Derby Fanview 2015

Like A Kid At Christmas

It's that time of year again folks, the excitement is building, the preparations are in full flow and I am like a kid at Christmas! I love the build up to the Derby, all the talk at the track, on social media, the sensational trails being recorded, the chats with your friends on who their selection is, the top dogs in form. The list goes on and on, but the Derby means something different to everyone. I have not had a dog in the Derby since good ole Accordello back in 2009, that was a great feeling having a dog good enough to compete at the top level. He only got to the third round after a fast 29.43 run but the journey we took with Dello was second to none. It's a great feeling and it injects a super buzz into your kennel and home life too. I can't imagine whats its like for the leading owners and trainers that have multiple entries, it must be exhilarating but also stressful and unnerving! You can enter seven dogs and not get any through or you could end up with two in the final, or only enter one dog and win the final, that's the way it goes. Having not had any dogs in the derby for a few years now, its means something different but not in a bad way. I still enjoy the Derby just as much as I did back when I was parading Dello around headquarters. I still dream of winning the title some day, its a dream that I think will never cease to reproduce. I can see it now, the headlines in years to come, 'SARAH KINSELLA WINS THE 2025 IRISH GREYHOUND DERBY' ahhhhh, living the dream!

So last night was no let down as the first twelve heats took place at Shelbourne Park and man oh man was it great. The usual regulars were there and then the folk you don't see from one Derby to the next arrived from all corners of the Country! Everyone was in great form, the bar was like a Saturday night, the carvery and cafe area was really busy, its a brilliant time to be in Shelbourne. The jokes were flying at our table last night as Mickey Reilly and Jimmy O'Hanlon took the stage with a few beauts. I'll share one with you but bare in mind I'm easily amused!

Two Chinese dudes break into a distillery
One turns to the other and says 'Is this Whiskey?!
The other one says 'Yes, but not as Whiskey as wobbing a bank'!!!!

Prior to the madness last night, the Derby draw took place on Monday morning. I sat with Boylesports finest, Kevin 'The Child' Hennessy and Damo Lonergan. Great lads, always up for the craic and they know their dogs. Kevin was interviewed by Michael Fortune after the draw and Kevin had great things to say about his Father's entry Jaytee Jet, he said he will need the run and after last nights defeat to Ballymac Matt he will definitely come on from that. Kevin also mentioned there was a lot of interest ante post for Ivy Hill Bart and Murt Leahy's kennel is in great form with the likes of Ballybough Mike. This really is a wide open Derby.

There were some major stand out performances from Farloe Blitz, Ballymac Matt and Gyp Rosetti last night, it really was great racing to kick start the 2015 Derby. There was a decent crowd as anticipated and Ted Hegarty was in full flow last night. I spoke to Ted before the last race and I asked him to give two ante post selections. Easy he said, " based on tonight's win, Ballymac Matt and Slippery Fred" ! Good man Ted. His son Tadgh also gave Ballymac Matt and Sidarian Vega as his selections!

Last years winner Laughil Blake's withdrawal was very disappointing to say the least and it kind of took the shine off the opening heat but in the end the shine came back. I mean come on, its the Derby so there is never a dull moment. Anyone who backed Farloe Blitz in the English Derby got some run for their money! He made it to the final and really did the Irish proud. I had a friend waiting on €5000 if Farloe stole the crown but it wasn't meant to be. He has a serious chance in the Irish Derby though, and there is no better man to get his dogs in tip top shape for the main event other than Owen McKenna! He is like the Dermot Weld of horse racing who had his horses in fine fettle in time for the Galway festival and took home his 29th successful trainers title beating Willie Mullins by only one point! Is this Owen's year? Farloe Blitz really was impressive last night though, I dont think I have even seen a dog come out of trap one as fast as he did, but after talking to people after his race, no one gave him as their Derby winner. They all said the same thing 'WILL HE STAY'?

My favourite in this years Derby is by far the very special and talented Ballydoyle Honey. What a bitch, if she were a woman I imagine she would be like Marilyn Monroe, classy, sophisticated with a hint of cheekiness and very easy on the eye! Can a bitch win the Derby? Of course they can, but she has a lot of work to do and must be at her best, her solo of 29.91 is not mind blowing but I wouldn't judge her on that! Another few picks for me is Rural Hawaii, Cable Bay and Ballybough Mike each way, bet on Boylesports our sponsor, and get your money back if they get knocked out of first, second or third round max return €100 returned as a free bet, how bad eh?!

I am dying for Saturday to arrive as it promises to be another brilliant night of racing so make sure you get yourself down to Shelbourne Park and have a bet, have a drink and have the craic.

See you then.

Sarah

 

August 7th 2015

LAUGHIL BLAKE READY TO DEFEND BOYLESPORTS IRISH DERBY CROWN

Laughil Blake, owned by Mary Jennings and her nephew Paul Jennings, will set out on his defence of the BoyleSports Irish Derby title this week at Shelbourne and he is currently the 20-1 joint favourite to become only the second ever greyhound to win the Irish Derby in consecutive years.

Back in 1953 to ’55 the Tim “Chubb” O’Connor owned Spanish Battleship won the Irish Derby an incredible three times in a row but in those days the premier classic was either a 24, 36 or 48 dog event. He was trained to his three victories by the legendary Tom Lynch from Castleisland who was based for many years in Blanchardstown, County Dublin.

A few dogs have gone close to the double over the years but none have managed it. However the sheer early pace and overall speed of the Michael O’Donovan trained Laughil Blake give him a real chance of doing the double.

But an entry of more than 120 greyhounds make this great track event extremely difficult to win. In all the classic will see the contenders in action over six rounds of Shelbourne’s 550 yards, regarded as probably the greatest test of a greyhound’s ability in the world.

Adding extra spice to this year’s BoyleSports Derby is the fact that vying for favouritism with Laughil Blake is the wonder bitch Ballydoyle Honey which won the Sporting Press Irish Oaks back in June and is bidding to become the first bitch ever to do the Oaks and Derby double. She is trained in Golden, Co. Tipperary by Graham Holland and has won eight of her last ten races and will be bidding for a seventh win on the trot in the opening round. Mustang Mega ran up both the Irish Oaks and Irish Derby back in 2003.

The Irish Derby was first run back in 1932 when Guidless Joe was the inaugural winner. The last bitch to win the classic was Ger Watson’s Spring Time in 1999