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Post by BVADMIN on Jul 18, 2020 9:11:58 GMT
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Post by BVADMIN on Jul 24, 2020 7:50:26 GMT
On Saturday it's the Champion Stakes final at Shelbourne Park...Champion final on Saturday, then all set for our Derby...BY SARAH KINSELLA OF BOYLESPORTSWHEN Ballymac Arminta won the 2019 BoyleSports Champion Stakes, the stand at Shelbourne Park was packed to the rafters with her adoring fans. Punters were delighted as the Liam Dowling superstar crossed the line as the 4/5 favourite in a blistering 29.31sec after she chased down the front running Run Happy. €20,000 went home with Arminta and the prize-money is the same for this year’s contest which is a testament to the sponsors BoyleSports after the most bizarre few months we have all encountered.
The cheers will be the same this year at HQ, they just won’t be as loud. Who could predict that we would be in this situation where just 50 paying spectators can gather outdoors at greyhound tracks to watch this wonderful sport but, just like we have adapted to our new ‘living with COVID-19’ lifestyle, we have adapted to a new way at Shelbourne Park.
For me, walking into Shelbourne Park hasn’t changed one bit, I still get that giddy feeling, I still get knots in my stomach when a race is about to start. Coronavirus or not, HQ will always be special and on Saturday night, the 2020 BoyleSports Champion Stakes final will take centre stage.
Lenson Bocko is our 6/4 favourite to land the spoils and last year’s BoyleSports Irish Greyhound Derby champion has what it takes to add another title to his impressive CV. Bocko really solidified his stance as the best greyhound in training last week with his ante post quote of 8/1 favouritism for the Derby backing that up too. We say this about all Classic winners but Bocko really is an outstanding canine athlete and full credit must be given to his trainer Graham Holland who had this dog in serious form heading into his semi-final, having not ran since November 30th. Impressive.
Of course there are five other runners who could win with some punters put off by Bocko running straight towards the rails when he broke from the traps last week. He came out like a rocket and I think it took him a moment to remember where he was and, once he did, he took off. Ballymac Anton is a terrific competition dog and he was just one length off Bocko in 29.56sec with 6/1 available for this Gold Cup and St Leger champ.
Heat winner Ballymac Cooper is another finalist for Liam Dowling who has Ballymac Wild also. Cooper was hot on the heels of the nimble Pestana and coming off the last bend it was evident Cooper was going to win. Pestana is brilliant from the traps but the 550 yards just stretches him. If there is any sort of trouble however, Pestana won’t be waiting around and his odds can be backed at 5/1 while Cooper, the Night of Stars 600 winner, is 5/2.
Then we have another heat winner Ballyhimikin Jet who is bouncing. He is looking to extend his purple patch with three wins in a row and looks a nice wager at 4/1. That leaves us with Ballymac Wild, a very good juvenile who is playing with the big kids here and is 12/1.
My opinion? It’s just impossible to not tip Lenson Bocko isn’t it? 6/4 is a lovely price, but I can’t help but give a chance to my old favourite Ballymac Anton. The last few weeks will pay off for him coming into this race. He needed the few runs under his belt so we might see his best on Saturday. Bocko v Anton. There are worse ways to spend your Saturday night.
I have been kept busy with plenty of phone calls, texts and tweets in relation to the BoyleSports Irish Greyhound Derby and we are proud to be sponsoring again for the seventh year in a row. A jaw-dropping amount of €255,000 is the total prize fund and again, this is marvellous considering prize-money across the globe has had to undergo massive reductions.
The BoyleSports Irish Greyhound Derby this year will not be as we know it and I don’t have much information to go on as we wait for the government guidelines in terms of quarantine and how many people can come racing, especially from overseas. But before I talk about figures and attendance, you can rest easy that we, along with the Irish Greyhound Board, will promote this prestigious event as best we can because that is what it deserves. We will keep you up to date with heat winners, some zoom call interviews with trainers and breeders. But above all, everyone at Shelbourne Park will be kept safe with social distancing protocols in place to ensure everyone’s safety.
The numbers in attendance are yet to be confirmed and are subject to the Government directive on gatherings at the time. Currently the numbers are restricted to 200 outdoors which means that currently only a maximum of 50 outdoor admissions are available to book. The numbers allowed to gather are expected to rise with Phase 4, but this is dependent on the Government; we eagerly await their announcement.
The IGB sales team are currently operating a wait list for Derby customers and once they have received further confirmation on the numbers, they will offer these customers the opportunity to purchase a ticket based on their place in the list. Here are the key dates for the Derby with the live draw taking place on August 10th and being streamed live from IGB. Give the sales team a call via www.igb.ie
Enjoy the BoyleSports Champion Stakes and join me on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram as we watch six of the best go to traps for the €20,000 prize.
Key BoyleSports Derby dates
First Round – Friday, August 14th & Saturday, August 15th
Second Round – Friday, August 21st & Saturday, August 22nd
Third Round – Saturday, August 29th
Quarter Finals – Saturday, September 5th
Semi Finals – Saturday, September 12th
Final – Saturday, September 19th
BoyleSports Champion Stakes, final this Saturday {25-7-20}
6-4 Lenson Bocko (trap 5) 5-2 Ballymac Cooper (trap 6) 4 Ballyhimikin Jet (trap 4) 5 Pestana (trap 3) 6 Ballymac Anton (trap 2) 12 Ballymac Wild (trap 1)
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Post by BVADMIN on Jul 24, 2020 21:05:20 GMT
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Post by BVADMIN on Jul 25, 2020 23:19:14 GMT
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Post by BVADMIN on Jul 25, 2020 23:21:58 GMT
PESTANA (6-1) used his brilliant early speed to full effect, allied to more than a touch of bravery and determination, to land the €20,000 BoyleSports Champion Stakes over 550 yards at Shelbourne Park.
Trained by Owen McKenna for Des Grace, Pestana initially moved rails into trouble from trap three but, with the outside trio all flat-footed at the start, was able to recover and pace into an narrow lead.
His heat conqueror Ballymac Cooper went up hard on the outside after his trade exit but Pestana was not for clearing and barged him out of way at the turn where favourite Lenson Bocko and Ballyhimikin Jet also ran into chance-ending trouble although both looked up against it from where they were in truth.
Up front, Pestana strode clear from Ballymac Wild and, hard as he and Ballymac Anton battled, the McKenna dog was never threatened as he went on to score by three lengths and a head from them in 29.57sec.
Liam Dowling had to settle for second, third and fourth in the feature but his Ballymac Rumble was quickest in the semis of the 2020 Corn Cuchulainn over 750 yards when making all in the opener.
He had caught the eye when third behind Aayamza Royale and Redzer Ardfert in the pick of the previous week’s first round heats and comprehensively turned the tables on that duo by getting the run of the race from the front.
He quickly raced clear and was gone beyond recall when most of the chasing pack came together at the third bend with Aayamza Royale and Redzer Ardfert notable sufferers.
Making the best of his way home, the Dowling dog went on to score by five lengths from rank outsider Romeo Rumble in 41.49sec with Redzer Ardfert performing a minor miracle to qualify in third by a short-head from Killer Bee.
Aayamza Royale, who had looked in a great pitch disputing second with a lap to go, was not so fortunate having again been stopped in her tracks at the fifth bend.
Romeo Rumble’s trainer Graham Holland ensured multiple representation in another big-race final - he has four in the Produce decider at Clonmel - when sending out a one-two in the second semi.
It was not in the order the market expected, however, with his 6-1 chance Ballydoyle Bee holding off 5-4 favourite kennelmate Lenson Blinder in 41.69sec with Karol Ramsbottom securing some compensation for Aayamza Royale’s exit when Deadly Do Lago made it through in third.
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Post by BVADMIN on Jul 25, 2020 23:22:40 GMT
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Post by SALFORD GIRL on Jul 28, 2020 22:53:01 GMT
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Post by SALFORD GIRL on Aug 1, 2020 23:34:49 GMT
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Post by SALFORD GIRL on Aug 2, 2020 21:17:54 GMT
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Post by SALFORD GIRL on Aug 4, 2020 14:24:59 GMT
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