ALL SET FOR A SPECIAL NIGHT AT A SPECIAL VENUE
Ian Fortune
After weeks of most jaw-dropping action, numerous shocks, track record breaking displays and some wonderful storylines, the 2024 Boylesports Irish Greyhound Derby will tonight come to a fitting conclusion at the new Shelbourne Park.
The famous venue has been one of the stars of this year’s Derby with the new facilities and facelift wonderfully received by each and every patron that came through the stiles, while it should also provide the perfect back drop for tonight’s celebrations as the sport comes together on the greatest night of the year in world greyhound racing.
A massive crowd is set to pour through the stiles for a special night, providing an atmosphere and hopefully the weather gods will play their part. The forecast suggests that Storm Bert will be a thing of the past by the time racing gets underway and remarkably mild temperatures will welcome the best greyhounds on the planet.
Once again, the Virgin Media cameras will be on track, providing pictures to those that can’t make it, but there really is nothing like being there. And the final itself should provide a fitting conclusion to what has been one of the greatest renewals of the Derby in its long history.
A LOPSIDED MARKET WITH DIAMOND A RED-HOT FAVOURITE
In contrast to some of the more recent finals, this is a race where everyone is largely in agreement. Bockos Diamond is a worthy long-odds on favourite and should he repeat that level of performance he has shown through his imperious march through the competition, he will likely emerge on top.
If doing so, he would likely be the shortest priced winner of all time, potentially overtaking Spanish Battleship, who won the 1954 Derby at odds of 4-11. But nothing can be taken for granted. History has proven that strange things can happen in a Derby final and Bockos Diamond faces five brilliant rivals, all of which are capable of landing the €125,000 prize if the opportunity arises.
Bockos Diamond is more than deserving of his billing, however. Ater the most incredible sequence of performances stretching back to May, he enters tonight’s decider bidding for a fifteenth victory in a row.
Few believed he could ever repeat his third round, track record breaking display, but he seemed to better it in last week’s semi-finals, going to the third turn faster than any greyhound in history before equalling his own track record in conditions that weren’t conducive to doing so.
A kind draw in the stripes should again allow Bockos Diamond get the room he requires in the opening yards and, if he does trap on terms, his stunning early speed could again carry him to the front. It goes without saying but, should he reproduce last week’s 28.94 return, he will no doubt emerge as one of the truly great Derby champions.
SANDWICHES A SERIOUS PLAYER
This is not a one-dog affair, however.
He faces five brilliant trackers including his kennel companion and clear second choice in the market, Cheap Sandwiches. Owned by the wonderfully named, Dan Brassil led, Bark Wahlberg Syndicate, the son of Burgess Bucks was also an emphatic semi-final winner, flashing from boxes to dominate in 29.13.
He will again race from three and is likely to edge right in the early yards but is perhaps the only real threat to the favourite into the opening bend. His progress through the Derby has been marked. You can see the point where his fortunes began to change and it coincides with a step back up to 550yds.
Blessed with tremendous early speed, big pace down the back straight and a progressive profile, he is a worthy adversary for his kennel mate. In any normal year, he may have been a worthy Derby favourite but whether he can lower the colours of Bockos Diamond has yet to be seen.
CALLAWAY HAS THE DRAW
One time Derby favourite Callaway Knegare has failed to produce his Juvenile Derby winning form in recent weeks, but the signs are good for the Owen McKenna trained powerhouse.
He has been nursing a small niggle but with each outing he seems to be getting better and better.
He flew home to take second behind Bockos Diamond last week and has been rewarded with a kind draw on the fence. Given the fact that the favourite is an unbackable price, the double figure odds available about Callaway Knegare are likely to prove popular for punters wishing to have a small interest in the decider and, one suspects, he could be a real mover in the market.
Coincidentally, he is currently a 10-1 chance with sponsors Boylesports, the same price Like A Shot was when handing Owen McKenna his first Derby success some twenty years ago in 2004. The coincidences don’t end there. McKenna’s second and latest Derby victory came in 2021 with the sensational Susie Sapphire, who made all from the same inside box from which Callaway Knegare races. Its highly unlikely Callaway Knegare will win in such a manner but he is seen as a serious player.
BOB HAS THE ENGINE
Paul Hennessy has won everything worth winning in the sport.
He has won most of the classics on multiple occasions but a second Irish Derby victory has eluded him since steering Tyrur Rhino to glory back in 2007.
Much like his 2007 champion, Boylesports Bob will wear the orange jacket and plenty will believe he can go one place better than his runner-up finish in the English Derby earlier in the summer. The son of Derby champion Good News has an incredible engine and certainly has the ability to win from off the pace but the last time a greyhound came from further back than second to win a Derby was Skywalker Puma in 2012.
It doesn’t mean it’s not possible but Boylesports Bob will need to be at his very sharpest in the opening yards to allow him turn close enough to threaten at the business end. Were he to come home in front for competition sponsor John Boyle and joint owner Ned Murphy, he would certainly be a popular winner but double figure odds seem to accurately reflect his chances.
JULIE MAKES HER OWN LUCK FOR JERRY
Two flying, classic winning, females complete a sensational line-up.
A Lucky Julie races for Hall of Fame handler, Jerry Melia. He is the only trainer in the contest without a Derby success to speak of but has twice gone close, finishing second with Glencorbry Celt in 1984 and Holycross Leah in 2016.
A Lucky Julie dead-heated in the Oaks final, showing awesome pace from off the pace to join Fleadh Saraide on the line. She will again finish with a real flourish but must somehow avoid a bump at trap rise with Cheap Sandwiches set to move into her path.
She returned from seasonal rest in the opening round and has been in superb form throughout the Derby. She has a habit of finding a way to get involved but this is undoubtedly her toughest test.
DOLLY AIMING FOR MORE CLASSIC GLORY
Cesarewitch winner Singalong Dolly completes the line up.
Trained by Pat Buckley, who famously won the Derby in 2009 with College Causeway, the key to her chances rest on whether she can clear Callaway Knegare in the opening exchanges.
Her owner Gilbert Anerson went close in the past with Singalong Sally finishing second to Susie Sapphire in 2021 and he will be hoping his latest Derby finalist can rocket from traps. She does possess the ability to make a flying start, however.
Certainly, if she were to turn close to the pace, she is very strong and could play a far bigger part than her odds suggest.
AN INCREDIBLE FINAL
It’s an incredible Derby final.
The presence of Bockos Diamond casts a shadow over the other five participants but any would be a worthy winner. All logic does point to Bockos Diamond, however.
He suffered his ONLY career defeat back in May in the second round of the Champion Unraced at Kilkenny but has gone from strength to strength in the subsequent months.
Fourteen straight victories, many of them in electric times, are evidence of the fact. He boasts the sort of early speed rarely matched in the long history of the sport and, after two track record displays through the prelims, he is deserving of his restrictive odds.
A BID FOR HISTORY
Graham Holland, who has guided Bockos Diamond through the majority of his career, is also bidding to create history.
Should Bockos Diamond or Cheap Sandwiches come home in front, Holland would join two of the greatest names in the history of the sport, Tom Lynch and Gay McKenna, on four Derby victories.
He knows what it takes to win a Derby as proven by his previous winners Rural Hawaii, Lenson Bocko and Newinn Taylor and most attending the wonderful Shelbourne Park this evening will be expecting the winner to hail from Graham’s all-conquering Riverside Kennels operation.
Bockos Diamond is a special greyhound and we should savour every moment with him. If he does continue his current run of form, he is fully expected to emerge as one of the, if not the, greatest Derby winner of all-time. Cheap Sandwiches is respected as are each of the remaining participants but Callaway Knegare is chosen to finish closest to the favourite at the line.
A DREAM COME TRUE
Best of luck to each of the six finalists and their connections.
It’s a dream to have one good enough to take part in a Derby but to reach a final is pretty sublime. Enjoy every moment and may they all come home safe and sound.
The runners go to traps at 9.24pm with the action set to be shown live on Irish terrestrial TV on Virgin Media 3, while sisracing.tv will also stream the action.
Remainder of the Shelbourne card
KNOCKEEN HOPING TO DAZZLE IN PLATE DECIDER
An exceptional Shelbourne Park undercard features the final of the Michael Fortune Memorial Derby Plate and Knockeen Dazzler is set to start a warm favourite after returning to his very best form in the semis.
His terrific early speed can carry him to the front but he may not have things all his own way. Carmac King is perhaps the key to the race. If he clears those on his inner from trap four in the opening yards, he could quickly emerge as a serious threat.
Elite Josh is also in fine form and could represent real value at the 20-1 available in places. He will be absolutely flying from halfway and is definitely worthy of a second look. Faypoint Harvey will also have his supporters, He really dug deep to lead on the line in the semi-finals and has shown in the past that he can also go up fast. A trap five draw is perhaps not ideal but don’t dismiss his claims. Miami King is also worthy of consideration.
He was somewhat surprisingly picked up in the semis, but a similar start could see him play a big part. He may need to get of the front, however, which is no easy task with Knockeen Dazzler in attendance.
Ventry Faith completes a talented field. He won his second round assignment in a good 29.45 but needs to be electric at boxes this evening.
FASCINATING CONSOLATION
There’s a fascinating Consolation Derby to look forward to. Bombay Pat and Carrick Aldo are the only beaten semi-finalists in the line up and both will have huge support, as will English Derby winner De Lahdedah.
The extra week’s rest could favour De Lahdedah but he will still need to be on his toes with Bombay Pat and Carrick Aldo in tremendous form of late. Short Grup is also likely to go up fast from three, while Extra Gain will be finishing fast. Mustang Fever completes a talented field but needs to be at her very sharpest from trap four with early speed on both her flanks.
Bombay Pat just gets the nod over Carrick Aldo and De Lahdedah but one suspects this could turn into one of the races of the night.
A QUALITY UNDERCARD
There’s a high quality six bend race on the card and Ballyhooly Tejay can make the most of a favourable draw in the stripes.
He has been running well in recent times and will savour a return to his favourite trip.
If turning close from his outside draw, he can account for the likes of 2023 Stayer of the Year Kinturk Road and the exciting recruit to six bends, Jaytee Craze.
Untold Dollar steps up in trip in the finale over 575yds and should relish the longer run to the corner. He is chosen to charge clear before emerging a comfortable winner at the expense of the talented duo of Deadly Choice and Superfast Gorden.
Phoenix Memphis is seen as one of the better bets on the card in the penultimate Open 525. If coming away racing from two, he could quickly put the contest beyond the reach of his rivals. The opening race gates underway at 7.34pm with the twelfth and final race due off at 10.30pm