BARRY AND FREDDIE IMPRESS FOR IRELAND AS ENGLISH DERBY GETS UNDERWAY
Ian Fortune
The Star Sports/ TRC English Derby kicked off with a bang at Towcester on Thursday evening as Lautaro posted a sensational track record breaking 28.84 to set a very strong standard.
He was one of four winners for last year’s winning trainer Patrick Janssens.
It wasn’t all about the home challenge, however. The Irish sent out two wonderful winners with Skywalker Barry going fastest as he posted a rapid 29.09 in victory, while Da Bold Freddie was also very Impressive as he shot from traps to make all in his heat.
Aside from the two winners, all but two of the Irish challengers progressed to next weekend’s second round.
A BOLD DISPLAY FROM FREDDIE
Da Bold Freddie was the first Irish winner in the 2022 English Derby. Hi victory didn’t come until Heat 7 but it was certainly worth the wait.
Despite his inexperience and his limited knowledge of Towcester, the Peter Cronin trained son of Ballymac Bolger flashed from trap two to lad the field into the bend.
Pat McDonagh’s charge had to really drive the corner to clear Chelms Fred but, once doing so, it was all plain-sailing. Knocknaseed Gem gave chase but he was never going to worry the leader. In fact, nothing was going to worry talented blue. Pulling right away from the third turn, Da Bold Freddie emerged a facile seven and a quarter length scorer over Dapper Rodney in 29.23.
BRILLIANT BARRY GOES QUICK
We didn’t have to wait long for the second Irish success of the night as Skywalker Barry was in action in Heat 8.
The Michael O’Donovan trained star has a CV that could match any in greyhound in training and he produced a typically professional display to lead home an Irish one-two-three.
Flashing from trap four, posting a sensational 4.04 sectional, he was always in complete control. Ballymac Fairone, a finalist in 2021, moved second on the turn and gave chase throughout, while Bockos Leah, who is only coming out of season, was always third.
Ballymac Fairone did show plenty of pace to close the gap into the third turn but Skywalker Barry is very rarely headed when in charge and he stormed home to win by two and a quarter lengths in 29.09. Ballymac Fairone ran a big race in second, while connections will be very encouraged by the display of Bockos Leah as she finished four lengths further adrift in third.
HOODOO CHASES HOME BELLY
The First Irish runner in action in the Derby was Hoodoo Brown in Heat 2 and he gave a glimpse of what could come in the future.
Although not the fastest into stride, he did show more early speed than in the past to dispute third on the corner.
Importantly, Bockos Belly slipped around in front from trap three, avoiding crowding in behind. Hoodoo Brown was held up by the middle seeking Jaguar Macie around the opening bend and found himself a distant third into the back straight.
He did show fine pace and strength to pass the powerful Savana Camino before the final turn and stays on strongly but was never going to trouble former track record holder Bockos Belly. The later emerged a very comfortable winner by six and three-quarter lengths but Hoodoo Brown displayed plenty in defeat.
HAMMOND SECOND
The Paul Hennessy trained Hello Hammond seemed a likely winner in Heat 4 when making the early running but he drifted of the second bend leaving a gap for former compatriot Spinosaurus.
In what was his first UK start, the latter ran a fine race to emerge a comfortable three and a quarter length scorer in 29.42. Hello Hammond held off the track record holder Sporting Chile to take second.
BORDER CHASES HOME RECORD BREAKER
The aforementioned Lautaro was in a league of his own in Heat 6, rocketing from traps to build a massive advantage to halfway but Ballymore Border did run a big race to finish second for Owen McKenna.
Only third into the turn with fellow Irish raider Im To Blame turning second. Ballymore Border flew into the third turn to go second and he eventually finished five and a half lengths behind track record breaker Lautaro. Sadly, Im To Blame was collared on the line for third by the fast finishing Amaze Me Seb.
JET HELD UP
The last remaining Irish qualifier was Priceless Jet in Heat 9.
Magical Duke shot from trap three to make every inch but Priceless Jet did show plenty of pace in behind. In fact, he challenged on two separate occasions but couldn’t get past.
After being held up between the last two bends, he was picked up for second by Chubby Jet. Priceless Jet eventually finishing third, a length and three quarters and a further three quarters of a length behind Magical Duke, who stopped the clock in 29.42.
NO LUCK FOR CONAMARA
Conamara carried no luck in Heat 5.
Finishing fifth behind Deelish Frankie.