ED AND HOFFA HEAD DERBY MARKET

Ian Fortune

The Boylesports Irish Derby is just over a fortnight away and the sponsors updated their betting lists last night with a little more information available as regards the likely challengers, while head greyhound trader Damien Lonergan explained which greyhounds were losers in their book. 

In his latest review of the outright prices, Lonergan pushed out many of the top twenty in the betting to reflect the open nature of this year’s classic. Said Lonergan, “There’s an incredible calibre of greyhound around at present. So many of those in the list could go on to lift the ultimate prize and we’re expecting a few very busy weeks.

“There’s definitely been an increase in the interest in the ante-post market and we’ve taken some hefty bets in recent weeks. At the moment are biggest losers are Twoinarow and Coolavanny Calvn but we’re seeing support for a number of dogs.”

Indeed, Balinabola Ed, who is now 12-1 after the latest review, has been one of the greyhounds attracting support. “Through the English Derby, as he was winning each week, we saw more and more support coming for him.” Said Lonergan.

Twoinarow was ante-post favourite at the back end of 2021 at 25-1 but he was off the track for a few months. Lonergan reported that soon before his comeback run in May he came in for heavy support. As a result, he is one probably the firm’s biggest liability but they have pushed him out since yesterday and he is now available at 16-1.

It was a similar scenario with Coolavanny Calvn. He was off the track for some time but ahead of his comeback run in February, he was heavily backed for the classic. He is now the 14-1 third choice in the market.

Other to attract support include Kirby Memorial winner Swords Rex, who began to attract bits of support during his Produce Stakes campaign. He was 12-1 up to a could of days ago but is now 16-1 for those interested.

Good Cody was another to attract money earlier in the year. Said Lonergan, “When the money came for Good Cody in February, it suggested he was going to go down the Derby route rather than sprinting and that’s exactly what happened. We have him at 16-1.”

There was also very shrewd money for Sentimental Lad. He was actually available at 66-1 when the money came for him. In the subsequent weeks he ran a huge race behind Explosive Boy over 575yds before returning to break the 575yd record the following week. He is now a 33-1 chance.

In recent days, the greyhound for money was Droopys Edison. One of the stars of early 2022, he returned to record 21.07 in a trial at Dundalk the weekend before last and a few shrewd punters have clearly decider he was too big at 50-1. He is now a 25-1 chance.

But what does Damien fancy himself? He is keen to stay on the right side of Coolavanny Hoffa, who is now joint favourite at 12-1, while he also respects Born Warrior, who he suggests will have his draw more often than not.

And what of a track record? There is no price available just yet but there will be no shortage of specials. Lonergan suggests it probably won’t be a big price, however, given the quality of greyhound likely to be chasing the €125,000 winner’s prize. 

Boylesports Irish Greyhound Derby

Boylesports bet:

12       Ballinabola Ed

12       Coolavanny Hoffa

14       Coolavanny Calvn

16       Vincenzo      

16       Good Cody

16       Swords Rex 

16       Tullig Cyrname

16       Explosive Boy

16       Twoinarow

20       Kildare

25       Droopys Edison

25       Romeo Magico

25       The Other Kobe

25       One Time Only

25       Part Blake

25       Born Warrior

33       Mustang Jet

33       Another Holiday

33       Sentimental Lad

33       Droopys Nice One

33       Bockos Budsit

33       Wi Can Dream

33       Da Bold Freddie

40-1   bar