BIG GUNS TO FIRE AGAIN IN DERBY

Ian Fortune

Twenty-four greyhounds are already in the hat for the third round of the Boylesports Irish Derby after a wonderful opening session of second round heats on Friday evening and the battle for the remaining places should ensure come sensational action at Shelbourne Park this evening as the second round comes to a close.

One man hoping to have more than a couple in the draw for the third round is Michael O’Donovan, who aside from sending out the hot favourite for outright glory, Coolavanny Hoffa, is also responsible for two others favourites in Ryhope Beach and Another Holiday.

Others expected to start short prices for their respective heats this evening include Trinity Junior, Clonbrien Treaty, Ballymac Marino and Raha Mofo.

A heat by heat guide to tonight’s session:

BROTHERS TO GO HEAD TO HEAD

Brothers Ryhope Beach and Sober Glory will dominate the market in Heat 9, the first of this evening’s session, with the former certain to start a hot favourite after a stunning opening round effort.

If coming home in front, Ryhope Beach could potentially set up Michael O’Donovan for another huge night.

Sober Glory is no slouch, however. He overcame early crowding to emerge a comfortable opening round scorer, showing massive pace from halfway. The Karol Ramsbottom trained powerhouse will need to find a way to turn close to the pace. Neither Stonepark Syd and Millroad Girl, who are drawn on his inner, are seen as fast starters and Sober Glory could potentially get across them early.

He will still need to hold the rail-seeking Da Bold Freddie but that is possible. Dromana Dano completes the line-up in five. He ran well after coming in as a reserve last week but needs a career best effort to land a telling blow.

In truth, Ryhope Beach could be very difficult to stop. He will certainly need to lead his brother but from an ideal draw in the stripes that is very possible. He posted 29.34 on a track that seemed to have turned slow last week and it would be no surprise if he were to go close to 29.10 with a clear passage.

For that reason he is selected to follow up last week’s brilliant victory by leading home Sober Glory and Stonepark Syd.

JUNIOR CAN CONTINUE WINNING WAYS

Despite his obvious talents, Trinity Junior was largely undervalued last year but that has most certainly changed in 2023 with the Champion Stakes winner showing a lot more consistency at traps and, as a result, establishing himself as one of the very best in training.

He will be tested once again in the second heat this evening but looks likely to emerge a good winner. His opening round victory was so professional and looked so easy that he is impossible to oppose. There is no doubt he faces some very talented rivals this evening but from a favouable draw on the fence, The Peter Cronin trained favourite should get first run.

The flying females Ballymac Run, Undulation and Droopys Onestop all have the pace to make a bold bid but needs to be at their very sharpest in the opening yards, while both Hanover Phantom and Ballymac Johnjo will be finishing fast but Trinity Junior would be a very tough nut to crack if he were to get his own way out front. For that reason, he is chosen to come home clear of Ballymac Johnjo and Ballymac Run.

TREATY NEEDS A START

Clonbrien Treaty will be a hot favourite for Heat 11 and in normal circumstances you would expect him to win four times out of five but he has been so tardy at traps in recent outings that punters will proceed with caution.

The fact that there are no real superstars in opposition will work in his favour but Millroad Bolger will be no pushover. The duo will take up a great percentage of the market and Clonbrien Treaty should win but it would be great to see him starting a little faster.

Should he come away on terms, this could turn into something of a procession but likewise, were he to miss the start again, Millroad Bolger would be very tough to reel in. The remaining quartet will need a career best effort to land a telling blow.

A RED-HOT AFFAIR

Heat 12 is up there with the hottest contests of the Derby thus far.

Another Holiday is set to tart favourite from an inside pitch but with The Other Kobe, Undisputed, Pape Di Oro and Optic Chico in opposition, any mistakes will be magnified.

So much will depend on the opening exchanges. If Another Holiday comes away racing, he could potentially get loose at the head of affairs again but were he to miss a beat, The Other Kobe could steal his ground immediately from trap two.

Undisputed is amongst the fastest females in the land and comes into the contest on the back of a fine victory. Were she to hit the ground running, she could emerge as a big player. The same can be said for Pape Di Oro. He will need to set the pace but any crowding on the inside of the track could allow him do so from trap five.

And then there is Optic Chico. Blessed with immense pace from the second turn, he will be hoping to capitalize on any mistakes from the early paced quartet. He could arrive late and fast to snatch the victory.

Stefans Rock completes the field and will be a huge price. If he is to cause a major upset, he needs to return to his very best 2022 form. Another Holiday just gets the nod but this is a tremendous contest and the advice is to proceed with caution as any of the five aforementioned runners could come out on top.

MARINO READY TO SHINE

Ballymac Marino ran a bit better than his latest form would suggest and he is selected to come home in front in Heat 13.

The brilliant Juvenile Classic winner has tremendous pace from start to finish and a rails pitch should afford him the opportunity to use his many strengths.

Droopys Got It is still returning to his very best and would be a big threat of getting loose into the bend, while Easy Razzle, Disco Pants, Millridge Bryce and Music Glideaway all have plenty of ability but Ballymac Marino is truly exceptional when on song and can’t be opposed.

Expect Liam Dowling’s son of Vulturi to come away racing, hold his line before asserting down the back straight. Of his rivals, Droopys Got It is nominated as the main threat although any of the remaining four could progress.

HOFFA TOO HOT TO HANDLE

Hot favourite for outright glory, Coolavanny Hoffa will be an unbackable price to win Heat 14 after a superb comeback run eight days ago.

Bockos Crystal I seen as the only conceivable threat, although she will again need to be at her very best to land a telling blow.     

Storys Peewee, Romeo Hotshot and Docktechnik Diva will all b finishing fast but a qualifying position is the best they can hope for, as Coolavanny Hoffa is chosen to go ballistic in the early yards, build a clear advantage and coast home clear. Expect his price in the outright betting to contract even further after this evening. Bockos Crystal can chase him through into the third round draw.

MOFO TO FIND THE GAPS

Raha Mofo will be retired to the breeding paddocks in the very near future so we should appreciate her while she is around.

The brilliant Dundalk International, 2022 Oaks champion and reigning Bitch of the Year wil be favourite to win Heat 15 but she faces a tough test with Bens Teddy, Brookside Richie, Boylesports Vic and Tommys Hewick to contend with.

Raha Mofo is in the form of her career, however. Her pace and power from the second turn really is something to behold and if she finds the gaps at the right time, she could again take some containing this evening.

Much will depend on which of her five runners, if any get loose at the head of affairs. Brookside Richie missed the start last week but can fly to the turn and is a possible pace-setter. He is set to outrun his price and could represent real value, while Tommy Hewick ran a huge race last week, showing superb early dash. He too represents value.

Boylesports Vic no doubt has the pace to figure but a trap our draw is a major concern. Bens Teddy will be looking for the same gaps as Raha Mofo in the second half of the contest and is respected but the favourite remains the choice. It would be no surprise if she were to turn a little closer to the pace this evening before making her superior strength count from halfway.  

EXPECT A GRANDE DISPLAY

The second round ends with a very competitive affair. Hawkfield Blue, Halo and Sogna In Grande are all pretty sharp and can race prominently, while Callaway Masters won’t be far away in the early yards.

Picking a likely winner from the quartet is not easy but slight preference is for Sogna In Grande on the outside of the track as he seems likely to receive rom to race.

The Jack Kennelly trained speedster has been going up fast and is clearly in fine heart. He ran a big race behind Clona Duke last week and can get first run on his rivals. Hawkfield Blue can chase him throughout with the strong running Calaway Masters hard to keep out of the frame.