DIAMOND ON DECK AS BOYLE SPORTS DERBY CONTINUES
Ian Fortune
Last weekend’s evidence suggested that this year’s BOYLE Sports Irish Greyhound Derby is going to be hugely competitive going forward.
There were numerous superb displays but also many tight finishes and it is likely to be much the same at Shelbourne Park this evening as the second round of the classic gets underway.
Again, so many star names are on show but top billing goes to Bockos Diamond as he bids to put his first ever Shelbourne Park defeat behind him, although impressive opening round winner Rolo Tokyo is likely to emerge a worthy adversary.
PATRIOT TO SHOW HIS DERBY CREDENTIALS
All eyes will be on the inside as the hare approaches the boxes.
Lennies Dream was thoroughly professional in her opening round assignment, flashing from traps to dominate and her many supporters will be hoping for a repeat performance but Droopys Patriot will be a warm favourite.
The latter was having his first start over 550yds last weekend and looked a natural. Showing his trademark early speed, he left a talented field in his dust and he can follow up for Robert Gleeson and the Newmarket Racing Syndicate.
The recent Maiden Derby winner Shanahee Boomer is a professional at traps and can also race prominently but he will struggle to lead Droopys Patriot into the bend, while the same can also be said for Tarsna Maasai. Betgoodwin Ben will need to improve on his opening round effort, while Harlequin Paul will need a career best effort.
BEACH TO COME FORWARD
The withdrawal of Fahee Phantom could have a bearing on the result in Heat 2.
His absence means that Seven Beach will have a vacant box on his immediate inner, leaving the Jennifer O’Donnell trained star a perfect clear path into the bend.
That could make all the difference in a race where there is real quality on show. Ballymac Danica was paw-perfect in the opening round but had no answer to Seven Beach in the Champion Stakes decider. Callaway Five has a kind draw on the fence but needs to be at his sharpest, while Coosane Pickles is exceptionally fast and likely to come on for her comeback outing in the opening round.
Even the outsider of the field, Swithins Jim can run meaning any mistakes could be very costly. Seven Beach doesn’t tend to make mistakes, however, and for that reason is selected to emerge on top at the expense of his old rival Ballymac Danica.
LAHDEDAH AND MAG TO DELIVER A GREAT BUCKLE
De Lahdedah and Magical Mag will dominate the market in Heat 3.
It may well develop into a two-dog affair on the track if they do things right in the early yards but it would be unwise to ignore the claims of Ballyhooly Bruno and Ballinabola Jim.
Ballyhooly Bruno ran far better than his opening round form suggests but he needs to be at his sharpest to reverse form with De Lahdedah. The latter remains one of the best in training and is so strong he can wait for the gaps to appear before making his move.
That’s exactly what he did last Friday and he is again chosen to race prominently before making a decisive move in the closing stages. Magical Mag is a serious rival, however. She stumbled at traps in the opening round and was always struggling to make up the ground thereafter. With a faster start, she can emerge as a serious threat to De Lahdedah.
DIAMOND SET TO SHINE BRIGHT
Everyone seems to have an opinion on Bockos Diamond at present.
Some say he’s not as good as he was last year, others believe he is and will bounce back from last weeks defeat. This scribe favours the latter view in the belief that he has been left short of work to give him the best chance of reaching peak form on September 27th.
No matter what you feel, he is the one to beat in Heat 4 where supremely impressive opening round scorer Rolo Tokyo is the obvious danger. Faypoint Harvey is also respected from a kind draw on the fence but Rolo Tokyo is clearly the main worry for supporters of the defending champion.
He displayed fine early speed to dictate from the start last week but it was the manner in which he stayed on to increase his advantage that was most impressive. He is clearly a serious tracker but Bockos Diamond remains the one to beat.
Despite suffering defeat last week, he still managed to post 29.45 and with natural improvement he could go considerably faster. He is chosen to make full use of his sensational early speed to dominate from the early yards.
CASH SET TO DICTATE
With both Untold Rufiyaa and Da Bold Falcon absent from Heat 5, Cheque For Cash will have all the room in the world up the middle of the track to set a strong gallop.
It is then a case of which of the big finishers turns close enough to threaten.
Toolmaker Josepe is definitely short of early speed but will finish with a flourish. He may have three rivals to pass, however, as both Hot Wood and Upper Horgan are likely to go up faster. Hot Wood certainly has the form in the book and is a big threat, while neither of Toolmaker Josepe or Upper Horgan can be ignored but the vote remains with the likely pace-setter Cheque For Cash to follow up on his opening round success.
TRUMP TO SHOOT DOWN DIEGO
Hello Diego is a short price for Heat 6 and has outstanding claims.
He ran on strongly behind Bombay Pat last week, highlighting his well-being but his prospects will depend on how close he can turn. Normally a good starter, he tends to get a little outpace into the turn and with the likes of Lookandlep and Razldazl Kamaria on his immediate inside, that would leave him vulnerable.
Instead, the nod goes to Headleys Trump. The Lee Strand champion made a fine Shelbourne debut last week, leading early to repel the persistent challenge of the proven Tarsna Maasai. He posted 29.82 but there is an argument the track was running at its slowest at that point.
With a perfect draw on the fence, he seems certain to contest the early lead and can stay tight to the fence to move on, potentially building a decisive lead to halfway. Hello Diego will finish at a flourish but at the odds available, Headleys Trump is simply too big a price and is chosen to emerge triumphant at the expense of the favourite and Lookandlep.
AXEL SET TO CRANK UP HIS CHALLENGE
Ballymac Axel was already set to start a warm favourite in Heat 7 but his task has become somewhat easier with the withdrawal of Blossoms Syd from trap five.
With a vacant box on his left, Ballymac Axel will have plenty of room in the early exchanges and is set to turn close behind the likes of Solo And Go and Oreo Ollie.
If doing so, Ballymac Axel would quickly emerge as the one to beat. A real powerhouse, he will finish at speed and can pick up the pace-setters. Solo And Go is perhaps the most likely leader but he is vulnerable from the third turn, while Oreo Ollie would need to set the pace although he does have an ideal draw on the fence.
Both can give a good account but Ballymac Axel can again highlight his strengths and emerge a good winner for the second week running.
A WONDERFUL FINISH TO DERBY ACTION EXPECTED
The opening session of second round heats will come to a perfect conclusion with Heat 8 amongst the best of the Derby this far.
Epic Ace lowered the colours of Bockos Diamond last week and has been rewarded with a very tough draw in four with opening round winners Carrick Scholsey and Cheap Sandwiches to contend with.
Carrick Scholsey has been a revelation since the application of a middle seeding and a step up to 550yds. A winner in 29.33 and 29.42 in his last two outings, he is a serious contender for Derby honours. He does tend to take a step left at boxes, however.
That could leave Cheap Sandwiches with all the room he needs on the outside of the track. The 2024 runner-up blew away the cobwebs in a workmanlike opening round success and can only strip fitter and sharper. If doing so, he could remind everyone paying attention that he remains a leading fancy for this year’s classic.
Obviously, there is no room for error in such a race with Unanimous Leo also likely to race prominently but it is difficult to see beyond the big three. Epic Ace will need to be at his very sharpest from four, while Carrick Scholsey will again need to come away racing. Cheap Sandwiches is the safest bet and with the draw in his favour he is selected to emerge on top once again.