Shelbourne Park Racing Manager Derek Frehill has been casting his eye over Saturday’s night’s card and made his selections for the four Boylesports Irish Derby quarter finals, and second round runners in the Michael Fortune Memorial Plate. As you can see – he takes a different view to Graham Holland in most cases.
I realise that Lenson Bocko will be a very short priced favourite and he looks an exceptional young dog but I am going to oppose him.
Grangeview Ten is in exceptional form at the moment. I expect him to lead and think he is capable of a 29.40 run which would make him good value for punters.
I would expect Jumeirah Buddy and Mucky Brae to lead up on the inside. Ballymac Cooper has done nothing wrong. But I have a real strong fancy for Boylesports King.
He has been thrown in at the deep end and when of the others are feeling the runs after four or five weeks, I don’t think he will. He has a great chance in the final, and he has a great trainer to win a final.
Magical Bale is perfectly drawn on the inside and is always so impressive at Shelbourne Park. But I don’t know whether I am thinking with my head or my heart when I go for Killmacdonagh.
She is an exceptional greyhound and I can imagine her slotting in behind Magical Bale at the first bend and following him around. She had it all to do last week but still produced a 29.61 run so she is still doing times.
As soon as the draw was made my assistant James picked out Music Toour Ears as the best drawn dog of the 24 and it is hard to argue.
But it is probably the hardest of all the four heats to call since only Murts Boher had a clear run last week. There were some hard luck stories, and one of them might get it right this week.
I thought Worseforwear, who is a great old dog was really unlucky to be eliminated and think he is good enough to win this.
Clonbrien Prince will probably start favourite but how close to his best is he? I think Cushie Jet has a perfect draw and is capable of a 29.40 run on his night which might be good enough.
Clona Blaze is the real deal and it is very difficult to oppose him in here. But if I was looking for a forecast, I would half an eye on Colemans Flyer. He did a 29.43 trial on a slow track before the Derby, and although he didn’t reproduce it so far, he clearly has some ability.
Like the fourth heat of the Derby, this is the toughest of the Plate heats. Da Head Hunter is good enough on his night, though he can be hit-or-miss. In a five dog race though (Glory Gold w/d), I would be looking to Burgess Paddy who was fancied to go well in the Derby but crashed out early.
