Droopys Jet scorches to 28.28sec in heat eight
BY JIM CREMIN AT WIMBLEDON
Heat by heat analyis of the William Hill Derby
Go to Jim Cremin's blog on the meeting
Official going -20 races 1&2
-10 races 3&4 (heats 1-2)
normal races 5&6 (heats 3-4)
-10 races 7-9 (heats 5-7)
race 10 (heat 8) onwards normal
Round 2 - Heat 1 - simple first three qualify throughout
1st Tyrur Sugar Ray trap 1 4.95sec 28.72sec
2nd Hather George trap 6 ten and a quarter lengths
3rd Newinn Rocket trap 2 length and a half
Tyrur Sugar Ray is 12-1 with Hills after a runaway win in the opening heat Assisted by the field bunching ahead of him on the second bend, he blew them away down the back, leading at half way and romping over ten lengths clear. They bunched again behind at the third. Hather Geroge stayed on for second. Newinn Rocket also went through to next Saturday.
Heat 2
1st Sidaz Jack trap 1 4.82 28.90sec
2nd Benkaat Nero trap 2 two and a quarter
3rd Airlie Impact trap 6 half length
Sidaz Jac k (20-1 now with Hills) made short work of these, and proved a comfortable winner for Charlie. There was a lot of bunching behind, Benkaat Nero being unable to go the pace, but kept on for second. Airlie Impact, for the second time, looked to be struggling but battled on late to go through. The draw looks key to his chance. Faroe Trojan got an awful run, cutting into trouble at the turn, and then getting stopped a couple of times more. Zenas Boy tired badly, which really allowed Airlie Impact through. Farloe Luigi was also involved in the trouble.
Heat 3
1st Ballymac Vic trap 5 4.76 28.45sec
2nd Bittles Bar trap 1 4.69sec two and a quarter lengths
3rd Longwood Bound trap 6 two and three quarter lengths
Ballymac Vic was given a test here, and passed with flying colours. He is now 6-1 joint Derby favourite with Hills. Bittles Bar flew out (4.69) from red, screwing wide early - he was fortunate the rest of the inside runners failed to come away. Ballymac Vic was second up from trap five, followed the leader round, then cut inside cleverly to lead at the third. It was impressive again. Longwood Bound, run off his feet, nevertheless took third from Jollys Bullseye who was struggling after failing to break. Whizzing Around walked out, and was baulked at the third with Droopys Pride.
*Bittles Bar may be seeded from now on, but that will be confirmed after the matter is finalised by Wimbledon with connections. In a surprise move, Martin White is reported as deciding to ask for Bittles Bar be seeded wide.
Heat 4
1st Garryglass Rodge trap 4 4.70 28.70sec
2nd Frisby Barney trap 3 three and a quarter
3rd Carkei Max trap 5 length and a quarter
Garryglass Rodge pinged (4.70sec), all over. Good winner for Mark Wallis (Rodge is 100-1 with Hills). Frisby Barney was 2nd up, and ran creditably with the race gone. Carkei Max took third after moving off at the bend, where South Armagh cut into trouble (baulked again second). Tulligoline walked out. Longwood Fantasy never got going.
BOWSER WENT ROUND
Heat 5
1st Fermoy Henry trap 3 4.82 29.11sec
2n d Kereight King trap 1 length and a half
3rd Bonamassa Rocks trap 2 two and a quarter lengths
A handy winner for Jonathan Kay's Open Check column, with David Pruhs' dog (now 66-1 with Hills) making all. It was the race after the bowser, but it was slow run with the front two bunching at the third, Kereight King, who was challenging, almost coming to a halt. If Bonamassa Rocks progresses further, it will seem amazing after his hopeless position at the second bend, having bumped with Aero Tobias at the bend. However Millwards Matt and Laughil George unfortunately collided at the second, and suddenly Bonamassa Rocks found himself left in third place, chasing Kereight King. He then tired and was almost caught by Aero Tobias. It was a good night for the Pruhs team (Frisby Barney through earlier)
Heat 6
1st Teejays Bluehawk trap 3 4.99 28.95sec
2nd Bubbly Lucky trap 2 head
3rd Bouncy Bocko trap 6 half length
Farloe Barracuda pinged (4.69), but was caught at the fourth bend and this time missed out by a length and a quarter. He had run his heart out. Teejays Bluehawk, shuffled at the bend, battled on and although crowded at the last, got up for a head for Paul Young over kennelmate Bubbly Lucky, who had turned second. Bouncy Bocko, barged wide at the bend, was the one dog Farloe Barracuda did not want behind him - he grabbed third. The others were run off their feet.
Fastest split in the Derby so far remains Shaneboy Spencer, 4.66 in the opening round.
Heat 7
1st Droopys Loner trap 2 4.72sec 28.94sec
2nd Kilara Missy trap 1 length and a quarter
3rd Dinner Hunter trap 4 half length
Normal service was resumed here with Dean Childs' Droopys Loner, ping, all over. She is 50-1, from 66s, with the sponsor. What a race for the qualifying places. Any Dak, after holding second most of the way, tired on the run in as rank outsider Kilara Missy snatched second, and a whirlwind from local Dinner Hunter saw him just third in a desperately close bobbing finish with Hillcroft Joe also there. King Nicky was forced wide at the bend.
Email to
RPGTV: Hi Guys
Absolutely chuffed she qualified again. I write the comments in the racecard at Poole & do an article in the local paper and have been tipping Kilara Missy for the past month in A4 grade saying she is a certainty on the way to great things. I have been pulling my hair out and seriously questioned my judgement but just shows what improvement a more suitable track & distance can bring out in a greyhound. Well done 'team Merchant'.
Gordon Cosburn
Heat 8
1st Droopys Jet trap 3 4.80sec 28.28sec
2nd Farloe Choice trap 4 nine lengths
3rd Ringtown Snowy trap 2 short-head
The fastest time of the Derby so far and it looked it too, Droopys Jet destroying his rivals after flying out. It was only a race for qualifying behind, Bowtime Regan held second most of the way, but the finishers got him - Farle Chico and Ringtown Snowy, by two short heads. But they were all outpaced behind the Irish star, who is now Hills 6-1 joint favourite with Ballymac Vic.
Part owner Laurence Blunt said: "We didn't expect that, it was only his second race since December."
Martin Wakefield, who also owns a share, said: "Wow, didn't he look the part."
And Paschal Taggart, the third of the three close friends who own the Fraser Black-trained star, added: "Let's be realistic, he needed to win that to be a contender . . . he's a contender!"
Heats 9-16 continue on Saturday,
live on RPGTV.
HIlls bet: 6-1 Ballymac Vic, Droopys Jet, 8-1 Ballymac Eske, 10-1 Kereight King, 12-1 Tyrur Sugar Ray, 16-1 Screen Critic, 20-1 Shaneboy Alley, Teejays Bluehawk, 25-1 Isabels Boy, Jaytee Hellcat, Sidaz Jack, 28-1 Farloe Warhawk, 33-1 BAR
Draw for next Saturday's third round will take place immediately after this Saturday's last race near the downstairs betting shop. Last chance for any seeding changes, they cannot be altered for the remainder of the Classic once the draw commences.
Trial before racing:
2 Musical Gaga (Childs) 2nd slow away, rails to middle, finished well
4 Ballymac Tock (Box) 3rd hopelessly left, rails
6 Exocet (O'Shea, Ire) 1st soon clear, middle 28.77sec
two and a half lengths, six and threequarters
**Parader Paul Spencer saved Wimbledon's opening race. Droopys Conan, bowled over at first, was turning back but Paul intervened.
-----------------------------------------My handicapping says a Derby Vic/Jet dead-heatA MUCH more complex going assessment was issued after racing by Wimbledon on Friday night, and clearly a lot of debate had gone into it as the verdict was kept under review until after the final race - which is of course the way it should be.According to Wimbledon, the first two graded races were 0.20sec slow, then it jumps about a bit between 0.10sec slow and normal, finishing at normal for the 28.28sec run of Droopys Jet. The full story is given at the top of my separate race by race analysis
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