Graham Holland was the most underwhelmed man at Shelbourne on Thursday night as he drove away with four Boylesports Derby heat winners and near track record performances from Sonic and Clares Rocket.
The 2016 beaten Derby favourite Sonic was just two spots outside Tyrur Van Gaal’s clock with a 29.12 run. Clares Rocket was, uncharacteristically put in the shade by his kennelmate with a ‘mere’ 29.16 run. The quartet came courtesy of Clonbrien Hero in 29.65 and Droopys Cabaye (29.63).
Holland said: “I wasn’t too surprised by either Sonic or Rocket. I knew there were both very well and I’d be a fool to claim that there is plenty left in them, but they are where they are. Rocket hasn’t taken a lot of getting back fit, he came back from England in good shape.
“Sonic took a bit more work. He didn’t really take to Nick Savva’s gallop, he wasn’t putting the work in. Nor did he take to Towcester, he wasn’t trapping well and the straights were too short for him. We know we have to work him because he is so keen and gets himself too fresh.
“I said last year, that despite everything he showed, he was just a boy. This year he is a man and you will see the difference.”
| Heat 1 | 550 Yards | |
| 1. NATIVE CHIMES | 4/5 (2) | 29.69 |
| (Premier Fantasy-Native Gypsy) | ||
| bk D Jan 15. Mr. John Kelleher | ||
| 2. Skywalker Manner (1) | hd | |
| 3. Black Truffle (4) | 4L | |
| 4. Kilgraney Ace (6) | 2L | |
| 5. Ballybough Dad (5) | sh | |
| 6. Fennis Buzz (3) | 2.5L | |
| Heat 2 | 550 Yards | |
| 1. SONIC | EVS (6) | 29.12 |
| (Knockglass Billy-Vickis Dream) | ||
| bk D Jun 14. Mrs. Marian Moloney | ||
| 2. Good News (3) | 10L | |
| 3. Slippery Billy (1) | 5L | |
| 4. Hey Bound (2) | 6.5L | |
| 5. Budgie Marbh (4) | 3L | |
| 6. Tammen Twister (5) | 1L | |
| Heat 3 | 550 Yards | |
| 1. DROOPYS CABAYE | 6/4 (4) | 29.63 |
| (Tullymurry Act-Droopys Solange) | ||
| bk D Jul 15. Mr. Laurence O’Rourke | ||
| 2. Lisnastrane Gold (5) | 2.5L | |
| 3. Postman Sam (3) | 1.5L | |
| 4. Clona Kid (2) | 2L | |
| 5. Drumsna Legend (1) | 1.5L | |
| 6. Urban Rock (6) | 3L | |
| Heat 4 | 550 Yards | |
| 1. TYRUR HAROLD | 2/5 (6) | 29.46 |
| (Tullymurry Act-Badminton Girl) | ||
| bkw D May 15. Mr. P.J. Fahy | ||
| 2. Toolmaker Obama (1) | 6.5L | |
| 3. Ballymac Sarahjo (3) | 1L | |
| 4. Saunders Dash (4) | 5L | |
| 5. Fane Zeema (2) | 1L | |
| 6. Highview Product (5) | 0.75L | |
| Heat 5 | 550 Yards | |
| 1. CLONBRIEN HERO | 4/6 (1) | 29.65 |
| (Razldazl Jayfkay-Trout Or Salmon) | ||
| bd D Apr 15. Mrs Kay Murphy | ||
| 2. Cahir Castle (4) | 3L | |
| 3. Kranky Mark (5) | 0.75L | |
| 4. Black Farren (3) | 2.5L | |
| 5. Cable Bay (2) | nk | |
| 6. Jumeirah Bran (6) | 4.5L | |
| Heat 6 | 550 Yards | |
| 1. JAYTEE PRESIDENT | 7/1 (3) | 30.06 |
| (Premier Fantasy-Native Gypsy) | ||
| bk D Jan 15. Mr. John Turner | ||
| 2. Droopys Noah (1) | 1.5L | |
| 3. Slippery John (6) | 3L | |
| 4. Javielenko (2) | 0.5L | |
| 5. Brackloon Titan (4) | 1.5L | |
| 6. Priceless Rum (5) | 3.5L | |
| Heat 7 | 550 Yards | |
| 1. CLARES ROCKET | 1/4 (6) | 29.16 |
| (Confident Rankin-Lemon Madrid) | ||
| wbk D Jun 14. Full-House-Syndicate | ||
| 2. Inky Holdem (1) | 16L | |
| 3. Lolos Framptons (5) | 2L | |
| 4. Coolavanny Mason (3) | 0.5L | |
| 5. Ballymac Galway (4) | 5L | |
| 6. Only For Love (2) | 2.5L | |
| Heat 8 | 550 Yards | |
| 1. CRINKILL JAKE | 3/1 (1) | 30.06 |
| (Scolari Me Daddy-Crinkill Smiler) | ||
| be D Aug 15. Mr. Brendan Keogh | ||
| 2. Slippery Louise (6) | 5.5L | |
| 3. Killeshil Jack (3) | 1L | |
| 4. Jaytee Barracuda (4) | 0.75L | |
| 5. Calico Ranger (2) | 0.5L | |
| 6. Chancem (5) | 7L | |
| Heat 9 | 550 Yards | |
| 1. DOROTAS WILDCAT | 1/2 (2) | 29.62 |
| (Ballymac Vic-Droopys Danneel) | ||
| bk D May 15. Mr. David Usher | ||
| 2. Hovex Mick (5) | 1L | |
| 3. Sellout Magic (1) | 6.5L | |
| 4. Karlow Crean (6) | 2L | |
| 5. Higher Level (3) | 2L | |
| 6. Bakery Lane (4) | 3L | |
| Heat 10 | 550 Yards | |
| 1. DROOPYS DE ROSSI | (6) | 29.69 |
| (Droopys Cain-Droopys Coast) | ||
| bk D Aug 15. Dubai-Racing-Club-Synd. | ||
| 2. Droopys King (4) | 8L | |
| 3. Homeless Darkie (2) | 3L | |
| 4. Whoops Jack (5) | 4.5L | |
| 5. Swords Pepe (1) | 4L | |
| 6. Nitro Notorious (3) | dnf |
