AND THEN THERE WERE 24

Ian Fortune

And so, after 50 races, roughly twenty-four and a half minutes of action and countless brilliant displays and shocks, we are down to the final 24 in the Boylesports Irish Greyhound Derby.

It’s the point in the classic when connections can really start to dream.

To get this far is an incredible achievement and yet there is still so much to do. Yes, only seven races remain in the competition but they are the most important races on the calendar. 

At this point in the competition there are no easy assignments and that is reflected in the quarter final draw. The opening heat is a prime example. Romeo Magico, Tullig Raven and Bockos Budsit all won in fine style in Saturday’s third round and their clash should set a tremendous standard. Throw in Ballymac Finn, Skywalker Barry and the ever-consistent Gortkelly Nestor and it’s a heat to savour.

Heat 2 is no easier with Coolavanny Hoffa and Vincenzo likely to head the market, although it would be brash to ignore the claims of Callaway Masters, Hoodoo Brown, Cryptopunk and Savana Hero.

 Born Warrior will likely start favourite for Heat 3 and will again bid to make every inch but only his best will suffice in a contest containing the likes of Barefoot Supremo, Droopys Gravy, Maries Wedding, Killeacle Phelps and Droopys Nice One. 

There is no let up to the quality in the final heat with classic winners Explosive Boy and Crafty Kokoro going to need to be at their best to halt the rapidly improving Callaway Pro Am. Annagh Bailey, Clona Blu and Bulletfromagun complete a top-class field.

The draw can be found below, while the full form can he found at: https://www.grireland.ie/racing/upcoming-race-cards/upcoming-race-card-summary/?track=SPK&id=104097&date=10-Sep-2022

Boylesports Irish Greyhound Derby

Quarter final draw

Heat 1

1 BALLYMAC FINN

2 ROMEO MAGICO

3 TULLIG RAVEN

4 SKYWALKER BARRY

5 GORTKELLY NESTOR (W)

6 BOCKOS BUDSIT (W)

Heat 2

1 HOODOO BROWN

2 CALLAWAY MASTERS

3 CRYPTOPUNK

4 VINCENZO (M)

5 COOLAVANNY HOFFA (W)

6 SAVANA HERO (W)

Heat 3

1 BAREFOOT SUPREMO

2 DROOPYS GRAVY

3 MARIES WEDDING

4 KILLEACLE PHELPS (M)

5 BORN WARRIOR (W)

6 DROOPYS NICE ONE (W)

Heat 4

1 EXPLOSIVE BOY

2 CRAFTY KOKORO

3 CALLAWAY PRO AM

4 ANNAGH BAILEY (M)

5 CLONA BLU (M)

6 BULLETFROMAGUN (W)