving young dog though this will be a good test for him.
We don’t have one here, though it isn’t the toughest heat of the Derby. If I was forced to make a selection, I would probably edge it to Ballymac Trinkle with Panther running on strong in the latter stages.
We are doubly represented here with Nitro Notorious and Blueberry Diva. I can see Burbank leading up on the inside and I hope he finds a bit of room. Notorious was quite badly hurt at Shelbourne last year and I hope it isn’t on his mind. Diva took full advantage of trouble in the race to win her heat at 8-1, but I think she will improve for the run and I quite fancy her here.
We don’t have one in this, though I thought Droopys Expert showed great character to come back to qualify in his heat and I fancy him here. It could be another messy race though with Whoops Harry in particular looking to move across on the run to the bend.
I fancy Clonbriend Hero to win this heat. I can imagine Our Lovely Tune, who impressed me in the first round, leading up on the inside with Hero well placed. I think he can then pull away to win it.
We have Blue East in this one and he is far from ideally drawn in four. He is also taking on a top top class greyhound over a long period in Whoops Jack. At this stage I would gladly take a second place to Whoops Jack and just get through to the next round.
We are really up against it here with Rural Brae in trap four. There are three very good early paced greyhounds on the inside but I can’t see them all getting a round the bend. Our best hope is that Brae stays out of trouble and can sneak through to run on to qualify. A very tough one to call
Nothing in here for us but I was impressed with Bakery Lane in the first round even though he ran from trap six. I think he could lead on the inside though there will be some crowding. That would suit a dog like Crohane Ronnie, a real tough warrior of a greyhound. But I would also expect Buckos Dream to get a good run on the outside. He looks an excitable type who will improve with the runs of a competition and and is the one to beat.
We have Macaroon Towser in here and it will be tough enough. Droopys Davy will probably start as favourite though I think Skywalker Rafa could prove a big obstacle on the run to the bend. If I was having a bet, I would probably go for Stonepark Noel who clocked 29.61 in his heat after a slow break.
