Irish Derby final night
BoyleSports Irish Derby final night is one of the great occasions in sport. This year's date is Saturday September 21***********************************************************************************************
JAYTEE TAYLOR ran a blinder to catch defending champ Ballyanne Sim bang on the line in heat ten of the BoyleSports Irish Derby on Friday, writes Racing Post staff
It was the opening night of this year’s Shelbourne Classic and Ballyanne Sim rocketed out of the traps in the same fashion as when he landed the crown last year. Paul Hennessy’s Jaytee Taylor was always going well but, when he drifted very wide off the last turn, it looked as though he would have to give best. However, he rallied to get up by a head in 29.82sec. The pair left the crowd gasping with excitement.
It proved a night of several turn-ups, Britain’s Trickys Dumbo qualified in third behind one of them, 5-1 chance Great Eastern, who made all in heat five (29.72sec), Trickys Dumbo got a rough ride, going up fast before getting clobbered. Odds-on Ballymac Cooper walked out but ran on for second.
Fastest was John Lenihan’s Allaghaun River (10-1) in heat one, who got home by a head from Jaytee Tornado in 29.56sec.
Another major shock was the defeat of Ballymac Arminta in heat 10. She was bumped at the bend but eventually ran for second behind Murt Leahy’s Droopys Hunch (4-1), who clocked 29.61sec
Pat Buckley’s Run Happy was one spot quicker in the next heat, going soon clear (29.60sec) to beat kennmate Jumeirah Sprite.
The 18 fastest fourths across the entire first round also qualify.
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Wolfe set to prove a point as Irish Derby Round 1 continues
13 more first round heats on Saturday
26 first round heats, 550 yards, Shelbourne
13 apiece on Friday and Saturday
First three qualify for the second round, PLUS the 18 fastest fourths
The Saturday 21 September final will be shown live by RPGTV
Saturday's first round conclusion is previewed
by Sarah Kinsella of BoyleSports
PLENTY of top class dogs running in the second batch of 13 heats on Saturday night including Wolfe, Magical Bale, Kilmacdonagh and Cabra Firmino.
BoyleSports are trying their best to keep up with the high level of support for the mighty Wolfe. Trained by Graham Holland this dog has 10 wins from 21 starts and as ‘a sure thing’ in heat 14 at 8/13 is a popular choice with the punters. His English Greyhound flop has to be forgiven as that wasn’t the real Wolfe. He will show up on Saturday night and redeem himself.
Lenson Bocko runs from trap six in race six which is heat 19 and this is his first real test and biggest task to date. He has 7 race with 6 wins, having one been beaten once. That is a serious record for a young dog and Graham Holland must be very excited about his future. He has 29.47sec for the 550 yards trip and is 10/11 with BoyleSports to give the punters another winner. He will be hard to beat but trap five Ballyhimikin Jet has to be given a chance after his 29.42sec win last week with a 3.39 split.
There has been plenty of money for Jirano Classic in heat 26, race 13 from trap three. Trained by Johnny O’Sullivan and owned by Pat Norton, this dog has 6 win from 16 starts mostly in southern Ireland. He recorded 28.70sec around HQ for the 525 yards trip and is 4/5 to win this heat. He is the best supported dog in Saturday’s session with the Consolation Derby winner last year in trap five, but Newhall Missile looks to be badly housed. We will know more about Jirano Classic after his Shelbourne Park 550 debut.
Non Runners
Ht: 15: Wishful Gold
Ht 20: Shady Man
Ht: 21: Iveshead Gary
Ht 23: Sports Ground
Ht 24: Cracked Lady
Ht 25: Milestone Gem
Confirmed Reserves:
A Zeno
B Minor Mike
C Ballybough Murt
D Crew Dog
E Deer Hunter
F Knockboy Jet
Confirmed reserves but if we get other non-runners, the order used will change.
Key event dates:
First Round – Friday, August 16th & Saturday, August 17th
Second Round – Friday, August 23rd & Saturday, August 24th
Third Round – Saturday, August 31st
Quarter Finals – Saturday, September 7th
Semi Finals – Saturday, September 14th
Final – Saturday, September 21st
Incentives:
€3,000 to last bitch standing. This is confined to bitches competing in the event regardless of where they have travelled from. Placings will decide winner (4th/5th/6th) times will not be taken into account. If two bitches are eliminated at the same stage and have same placing the pot will be halved.
€2,000 to last owner trained greyhound standing. This is confined to greyhounds that are owner trained only. Any greyhound who is with an agent or private/public trainer do not qualify for this incentive. Placings will decide winner (4th/5th/6th) times will not be taken into account. If two greyhounds that meet the criteria are eliminated at the same stage and have same placing the pot will be halved.
€2,000 to last syndicate owned greyhound standing. This is confined to syndicate owned greyhounds regardless of their training status. Placings will decide winner (4th/5th/6th) times will not be taken into account. If two greyhounds that meet the criteria are eliminated at the same stage and have same placing the pot will be halved.
€2,000 to last Trial Stake greyhound standing. This is confined to greyhounds that have entered the Irish Greyhound Derby via qualification through the BoyleSports Derby Trial Stakes. Placings will decide winner (4th/5th/6th) times will not be taken into account. If two greyhounds that meet the criteria are eliminated at the same stage and have same placing the pot will be halved.