With a massive 156 going into the opening round of the Boylesports Irish Greyhound Derby a week ago, there was always going to be some big-name casualties as the field was cut to 96 after two enthralling night’s racing.
The elimination that grabbed most headlines was that of the reigning champion Born Warrior. He could never recapture his best form this year and, after finding traffic off the second turn, finished at the tail of the field. Easter Cup champion Swords Rex also exited the classic, stumbling badly at traps before finishing out of the placings.
But largely, most of the most fancied runners progressed and many played a starring role, further whetting the appetite for the weeks of action to come in the blue riband. Coolavanny Hoffa was amongst those to star last weekend, cementing his place at the head of the betting as a result. He was initially cut to 6-1 but, after a review of the second-round draw, he was cut to a very contracted 5-1.
The fact that Coolavanny Hoffa produced such a run after over ten months on the sidelines would suggest that even better is to come tomorrow night when he lines out in Heat 14. He faces Bockos Crystal but will be a very short-priced favourite, perhaps as short as 1-5, and will likely emerge a comfortable scorer yet again.
The breakdown for the coming two nights is eight heats this evening and eight tomorrow night. By the end of Saturday’s card, only 48 greyhounds will remain and all evidence to date would suggest it could be the strongest third round in recent memory.
One top-class performer that won’t get that far is Ballymac Finn. The 2022 Derby runner-up was brilliant in the opening round, showing great pace to record a comfortable victory. Sadly, he picked up a small injury in victory and has been withdrawn from the second round. In his absence, so many are ready to step up to the plate. With exceptional racing to come over the next two nights, expect many of those at the head of the betting to lay down their Derby claims yet again. Of course, nothing will come easy.
There are a few stand out clashes starting in Heat 2 this evening with Clona Duke taking on Mr Chelm and Romeo Magico amongst others. Scaglietti and Good Maestro are joined by Ballyhimkin Rex in Heat 5, while De Lahdedah and Droopys Nice One will attempt to lower the colours of Ballinabola Ed in Heat 6.
The meeting of litter brothers Sober Glory and the incredibly fast Ryhope Beach kicks off proceedings tomorrow night, while Heat 12 is a belter with the fastest opening round winner Another Holiday facing a tough test against The Other Kobe, Undisputed and Optic Chico. It’s safe to expect more brilliant performances, a few shocks and perhaps the emergence of one or two more potential Derby champions.
The Derby isn’t the only classic action on offer this weekend. Dundalk will, on Saturday, welcome the best sprinters in the business for the semi-finals of the Bar One Racing Irish Sprint Cup. The sprint classic is really coming to a boil and both heats are packed with quality.
Just two greyhounds remain unbeaten in the competition, Who Have I and Road Exile and the duo have been kept apart in the draw. Who Have I is drawn on the fence in the opening semi and faces his toughest assignment of the stake.
He takes on Get It Right, who suffered a first career defeat last week, while they will be joined by Carrick Aldo and the very capable duo of Jacktavern Bolt and Crafty Bonanza. Much will depend on the start and it will be interesting to see how Who Have I starts from a rails draw. Get It Right is forgiven for his latest defeat and just gets the vote ahead of his rival.
The second heat features the favourite for outright glory, Road Exile. A sensational 20.84 return last week would suggest he is at the very peak of his powers and a repeat of that run would see him take some stopping. Rathdown Molly was back to her very best last week and is a serious threat, as is the fast-starting Hawkfield Ava, while Chelms Skippy definitely has a big run in him.
