Boylesports Irish Derby – Round two, night two
Saturday has plenty to live up to after Friday which we have reviewed below.
Things kick off with a cracker as English Derby winner De Lahdedah takes on Kirby winner Knockeen Dazzler in the opening heat tonight. It is a clash that should start the eight heats with a bang.
Runner-up at Towcester, Boylesports Bob, will be in action at 9.24. His finishing effort in round one was spectacular, taking chunks out of his rivals on the run for home. He showed in Northamptonshire that he can just keep on qualifying.
Arthur Cornflake is the UK representative tonight. He was second to Knockeen Dazzler in the opening round last week and will take his chance for Patrick Godfrey in heat 15 at 9.39.
There were few winners who made the impression that Bombay Pat did last week. Heat 12 at 8.48 gives Graham Holland’s son of Pestana another opportunity to show off his gears. The pace he shows from line to bend suggests there are going to be some special races later in the competition when the big guns meet.
It was not a good start for Callaway Knegare last week. He did plenty wrong early but still made the draw with a little up his sleeve. The Juvenile Derby winner gets a chance to show his true self in heat 13 at 9.06.
Third in the Juvenile Derby was Ballymac Briar who takes on Cheap Sandwiches in the final heat. Both of them were beaten in the opening round but each are more than capable of leaving that well behind in the 9.54.
Joe’s Saturday night tips
***9.52 Perry Barr – Romeo Kingpin
**7.53 Perry Barr – Jet Stream Angel
*9.02 Perry Barr – El Tornillo
A brilliant card at Perry Barr this evening with the final of the Premier Greyhound Racing Oaks the main event and the Arena Racing Company Scurry Gold Cup at the top of the undercard.
Druids Say Go should lead and dominate in the £20,000 Oaks decider whereas the Scurry final is an open affair. Last week’s new track record holder Rioja Oisin heads the market at 13/8 with Magical Bluebear next in at 11/4. King Capaldi is as big as 4/1, Bramble Linton 6/1 with Bramble Oreo and Long Fellow both double figure prices in a classy final.
I am with Magical Bluebear who is drawn well in trap four and crucially inside Rioja inside as the pair could battle it out heading into the bend where Magical Bluebear can use the draw inside to go round in front and win.
Tonight’s Best Bet
The Nap of the evening is in the 9.52pm. A 480m standard race where trap two Romeo Kingpin can lead and make all. He is starting to show signs of his true self in recent weeks with eye-catching defeats behind the likes of King Memphis and Droopys Doughnut at Central Park. These were followed by a scintillating trial at Towcester stopping the clock in 15.65 for the 270m trip so a smart exit from trap two here can see him lead and win.
Saturday Next Best
The next best is trap one Jet Stream Angel in the bitches contest over 480m at 7.53pm. A fall in the second round of the Oaks took away her chances of going deep in the competition but she has been given a good chance here to return to winning ways. A classy bitch with plenty of early pace when doing things right, she can use the draw in trap one to dominate from trap rise. She can lead into the first bend, set up an unassailable lead and return to winning ways.
Other selections on the card include Droopys Plunge in the puppy race at 7.36pm, Crossfield Enzo in the Winner Of One at 8.11pm and Kent Derby third El Tornillo in the 480m standard at 9.02pm. Hopiehopiehopie can reverse last weeks marathon defeat at Central Park behind Beach Babe by getting the better of her in the Match Race closing the card at 10.11pm.
Friday Shelbourne review
Bockos Diamond is the second quickest ever over 550y at Shelbourne!
What a night! If round one was great, day one of round two was greyhound racing at its very best. Kapuka Warrior and Toolmaker Curio served up a dead heat in the opening heat, setting the tone for the action to follow.
The plaudits will naturally go to Bockos Diamond who landed his heat in 29.03. It was a display of all-around power that saw his price cut to 3/1 for outright glory. He deserves the praise for a sensational run and could yet go quicker.
Look behind him though and the ground that Tuono Charlie made up to finish second was immense. His unbeaten run went in round one but it’ll take some bad luck to stop this powerful runner from making a bid for a place in the final.
It was another outstanding evening for the Seaglass Shadow litter. March On Freddie missed his break and had to go up the inside heading into the third bend. The pace he showed down the back was phenomenal and this will have taught him much more than another on the bunny demolition job would have.
Seven Beach added a second round win to his first, getting the better of a potentially tricky heat with Tarsna Maasai. His first round form was franked when A Lucky Julie powered home to land the final heat of the evening. She had given him plenty to think about last week as she looks to follow up her Irish Oaks win.
When it comes to the top bitches both Grangeclare Lady and Glengar Martha will have a say. A neck separated them in heat five, the same margin that Da Bold Falcon picked up Cheque For Cash by in the prior heat. Fairy Footsteps was the other winner on the night.
Bear roars around Nottingham
The Towcester track record holder stops the clock at 29.53 ahead of an Eclipse bid.
Patrick Janssens’ hound had only raced at the track once in the past. That was in the Select Stakes back at the end of August when runner-up to Unanimouspanther. Only that Select Stakes winner and March On Freddie (five times) have gone quicker this year. Remarkably given the time he produced, he did plenty wrong in the early stages and is capable of taking lengths off his time!
Robert Short had an excellent night with three winners. Both sprint races went to the kennel with King Justin and Tromora Rain at 9/1 and 10/1 respectively. King Ezra got one back for favourite backers with a solid 28.85 display.
Droopys Flotilla won for Nathan Hunt, Bockos Thunder scored for Kevin Boon and Velvet Madrid was successful for Peter Holland.
Friday night at Romford
Paul Burr brings home the bacon with a Friday night treble.
Bacon Roll pulled off a 33/1 stunner in front of the Gone To The Dogs cameras eight nights back. She won again but it was her kennelmate Bacon Frazzles who produced the double carpet surprise this week! Divine Rule got the night started for the Burr kennel with a win in the opening contest.
Golden Palace had a much kinder draw than he did in the Champion Stakes Final. The white jacket saw him around in front and away to win in 35.19 for Michelle Brown. Breaghmore Paudy was a winner in the front of the cameras last week and he made no mistake in the maiden final for Dan Brabon.
Cat Island for Mark Wallis and Hot Rod for Gemma Evans joined Bacon Roll in ducking under the 24-second barrier. David Mullins got on the scoresheet with Second Tier and Bombay Jupiter won for Paul Young.
Sunderland revving up for the Classic
Two Classic trials stakes were run plus an interesting trial session.
Coolavanny Mercy set the early standard for the Classic for Angela Harrison. Her 26.69 success sets a strong level, the second fastest of the year with only Kevin Ferguson’s Acomb Irene going quicker so far. The other trial stake went to On The Nose for Carl Jackson in 26.84. It was just his fourth run since arriving from Ireland where he was a Bar One Sprint Cup finalist.
Fire And Ice (Matt Dartnall) and Untold Euro (Tom Heilbron) were the pair to duck under 27 seconds in the trial session yesterday. No sectionals with all the trials hand timed.
Upcoming changes to the PGR Schedule
Further meeting abandonments at Crayford due to a runner shortage. As previously mentioned, there will be abandoned cards in early November at tracks where there are risks of fireworks in the ares.
November 2
Hove and Perry Barr are off.
November 4
Central Park will not race in the afternoon.
November 5
Crayford, Central Park and Swindon are all abandoned. Cards at Sheffield, Newcastle, Romford, Monmore and Perry Barr have earlier start times.
November 9
Romford’s will not race in the evening.
Stats
- Capel Hunter – 3.18 Crayford – 6/12 in S3 grade.
- Make It Good – 4.09 Swindon – 9/12 from trap two.
- Macaulies Storm – 6.48 Monmore – 5/9 when clad in blue.
- Reliable Rob – 7.51 Oxford – 5/10 from trap one.
- Carmac King – 8.18 Shelbourne – 7/9 in open class from trap five.
- Ballymac Cline – 8.31 Monmore – 10/17 from stripes.
- Ballinabola Jim – 9.06 Shelbourne – 7/9 from the outside draw here.
- King Marvin – 9.28 Central Park – 7/10 from trap six.
Opens
Saturday: Central Park♦ Perry Barr
