ADDED SENSE OF JEOPARDY AS DERBY CONTINUES IN DUBLIN

Ian Fortune

There will be an added sense of jeopardy at Shelbourne Park this evening as the second round of the BOYLE Sports Irish Greyhound Derby gets underway.

Eight of the sixteen heats will feature on tonight’s card and with just three to qualify, there is zero room for error.

The comfort of the opening round when four progressed from each heat is now in the wing mirrors and a few big names are likely to exit over the two nights of the second round.

As you would expect there are a few very short favourites, including the top two in the ante-post market Bouncing Monarch and Ballymac Deniro. Below is a heat-by-heat guide to tonight’s action.

Heat 1 – BOCKOS NEEDS A GOLDEN START

At least one big name will make their exit in the opening heat with so much quality on show. Remarkably, it is possible that five of the six competitors will be under the 5-1 mark, highlighting the open nature of the race but Bockos Gold seems certain to start favourite.

The massive tracker has all manner of ability but needs to find more consistency at boxes. If he does propel his 86lb frame from the traps, he will quickly emerge as the one to beat but there is no room for error with Droichead Nua, Berlin Trilogy, Sober Barry and Priceless Romeo waiting in the long grass.

In truth, you could run this race numerous times and have a different result every time. So much will come down to the opening five strides Droopys Faithful will attract support from an inside draw. A change of seeding after the opening round, she could be a big player of hitting the ground running.

Produce Stakes champion Berlin Trilogy is a concern for Bockos Gold backers. He is set to edge inwards from trap four and could potentially leave the favourite short of room. Sober Barry can rocket to the turn from five and is a possible pace-setter, while Priceless Romeo never runs a bad race and comes into tonight’s contest on the back of two superb wins.

Bockos Gold is a token selection. He has immense ability but needs to come through the bars. If doing so, he will be hard to stop. Droopys Faithful and Priceless Romeo are nominated to follow him through but nothing can be taken for granted in this fascinating contest.

Heat 2–EXPECT A DYNAMIC RUN FROM LENNIES

Lennies Dynamic and Solo And Go met each other in the opening round with the verdict going to the latter.

A week on, the pair renew rivalry in Heat 2 and Lennies Dynamic is chosen to exact revenge on his rival from an ideal draw in the stripes.

This is far from a two-dog contest, however. Jaykay Fly is a non-runner from trap one, leaving plenty of room along the fence for the fast-starting, in-form Roarin Ogara, while Glengar Kane ran a huge race in defeat in the opening round and must be respected despite a tough draw in five.

The suspicion is that both Glengar Kane and Solo And Go will edge towards the fence. That would leave Lennies Dynamic with the room of Shelbourne Park to move into top stride before the corner. The Paul Hennessy trained star may have been beaten last week but, in defeat, displayed enough to suggest he could go far in the Derby.

Solo And Go got first run from an inside draw on that occasion. Tonight, Liam Dowling’s star races from four and needs to be at his very sharpest once again. Glengar Kane may need to explode from traps but is not taken lightly.

Lennies Dynamic can trap on terms before showing his unbelievable pace to strike the front before the turn. Solo And Go and Glengar Kane are the main dangers, while Roarin Ogara will look to capitalise of any of the outside trio make mistakes. Unassuming completes the line-up. She looked in need of last week’s opening round run and this test may come too soon.

Heat 3 – SPECIAL CAN LEAD THE WAY

Graham Holland has a strong hand in Heat 3 with half the field representing his all-conquering Riverside Kennels.

Low Profile, Gaytime Teco and Bombay Special are the trio in question and the first named is expected to start favourite, although he will need another flawless effort to follow up last week’s impressive victory.

The presence of the fast starting, early paced Lone Calling from two is a worry for Low Profile. Should she go up fast, there is a chance that space will be at a premium along the fence. Instead, when picking a likely winner, it is hard not to glance towards the stripes and Bombay Special.

She returned to something close to her best last week, getting loose into the turn to make all in a 29.59 success. The daughter of Dromana Bucko really drove the bend last week and kept finding to repel her rivals. It was the type of run that reminded those watching just how good she can be.

Ballymac Hitman is also worthy of a mention. A raw youngster with huge pace, he has been short of luck in previous outings but remains an exciting prospect. If he were to find a fast start from four, he too could get involved.

Bombay Special is selected to again drive to the front on the opening bend. If doing so, she can remain unbeaten in the classic. Lone Calling can race prominently and is nominated as a big danger, while Low Profile is also respected.

Heat 4 – DENIRO CAN JUSTIFY SHORT ODDS

Ballymac Deniro was outstanding in the opening round, displaying massive pace and power to emerge a comfortable winner.

As a result, he is now second favourite for the Derby. Those credentials will be tested in Heat 4, although he looks set to pass with flying colours.

Perfectly housed in the stripes, he should have room to race in the early stages with Silent Noelle and Getup The Boy expected to step left from traps five and four. The duo are both very talented and can emerge as leading contenders to qualify but neither can afford to give Ballymac Deniro a head-start.

Indeed, should Ballymac Deniro get loose into the bend, he would likely go very fast, further highlighting his obvious Derby claims.

Roaming Shelby is also deserving of a mention after a fine run in defeat last week but he needs to be at his sharpest in the early yards.

Ballymac Deniro is a very short price to emerge triumphant this evening but is fully expected to emerge on top. Getup The Boy after a massive run in defeat in the opening round can chase him home with Silent Noelle and Roaming Shelby likely to battle it out for the remaining qualifying spot.

Heat 5 – BRIAN TO GIVE RIVALS THE SLIP

Heat 5 is packed with quality.

So many of those in the line-up could have a big say in the finish but the outside duo of Slippery Brian and Kapuka Coley are likely to head the market. Kapuka Coley was a tremendous winner in the opening round, stopping the clock in 29.35.

As a result of that run he is set to go to traps favourite but the presence of Slippery Brian is a concern. The latter was picked up on the line last weekend, but displayed fine pace and determination to get to the front in the first place. He gave the impression he would come on for the run and were he to get first run tonight, could prove a tough nut to crack.

Grouchos Chief and Groucho Frank are also greatly respected. The former has massive early speed and is amongst the most exciting puppies in training. He needs to get loose in the early yards but that is possible. If doing so, he would set a searing gallop to the third turn, from which point he is a little vulnerable. Grouchos Frank is an all-rounder. He moves from the start to finish but may need to come through the bars this evening to land a telling blow. Bockos Sapphire and Ballyhooly Bruno are very strong. If either are to get involved, they may need find a pitch in behind and hope for traffic amongst the leaders.

Slippery Brian is just given the nod ahead of Kapuka Coley but this could be a terrific battle. Grouchos Chief is also likely to play a big part but may need to hit the third turn with a couple of lengths in hand.

Heat 6 – PLAN DRAWN TO MAKE A BOLD BID

Hackney Plan is set to start favourite for Heat 6.

The Michael O’Donovan trained star went close in his opening round assignment, shooting from traps to make most of the running. It was only in the final strides that Oriental King collared him.

If he can reproduce that level of performance, he will be hard to beat in Heat 6. That’s not to suggest he will have things easy. Hackney Plan doesn’t always go up fast as he did last time. And if he fails to come away racing, Swords Style and Shotgun Dez will bid to get first run on the favourite.

Swords Style was only fourth in the opening round but ran a far better race than the result suggests. Normally a flying starter, he is always difficult to pick up when out front. Shotgun Dez has proper early speed and was a good winner of his opening round assignment.

Throw in the strong running trio of Kilcolgan Norman, Blastoff Heffo and Mona Lee Monbeg and there is potential for a strange result but hackney Plan does have the best of the draw. For that reason he is just chosen ahead of the Graham Holland trained duo of Swords Style and Shotgun Dez.

Heat 7 – CAN EDDIE GET LOOSE?

Heat 7 is perhaps the most fascinating of the evening.

After just sneaking through the opening round, English Derby champion Lennies Eddie will bid to show his true colours from three. He is joined by one of the most impressive winners of the opening round Ballyea Warrior. Both have tremendous early speed, while the same can be said for the outsider of the line-up Harlequin Gee Up.

And then you have the powerful trio of Coolemount Fame, Ballymac Scheff and Mydras Opinion. Each of the three will finish at speed and would be very dangerous if finding a way to turn close.

Given the weather and the wonderful condition of the track, times are likely to be fast and that can play to the strengths of the early pacers. Ballyea Warrior seems certain to go up fast from five but Lennies Eddie is chosen to return to his best form and challenge into the turn before moving on to halfway.

Mydras Opinion has a great draw in six and could get first run of the powerful trio.

Heat 8 – MONARCH TO RULE

Bouncing Monarch has long been favourite for Derby glory and only strengthened his position with a stunning opening round effort.

He will be odds-on to follow up in Heat 8, the last of the evening.

Blessed with wonderful pace form start to finish, odds-on backers will be hoping the Kirby Memorial champion can avoid any mistakes at traps.

Ballydoyle Tina is perhaps the greatest danger to Bouncing Monarch. She suffered an odds-on defeat last week but remains one of Ireland’s fastest females. She needs to hit the ground running from the inside trap but is worthy of a second glance.

Of the remainder, Firstpastthepost and Singalong Cherry both won their opening round assignments when making all. Both will need to be at their very best to worry Bouncing Monarch, who is chosen to come away racing and again dominate.