ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL NIGHT FOR IRISH AT TOWCESTER
Ian Fortune
Ireland will be responsible for six of the twelve semi-finalists in the semi-finals of the Star Sports/ TRC English Greyhound Derby after another hugely successful night at Towcester on Saturday which saw the raiding party claim three of the four semi-finals.
Cheap Sandwiches got the ball rolling, taking the opening heat in style. He was quickly followed by defending champion De Lahdedah, while Dynamic Force produced the run of his career for the second week running to set the standard in Heat 3.
TASTY SANDWICHES
Cheap Sandwiches was 8-11 to win the opening heat for Graham Holland and he would produce a stunning display. Although headed at traps by Droopys Aladdin, Cheap Sandwiches quickly accelerated into the lead.
A length to the good on the turn, he just missed Droopys Aladdin who was pushed off the turn by the advancing Sole Mio. The latter chased Cheap Sandwiches into the back straight and an Irish trained one-two seemed likely.
Cheap Sandwiches was always in control once going to the front, opening a two and a half length lead to halfway. Droopys Bookem flew home to grab second in the latter yards but Cheap Sandwiches would see off that rival by a length and a quarter in 28.67. Sole Mio ran a huge race in third, finishing just a length further adrift.
Sadly, Singalong Molly could never get involved after a tardy start and bad opening bend traffic. She would eventually make her exit in fifth.
LAHDEDAH DEFENCE REMAINS ON COURSE
It was the turn of De Lahdedah in the second heat. Liam Dowling’s defending champion has been running with real purpose and he again displayed his love for Towcester with a tremendous last stride success.
Churchfield Syd, the clear second favourite and 2024 finalist, set a searching gallop but the writing was always on the wall when De Lahdedah slipped around in second. The brilliant son of Lenson Bocko closed on Churchfield Syd into the third turn but had to wait for his moment to strike with the leader running a tight line around the last two bends.
As if sensing the possibility that Churchfield Syd would move off the final turn, De Lahdedah swung wider than normal to make his move. Charging home, he would get up on the line to win by a short head in 28.81. No Better Feelin was third, another length and a quarter adrift.
Hello Diego carried no luck for Paul Hennessy. He found bad traffic on the turn and failed to get involved before finishing at the tail of the field.
A DYNAMIC DISPLAY BY FORCE
Dynamic Force was at his very best in Heat 3. After a massive run in defeat seven days earlier, the Paul Hennessy trained star was sent to traps the 3-1 second choice in the betting behind Bombay Pat but it was clear from the opening strides that there was only gong to be one winner.
Dynamic Force broke smartly from five and flew in the early yards to find himself in pole position. Bombay Pat missed the start but burst his way into second before the corner. Newinn Beni was third at the turn but he failed to contain Price Naseem, who continues to give Kim Bergin reason to dream.
From halfway, the order of the front three never changed. Dynamic Force was relentless. Bombay Pat did all he could to close but he was never getting to the leader. Dynamic Force would go on to win by two and a half lengths in a fastest of the round 28.66. Prince Naseem was almost three lengths away in third.
Faypoint Harvey made his exit in this contest. For the first time in the competition, he missed the start and was never a threat.
SENTINEL RUNS DOWN DIAMOND
The final heat saw Bockos Diamond and Bubbly Charger line up for team Ireland but Slick Sentinel was to come out on top. Bockos Diamond was hot favourite but he missed the kick once again, and took a bump after a couple of strides when Keefill Maverick stepped right.
In contrast, Slick Sentinel flashed from trap six to lead the field into the turn. Bockos Diamond would have a huge say in the contest, however. Showing wonderful pace and determination, he would challenge on the outside of Slick Sentinel on the corner.
By the second turn he was upsides the early leader and he would show massive pace down the back straight to lead by over a length into the third turn. After his early exertions, however, he began to tire when they hit the home straight. Slick Sentinel remained a strong challenger and he bettered Bockos Diamond on the run before containing the fast-finishing Droopys Plunge by a short head in 28.87. Bockos Diamond was another short head away in third.
Unfortunately, the Derby challenge of Bubbly Charger came to an end in last. He missed the start and got no run on the turn.
LENNIE SMASHES TRACK RECORD IN PLATE
The Irish didn’t just have success Derby quarter finals, as earlier on the card Lennies Desire created a bit of history, smashing the track record in the quarter finals of the pricedup.com Derby Plate for Paul Hennessy.
The son of Signet Ave was simply astonishing in the second heat as he posted a sensational 28.39 for Paul Hennessy and Lee Craze. A brilliant winner in the opening round of the Derby in 28.58, he was desperatlely unlucky to make his exit at the second round stage after finding bad traffic.
He returned as good as ever, however, again showing electric pace to see off Romeo Tomcat from the front. Lennies Desire would go on to win by two and three parts of a length. His mark was some five spots inside the previous best of Barnside Bear.
VAL JUSTIFIES ODDS-ON FAVOURITISM
He wasn’t the only Irish winner in the Plate.
Indeed, Val Tashadelek was sent off the 8-15 favourite for Heat 3 and he duly obliged in style, getting first run into the turn before going on to score for Graham Holland and Larry Dunne by two and a half lengths in 28.69. Deliveroo was second. Sadly, Pain Barrier made his exit from the stake after finishing down the field.
TIBET PROGRESSES IN THIRD
Ballymac Tibet was also in action in the Derby Plate.
He progressed in third in the last of the four heats, finishing a neck and three parts of a length behind Scooby the Boss and Kilmore Dancer.