Graham Holland has ‘possibly’ 15 potential runners in the forthcoming Boylesports Irish Derby but won’t reveal his team sheet until the last minute.
He said: “I like to give myself every chance with the dogs who are being treated for little niggles. So at this stage I would say we have 11 ‘definites’ and up to 15 possibles.
“I realise that a number of them aren’t realistically capable of winning a Derby, but as a minimum I like to get the owners their entry fee back, which you can do if you get through to the second round.”
Last weekend was a mixed on for the kennel with Ballyhimikin Jet and Lenson Bocko both beaten in the final of the Champion Stakes but Newinn Taylor landed the Produce Stakes by extending his winning sequence to 12.
Holland said: “The Champion Stakes was just one of those things. Ballyhimikin stumbled at the start, Bocko missed his break and then moved in. Then Ballyhimikin cleaned him out at the first bend. It was disappointing but I would be much more disappointed if they go out of the Derby first round next week.
“I plan to take the middle seeding off Bocko and enter him as a railer. Last year he was going in a straight line to the bend. This year, for whatever reason, he hasn’t told me, he has started moving in. If it doesn’t work we will change back.”
The reigning champion is 8-1 with the sponsors to retain his title with kennelmate Newinn Taylor next best at 10-1.
There are a string of questions over the second favourite, the biggest being his ability to stay 550 yards. There is no doubting that he fancies the track though, the fastest in a string of fast runs at Shelbourne Park was a 28.04 run over the 525 yards when he was only 18 months old.
Graham said: “Clonmel is a tough 525 and he stayed in front until the pick-up in the final. He is a bit like Lenson Bocko last year. He barely got the trip in the early stages but got stronger as the competition went on.”
So which of the former kennel stars does Taylor most resemble in running style?
Graham said: “I’ve had a few like him, but one dog who he definitely reminds me of, who wasn’t one of my own, is Laughil Blake. He seems to run the bends as fast as he takes the straights. Some dogs go to the bend, cut across and rely on the banking at the second bend. Taylor just drives through the bend. I think he is going to love that long run to the first turn.”
Although the final list hasn’t been completed none of the more fancied runners should be missing. It will also include (The) Wolfe who has been off since winning the Ladbrokes Easter Cup in March.
Graham said: “He will be short of a run but he did a decent sprint trial and hopefully can improve as the competition progresses.”
