Maverick goes quickest in the PGR Classic
26.65 is the second quickest time of the year so far.
Links Maverick was touched off in the Bresbet Steel City Cup and continued that form over to Sunderland. A 4.76 split saw him lead up and he was never going to allow anything to get remotely close to him. A consummate professional of a dog, he’s now a 4/1 chance for outright glory. Tom Heilbron notched up a double on the evening with Untold Ruble in 27.16.
Ante-post favourite Brindle Bully had to work hard to win his heat but did so in a very smart 26.75. David Mullins will be hoping that’s the start of another excellent weekend. Bramble Linton made the Scurry Final last week and set the early fractions, only just getting run down late on. It was a superb effort from Steven Anderson’s charge.
There was plenty of money before the competition for Stonepark Hoffa. Trained by Savva Roberts, the son of Droopys Sydney made a splash on his UK debut, winning in 26.74. He’s now joint second favourite with Links Maverick at 4/1 but is drawn outside that rival in a tasty semi-final.
Angela Harrison was on the scoresheet courtesy of Coolavanny Mercy. A trial stakes winner last week, she followed up with another strong display of early pace. The other heat went to Swift Underwater for John Lambe in 27.19. A January 23 puppy, he is the youngest left in the competition.
PGR Classic 1st round replays
1 – 1st Stonepark Hoffa (t2) – 2nd Fire And Ice (t2) – 3rd Wraysbury Katie (t1)
2 – 1st Links Maverick (t2) – 2nd Oscar The Grouch (t1) – 3rd Unanimous Leon (t3)
3 – Coolavanny Mercy (t5) – 2nd Aero Sacundai (t2) – 3rd Tremora Supreme (t3)
No replay of heat four. 1st Untold Ruble (t2) – 2nd Headford Sonny (t3) – 3rd Droopys Prefect (t4)
5 – 1st Swift Underwater (t3) – 2nd Lion Heart (t1) – 3rd Madabout Peck (t5)
6 – 1st Brindle Bully (t6) – 2nd Bramble Linton (t3) – 3rd Untold Euro (t2)
Semi-final draw
Boylesports Irish Derby – Round 3
Eight heats tonight as we see 48 become 24 ahead of the business end of the competition.
The action comes to a boil immediately with ante-post market leader Bockos Diamond in the opening heat at 7.48. He has the orange jacket on his back, inside Carrick Aldo tonight after being outside him last week. English Derby winner De Lahdedah goes in heat two at 8.03. Untold Dollar and Seven Beach top and tail heat three at 8.18.
Attention from the UK picks up at 8.32 when March On Freddie will set the second hare for crack stayer Tuono Charlie to aim for. That has the potential to be a great buckle from the three-quarters mark. Ballinabola Jim, Bombay Pat, Cheap Sandwiches and Boylesports Bob headline the remaining heats from the widest draws.
One final reminder that if you wish to take advantage of the Tote’s reduction to 12.5% on the Irish Derby which starts next week to register with Barking Buzz today!
Kathleen outshines the Derby Plate
27.77 in her third career race is beyond any superlatives.
It was back in December of 2012 than Paradise Madison set the 525y track record of 27.67 which stands today. Ballymac Arminta clocked 27.70 in May 2019 and then Droopys Kathleen produced her 27.77 last night. A May 23 whelp, that makes her 18 months old! The first dog that crack Irish jockey Dylan Browne McMonagle has owned, she looks set to carry all before her. That near 12-year track record looks in serious danger next week given she’s still so young.
Derby Plate heats
Coosane Pickles was fastest in the Plate, winning her heat in 29.21 for Michael O’Donovan. She had that honour by three sports over Faypoint Harvey who landed the final heat for Graham Holland. We mentioned heat three yesterday as potentially the pick of them. While it was not close to the quickest, Owen McKenna’s Carmac King produced the best finish of the night to nail Tribal Syd on the line in29.58.
A 29.44 was enough for Knockeen Dazzler to return to winning ways. Patrick Guilfoyle’s charge was three sports quicker than Ian Reilly’s Phoenix Memphis and six over Garry Dempsey’s Miami King who also landed heats. Hawkfield Abbie (John McGee) and Rushy Meadows (Brendan Matthews) rounded out the heat winners.
Command quickest at Nottingham
Three opens at Nottingham last night included an Eclipse trial stake.
That contest was won by Romeo Command in a very smart 29.38 for Patrick Janssens. Janssens’ Barntick Bear won the Arc Standard Trophy Final in 29.66 to give the trainer a double. His sectional was a hair better than in the heats at 5.34 but was a long way shy of his kennelmate’s 5.08. Tromora Rain won a sprint open for Robert Short in 15.00
Four doubles up at Romford
Gemma Evans, David Mullins, Mark Wallis and Paul Young each had a brace of winners on Friday night.
Fratton Bark and Without Time brought up a quick fire double for Evans in back to back races. Second Tier and Piemans Goalie won for Mullins while Wallis was on target with Pepinthestep and Mad For Sterling, both over 575m. Young scored with Shirleys Boy and Bombay Jupiter. The latter won a sprint in 13.51, only four dogs have gone quicker in 2024.
The quickest time of the night over 400m was produced by Bacon Roll for Paul Burr. She sizzled (sorry, couldn’t resist) to a 23.72 success to make it a hat-trick of wins and five from her last six open races at London Road. Taking the lead at the second bend, her rivals couldn’t ketchup (last one, I promise) with her.
Dean Blackbird got some reward for a long drive down from Co. Durham when Port West Storm was successful, having missed out by a short head with Emers Macie. Jane Craske won with Table Talk in the first open of the evening.
Cornflake headlines Monmore card
Arthur Cornflake looks set to light up the Midlands instead of Dublin this evening.
While it is not the third round of the Irish Derby for Patrick Godfrey’s runner, he should pick up a win given his current form. A dead heat in round two at Shelbourne caused frustration but hats off to the kennel for having a go in the first place. It was a small English challenge and Arthur Cornflake ran his heart out both times. Hopefully tonight can be a small measure of compensation.
Ballymac John and Millbank Boiler will be the favourites to win the other two heats of the 480m standard which can set up a tasty final in seven days time. Coonough Crow and Magical Luna should serve up a treat over 684m later on the card.
There is also a single open at Central Park tonight. The final of a Cat Three maiden. Dan Brabon’s Rosstemple Bono set a clear standard in the heats last week. A repeat of that would make him tough to contain.
Monmore has some good looking trials before racing as well this evening.
Lifford to start SIS fixtures
A ‘test’ fixture will run at the track tomorrow.
Lifford will be joining the SIS rota from next Sunday, November 10 as long as the test is successful. It will accompany Clonmel on the channel as part of the evening schedule. First race will be at 6.36 with the track on the hunt for an expansion on their pool of available dogs. The track said they are aiming to “deliver a good spread of racing grades and mix of distances” in their recent announcement.
Gone To The Dogs WhatsApp Group
Get all the info on the lead up to the start of the PGR Eclipse where the cameras will next be. Competitions, upcoming trap draws, results and news all in the group!
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Stats
- Watch Out Bono – 5.14 Youghal – 5/6 in the red jacket.
- Keady Corky – 7.42 Doncaster – 6/12 from trap two.
- Bockos Diamond – 7.48 Shelbourne – 5/5 at the track.
- Kerrydale Amos – 7.58 Doncaster – 5/7 in A1 grade from trap three.
- Ballinabola Jim – 8.48 Shelbourne – 8/10 from trap six.
- Butterbridge Roy – 9.42 Cork – 5/5 from the red jacket.
Opens
Saturday: Central Park
Friday: Romford ♦ Sunderland
