MORE DERBY FIREWORKS EXPECTED

Ian Fortune

Further fireworks are expected at Shelbourne Park this evening as the second round of the BOYLE Sports Irish Greyhound Derby draws to a conclusion.

Bombay Pat set the standard in the opening round and could well do so again from an ideal draw in the stripes but there are plenty of others capable of going fast throughout the card.

Of course, qualification is the main objective ahead of the third-round draw which will be held after racing. Below is a heat-by-heat guide to tonight’s Derby action.

PAT LOOKS BOMB PROOF

Bombay Pat was imperious in the opening round, getting loose into the turn to post a standard-setting 29.27.

Eight days on, he will be fully expected to get Saturday’s action off to a flying start when he lines out in the stripes in Heat 9.

Standing in his way are his kennel companion and Kirby memorial champ Faypoint Ranger and the Champion Plate winner Ballymac Tibet. Both are hugely talented but Bombay Pat looked a serious Derby contender last week and he can follow up in style.

Ballymac Tibet is normally a good starter but tends to lack a yard of pace into the turn. In contrast, Bombay Pat is an inconsistent starter but really flies into the bend. He is chosen to lead up on the outside of the track. Faypoint Ranger still looks short of racing. He will need to set the pace to land a telling blow.

Sunshine Sioux and Prince Naseem complete the field with Slipalong Duke reported a non-runner. If either are to play a part, they must reproduce their very best form. Bombay Pat is a confident choice to lead home Ballymac Tibet.

CORNER A WORTHY FAVOURITE

While only winning by a head, there was something very comfortable about the manner in which Hackney Corner won his opening round heat.

Showing superb early speed and real fluency around the opening two bends, he quickly mastered his rivals.

A similar run would see him justify favouritism in Heat 10. Drawn on the fence, he need only start on terms and he would become very difficult to contain. The Other Wild wears the stripes and is set to come on for his opening round defeat. However, he will need to be at his sharpest at trap rise as Cushie The Best will go up strongly from five.

Blastoff Heffo is a strong runner and could make the frame if avoiding traffic although he may need to get first run on Priceless Romeo. In short, Hackney Corner won’t be a big price but is fully expected to follow up his opening round success at the expense of The Other Wild and Blastoff Heffo.

MEMPHIS TO DOMINATE

Heat 11 is arguably the most open and competitive contest of the entire second round.

Picking a likely favourite is even difficult. Ordinarily, 2024 Juvenile Derby winner and Derby third Callaway Knegare would be strongly fancied but he really did look himself in the opening round.

If he were to return to form, he would take the world of beating but you need to take it on trust. Instead, after returning to his best in recent weeks, Phoenix Memphis makes more appeal from an ideal draw on the fence.

A fast starter with an ideal draw on the fence, he is the most likely pace-setter and could set a strong gallop for a long way. Glengar Silent is very exciting but needs to sharpen up at trap rise, while both Cagey Billy and Lennies Madge will finish with a flourish.

This really is a conundrum but slight the edge goes to Phoenix Memphis to make all to contain Glengar Silent and Callaway Knegare.

HEIRESS TO RULE

There is real quality on show in Heat 12 where the pride of the UK, Proper Heiress, takes on the likes of Magical On Fire, Ballymac Stud and Produce Stakes winner Lemon Joey.

Proper Heiress did so much right in the opening round, eventually running out a facile winner yet gave the impression there was even better to come.

For that reason, he is set to start a warm favourite and will be hard to beat from an ideal draw on the fence. Mark Wallis will be hoping he can come away racing. If doing so, he can quickly assert. Magical On Fire was a superb winner last week but will need to hit the ground running an clear Proper Heiress to the turn if she is to emerge on top.

Ballymac Stud is perhaps a greater threat. He ran well in the opening round, his first start over 550yds, and seems likely to improve for that outing. If he can get loose into the opening bend, he would certainly have a big say in the outcome.

Lemon Joey is also greatly respected. Murt Leahy’s star ran a big race in defeat in the opening round and is drawn to perfection in the stripes. If coming away racing, the son of Ballymac Best is also likely to play a big part. Proper Heiress is the choice but nothing will be easy in a race of this depth.

JOE LOOKS THE PART

Ballinabola Joe will be one of the hottest favourites of the night in Heat 13.

He left his chances at traps in the opening round but did show awesome pace to close on the leaders into the third turn. After qualifying in third, his reward is a kind draw in the stripes.

If trapping on terms, the Pat Buckley trained Champion 550 winner will likely to have too much pace for his rivals and can build a clear lead to halfway before cruising home clear. The battle for second and third could be far more competitive but Barefoot On Song is chosen to follow Ballinabola Joe home in second.

PEST CAN MAKE USE OF EXTRA ROOM

The withdrawal of Coloursaregreen from Heat 14 will have a huge bearing on the contest.

The extra room will certainly suit Toolmaker King but it will also play to the strengths of Rural Pest. The latter is set to start a far hotter favourite and will likely to fly to the turn from five.

With Toolmaker King expected to edge inwards from four, Rural Pest will have all the room he needs and can run out a comfortable winner at the expense of Toolmaker King. Hackney Tango and De Bono Lad can battle it out for third.

SAPPHIRE CAN SHINE FROM IDEAL DRAW

The penultimate heat of the round is a trick affair with many of those on show holding strong claims. Magical Sapphire was a superb winner last week and is perfectly drawn in the stripes.

She is the most likely favourite and will be hard to contain if turning close.

Westway Rossa is another capable of making a bold bid. She is particularly potent when she finds a way to turn in front and must enter calculations. Easter Cup champion Hopes Teddy hasn’t produced his best in recent months but his opening round success was encouraging.

If he can come on for that run, he too could have a big say from an ideal draw on the rail. He would almost certainly need to dictate the pace but given his brilliant early speed that is likely. Ballymac Lake is a real all-rounder and can’t be ignored while Highview Plan will finish at speed.

Picking a winner is no easy task but slight preference is for Magical Sapphire, who comes into tonight’s race on the back of two impressive victories.

FIFTYS TO FIRE

The final heart of the round should offer a fitting conclusion to the second round with so many in the line-up holding strong claims.

The betting reflects the open nature of the contest with Swords Style and Magical Keith disputing favouritism, just ahead of Droopys Deploy and No More Fiftys.

Droopys Slick and the fast starting Badly Behaving complete the line-up and neither can be ignored either. The race to the turn will be of utmost importance. Swords Style and Magical Keith will attempt to get loose into the turn but No More Fiftys has the benefit of an inside draw and after two eye-catching runs in defeat, he is ready to get his head in front.

If starting on terms, the Adam Dunford trained star can steal a march on his rivals. He is quick down the back straight and can contain his rivals before holding them off on the run in. Swords Style is in fine form and can emerge as the main threat, while Magical Keith can race prominently but is not the strongest stayer.

Droopys Deploy is perfectly housed in six but is inconsistent at traps and will need plenty to go right for him in the early exchanges. No More Fiftys is chosen to end the second round in style.