A number of leading fancies for the Star Sports Bookmakers & ARC English Greyhound Derby trialled around the Colwick Park circuit on Friday evening including 9 of the 15 strong Irish contingent who were due to line up for the first round next week.
I say were as news has just hit that Droopys Lullaby has been withdrawn from the competition by her trainer Noel Hehir.
Lullaby’s time of 30.14 didn’t appear too bad considering the many lengths she left on the circuit, particularly at the second bend, her place has now been taken by Jim Reynold’s middle seeded Vics Charm.
There was better news for the Irish though as the top three times recorded at the session were all done so by their runners.
Pat Buckley’s Deerjet Sydney a quarter finalist in the Irish Derby looks set to be ideally suited by course and distance, he recorded a handtimed 29.86, a time which was backed up by my computer generated times and looks to be an accurate assessment.
Only three spots separated the top trio however with Graham Holland’s Wolfe just two spots slower at 29.88 and Buckley’s Glengar Bale just a further spot back on 29.89.
Wolfe was well fancied for the English Derby last year after a stunning first round victory, he unfathomably checked at the third bend though, stopping running and throwing away all chance of qualification in the second round.
A mystery that may never be solved!
Despite hitting veteran status this coming November, he’s been in excellent form since in a lightly raced and targeted campaign since on Irish soil. Emerging victorious in the Easter Cup Final at Shelbourne back in March he heads back across the Irish sea off the back of a superb performance at Shelbourne on Irish Derby final night last Saturday when winning over 550 yards in 29.32.
Meanwhile Pat Buckley’s Glengar Bale, much less experienced with just 12 races under his belt, a winner of six of those however and a semi finalist in the Irish Derby final this year, he’s an extremely classy type who could go a long way at Nottingham.
Graham Holland’s Black Parachute, also a winner on Irish Derby final night looked a little lost in his trial, particularly in the early stages and he can do nothing but improve upon his 30.19 effort.
Lynn Cooks classy local Plaza Lep was extremely slowly away from traps by his usually smooth standards, hitting the line first time in an extremely moderate 5.20 explains away his overall time of 30.07.
