AN IRISH WIN GUARANTEED BUT WHO WINS AT TOWCESTER?
Ian Fortune
History will be created soon after 9pm this evening when five Irish trained greyhounds, the entire field, step out onto the sand ahead of the final of the Star Spiorts& Orchestrate English Derby.
It would have been six only for an unfortunate injury to Lennies Tank earlier this week but his connections are still represented by Lennies Eddie.
Paul Hennessy, Pat Buckley and Liam Dowling have all been there before. All three can wear the t-shirt, each a winner of a Derby on either side of the Irish Sea but that doesn’t mean it matters any less. Each with a little grey in their still impressive hairline but the enthusiasm and desire to win is still there.
THE MEN AT THE END OF THE LEAD
Dowling, an English Derby winner with De Lahdedah in 2024, is triple handed. Ballymac Duffle, Ballymac Deniro and Ballymac Ralf, all bred, reared and still owned by the most famous man in Ballymacelligott. Each with obvious claims and attracting hefty support in the betting.
Hennessy has twice tasted English Derby success. The flying Jaytee Jet was the final winner at Wimbledon in 2016 and Priceless Blake a winner at Nottingham three years later. The man at the end of the lead is seeking a third English Derby victory at a third Derby venue. That would certainly be unique.
His hopes rest with Lennies Eddie. A precocious talent that can improve on what he has achieved to date. The outsider of the field but long over-due a flying exit. If he gets it, he could make the layers look foolish.
And standing in the way of Dowling and Hennessy is Pat Buckley. A Derby winner in Ireland, Scotland and England. Deerjet Sydney his English Derby champion at Nottingham in 2020. How he hopes that Hackney Corner can repeat that sort of start he produced in the semi-finals.
It’s a special, green-tinted final. No matter the result, Ireland will be claiming a 19th success in the UK’s blue riband event. It may not make some of those in the UK happy but Irish eyes will certainly be smilingat Towcester.
DUFFLE READY TO DANCE
As for the race itself, the more you look at it, the more confusing it gets. Each of the five remaining runners hold strong claims.
It’s not difficult to make a case for any. Ballymac Duffle is well housed on the fence, but can he find a start on terms? Twice during early roundshe broke the clock, but it was in his subsequent three outings that he really displayed his qualities.
Showing astounding pace and power, he recovered from bad traffic in the third round, quarter finals and semi-finals. His many followers will take heart from the fact that there will be nothing on his inside this evening. The incredibly fast son of Ballymac Cooper need only concentrate on going up as fast as he can along the fence. Make no mistake, if turning close, he is a major contender.
One thing is certain, no matter what leads the field into the back straight, their connections will be glancing behind to see where Ballymac Duffle is.
RAPID RALF A BIG PLAYER
Ballymac Ralf is drawn on the shoulder of his litter brother in two.
He too is blessed with incredible power, which allowed him recover from early traffic to come from an impossible position to grab second in his semi-final.
His progress through the classic has been impressive and is another that seems to be getting better and stronger. This has seen him earn a legion of admirers and he won’t be without support this evening.
His chance depends on whether he can get first run on Ballymac Duffle. If failing to do so, victory seems unlikely but should he out-trap his comrade, he would quickly work his way onto the fence. If turning close to the pace, much like his brother, he would be more than capable of mounting a bold bid.
EDDIE NO ALSO RAN
Lennies Eddie is in three.
We’ve already highlighted the fact he is the outsider of the quintet but the fact that he is just 8-1 is clear evidence of just how open this contest is. His route to victory is clear. He must hit the ground running and hold those on his flanks into the bend.
Recent evidence would suggest he is as fast as any of his rivals down the back straight and he doesn’t give away much ground on the run in. He actually held of the late advances of Ballymac Duffle to take second in his semi-final and few would rule out his chances.
Indeed, there is growing confidence in his ability to make a faster start from three. He is now used to the boxes and is very much due a start. Those looking for a bit of value could do worse than follow the Paul Hennessy trained star and pray for a flying exit.
CORNER HAS LAYERS RUNNING FOR COVER
Hackney Corner has some of the layers, including the sponsors, running for cover.
It seems the many ante-post wagers were inspired as he has rally come into his own through the classic. There was never any doubt the son of Here Comes Syd was fast enough to compete at the very highest level but consistency was often a problem.
Pat Buckley was confident ahead of the Derby that he had his charge primed and ready for action, suggesting he had grown into a man. He wasn’t wrong. Improving through the preliminary rounds, he took off in the semi-final, going clear into the turn and leaving a talented field in his dust.
A similar start tonight would see him emerge as a serious contender and he is yet another that must enter all calculations.
CAN DENIRO PLAY A STARRING ROLE?
The likely favourite Ballymac Deniro completes the field.
He too has really grown up through the Derby, showing all his many qualities in the quarter and semi-finals. As his trapping improved, so too did his ability to make fast greyhounds look slower than they are.
Dominant in the quarter finals, he went even faster last week, going within one spot of the track record of Epic Ace. With each outing, he goes closer and closer to superstar status and he would cement that status were he to get loose into the bend tonight. In terms of the ability, he is the overall package.
He has everything, tremendous early speed, huge pace down the back and the strength and power to stay 500m and further. The son of Ballymac Finn is a worthy favourite and is the most likely winner but the presence of Hackney Corner on his left shoulder is not ideal. A fast start would probably ease him of that burden but that not easy when thousands of racegoers are going bananas in the packed stands.
IRISH QUINTET SET FOR A THRILLER
Five Irish trained greyhounds. Five deserving finalists.
The stage is set for a thriller. If anyone tells you they are fully convinced they know what will win, they’re lying. You can run over every scenario and come up with a different winner every time. So much will come down to the start. For what it’s worth, this scribe will nominate Ballymac Ralf but like everyone else, I’m only speculating.
The thought process is, he could potentially get first run on Ballymac Duffle into the bend and slip around in a challenging position. A 600yd greyhound with the speed and pace to challenge for Derby honours, he can then move through the gears from the second turn. But as I said, it’s only a guess. The best of luck to all involved in the big race. Win or lose, it’s going to be special night for those lucky enough to have been born in Ireland.
Undercard
POLLY WITH PLATE CLAIMS
Elsewhere on the Towcester 15-race card there are a other Irish trained runners.
Singalong Polly has obvious claims in the final of the Derby Plate. She displayed all her strength and pace to win her semi-final and can again prove too strong for her rivals.
Droopys Trade and Romeo Ability may well battle it out for the early lead but neither is well housed in the outside two boxes. Singalong Polly has a better draw in three and can turn close before striking the front after halfway.
ELLO ELLO CAN’T BE DISCOUNTED
Ello Ello is in action in the second race on the card for Brendan Matthews.
He faces a tough draw in five and is inconsistent at boxes but is more than fast enough to figure if coming away on terms. Don’t be surprised if he gets involved.
IROKO MAKES SIX BEND DEBUT
The most interesting of the Irish trained runners is Ballymac Iroko.
He performed with distinction through the early rounds of the Derby and steps up to six bends for the first time in the Invitation Stayers over 720m.
He needs to come away on terms from the outside box but could make a very talented stayer. If he does happen to get loose, they won’t see which way he goes to halfway and he can build a decisive advantage before coasting home in front.