FLYING FREDDIE FASTEST AS DERBY DELIGHTS
Ian Fortune
Few believed Friday While the Boylesports Irish Greyhound Derby may be only two nights deep, it’ already obvious that this is going to be a vintage renewal of the blue riband with Saturday night’s action following the tone set twenty-four hours earlier.
Yet again, the racing was of the highest calibre, providing some outstanding displays as well as a few moments of real drama with a couple of shocks thrown in for good measure. The headlines simply had to go to March On Freddie, however.
The UK raider was magnificent as he emerged a facile winner in a sizzling fastest of the round 29.19, fully vindicating the decision of Dave Mullins and George Watson to travel across the Irish Sea. The son of Dorotas Wildcat looked right at home at Shelbourne and his presence is a real bonus for the Derby.
There were also superb performances from the likes of Boylesports Bob, Singalong Dolly, Ballinabola Jim, Tribal Syd and Untold Dollar with each making it clear they could yet have a say in the Derby. Below is our heat-by-heat guide to the evening’s action.
Heat by Heat guide to Saturday’s action.
Heat 14 – DEELISH-OUS DISPLAY FROM NORA
John Porter’s Deelish Nora found herself with plenty of room to race in the early yards of Heat 14, the first of the night, and took full advantage, driving into the turn before just clearing the inside trio of Phoenix Memphis, Ballymac Briar and Castleivy Ginge.
Once avoiding the early traffic on the fence, the Ginger McGee trained daughter of Droopys Sydney and Ballymac Orna raced clear to hold a commanding advantage at halfway. Castleivy Ginge recovered well, powering down the back straight to close on the leader and looked a serious threat as they turned for home.
As if sensing the threat, Deelish Nora kicked again to eventually come home two lengths and two lengths clear of Castleivy Ginge and Ballymac Briar in 29.71.
Heat 15 – BOB ENDS CHARLIE’S SEQUENCE
Heat 15 was one of the finest of the entire opening round with Boylesports Bob emerging a truly brilliant winner in a very fast 29.25.
In defeat both Short Grip and Tuono Charlie ran their heart out but sadly it means the end of the latter’s incredible winning sequence that has stretched back to March.
Indeed, Tuono Charlie may have failed to make it seventeen wins on the bounce but he lost nothing in defeat, running on very strongly to finish a close third. Boylesports Bob was on another planet, however.
It was clear John Boyle’s star was in great heart in his previous race, his first since running up the English Derby, but this was an even better display.
Short Grip flew into the turn to set a searing gallop but her fate was sealed when Boylesports Bob moved past Poets Dawn around the opening two bends to go second. Tuono Charlie was left a little short of room on the bend and could only turn fourth.
Into the third turn, it was clear that Boylesports Bob meant business. The Paul Hennessy trained son of Good news and Roanna Bess was motoring and starting to close on the pace-setter. For as good and as game as Short Grip is, she has been lightly raced of late and perhaps needs another run or two to reach peak fitness.
It was impossible for her to hold the rampant Boylesports Bob. The favourite charged up the home straight to take over before easing on to score by two and a half lengths from Short Grip. Tuono Charlie flew home to finish just a length away in third.
Heat 16 – FREDDIE MARCHES CLEAR
The UK challenge is very much alive in this year’s Boylesports Derby with March On Freddie producing a near-foot-perfect display to run clear of his rivals in Heat 16.
Great credit must go to Dave Millins and George Watson for making the journey to Shelbourne Park but it’s clear they knew what they had their hands on.
March On Freddie was understandably sent off a hot favourite but his billing was fully justified. Coming away on terms from the stripes draw, he flew into the turn to quickly seize control. As he edged inwards on the bend, Miami King and Syd Zafiro seemed to get a little closer but it was their last sniff of the leader.
Once straightening into the back straight, March On Freddie put on the afterburners, stretching away from two talented rivals. Four to five lengths in front at the third turn, he was relentless up the home straight before crossing the line seven and a half lengths clear of Miami King in 29.19.
Syd Zafiro was third, two lengths further adrift. On this type of form, March On Freddie is a serious Derby contender. One thing is certain, the son of Dorotas Wildcat and Seaglass Shadow was built to excel at Shelbourne Park.
Heat 17 – SYD SKIPS CLEAR TO WIN IN STYLE
Tribal Syd made it two from two for his new owners the Dubs And Culchies Syndicate, driving clear to halfway before going on to justify odds-on favouritism in comfortable fashion.
The Murt Leahy trained son of Droopys Sydney and Myahs Friend was sent off the 1-2 favourite and he quickly moved to the head of affairs.
Showing all his trademark early dash, he quickly put daylight between himself and his rivals. Southwood Stan turned second and did all he could to stay in touch but Tribal Syd was loving life out front. Showing no signs of taking his foot off the pedal, Tribal Syd raced to a four and a half lengths victory over Southwood Stan in 29.50. Faypoint Harvey was always third, finishing a length further back.
Heat 18 – DOLLY DASHES TO SUCCESS
Singalong Dolly may have only come in a reserve but it was clear she was ready to race from the very opening stride in Heat 18.
The Cesarewitch champion rocketed from traps and was soon in complete command for Pat Buckley and Gilbert Anderson.
A powerful galloper that stays 600yds out well, she was always going to take some catching. Ballymac Gizmo did all he could in the closing stages to get closer but Singalong Dolly was in no mood to surrender any of her advantage.
Powering up the home straight, the daughter of Droopys Sydney and Mydras Dawn raced to a very straightforward four length success over Ballymac Gizmo in 29.39. Hawkfield Blue was another length and a half back in third.
Heat 19 – FEVER LEAVES IT LATE
Paul Horig and Sean Bourke’s Mustang Fever took Heat 19 but she left it late.
Reeling in long-time pace-setter Grangeclare Lady in the closing yards before holding the rank outsider Crokers Rocket in a thrilling finish. The daughter of Droopys Sydney and Mustang Kay Cee was actually fastest into stride and led for much of the way into the turn, only to be headed by the early paced Grangeclare Lady.
The pair continued to race first and second for much of the way but Mustang Fever seemed to be moving the stronger as they hit the final bend. Despite showing a little indecision as to whether to go inside or outside, she finally got the better of her rival in the dying strides.
Crokers Rocket, after turning third, also closed throughout before making one last attempt to get on terms on the run in. In a desperate finish, Mustang Fever held Crokers Rocket by a head in 29.86. Grangeclare Lady was just a neck back in third. In victory, Mustang Fever initiated a fine double for Pat Guilfoyle.
Heat 20 – BIG JIM CONTINUES HIS MAGNIFICENT RUN OF FORM
Ballinabola Jim made it five wins on the spin in Heat 20 where he was sent off a rather generous looking 8-1.
De Lahdedah, the English Derby champ, was an unbackable favourite at 1-5 but a tardy start and traffic problems would see him struggle to get into a challenging position.
Instead, it was Ballinabola Jim that made the most of his wide draw to move past the early leaders Val Tashadelek and Denos Bay as they hit the second bend. This was the decisive moment in the contest with Brendan Murphy’s massive son of Good News and Ballinabola Rum easing on down the back straight.
While all this was goinmg on, e Lahdedah found himself in a pocket on the fence with nowhere to go. He made the decision to switch wide down the back straight and this afforded him enough room to get into a qualifying position but there was no way he was going to make up the ground lost on the strong running Ballinabola Jim.
Trained by Brendan Murphy for the Murphy Ballinaboola Syndicate, the April ’22 whelp powered on for a comfortable four and a half length victory over Denos Bay in 29.40 with De Lahdedah another length back in third.
Heat 21 – DAZZLER DICTATES TO CONTAIN CORNFLAKE
Knockeen Dazzler made a winning start to his Derby campaign in Heat 21, coming away racing from his wide draw to make every inch.
He had to work a little harder than many of his odds-on punters thought, however, as UK raider Arthur Cornflake stayed on well to close in the latter stages.
Knockeen Dazzler, who was having his first start for Pat Guilfoyle, did what was needed. Despite coming back to his rivals in the closing yards, Daniel O’Rahilly’s son of Laughil Blake and Love Island went on to win by three parts of a length in 29.72. Arthur Cornflake looked very happy to be back in Shelbourne Park, showing fine pace from the second turn to the line, finishing second. Dromana Dano also ran well to finish just a length back in third.
Heat 22 – DOLLAR WORKS HARD TO LEAD LATE
Untold Dollar displayed real class to emerge on top in Heat 24 for Graham Holland and Callum and John Purdy.
Glengar Martha went up fastest to lead the field around the opening two bends but Untold Dollar was always in her slipstream despite having to check slight at the opening turn.
It was the same scenario at the third turn with Untold Dollar charging at the pace-setter only to have the door closed again. This may have cost many greyhounds their chance but Untold Dollar seems to be running with real purpose and he quickly recovered.
As Glengar Martha swung wide off the final turn, Untold Dollar made his move. Staying on strongly, the son of Newinn Taylor and Glenegat Mildred came through in the dying yards to beat his rival by a head in 29.55. Hot Wood was best of the remainder, some three and a half lengths further back.
Heat 23 – WHAT AN EFFORT FROM ANNIE
There was another tight finish to Heat 23 with Clonfert Annie producing a massive run to lead in the final yards for John Young.
Fahy Hazel went up fastest to lead on the bend but she was only one of four leaders at various points of the contest.
Born To Perform, who was the hot favourite slipped around second and soon headed Fahy Hazel. It seemed as though she was then going to emerge a good winner but Bonkersinyonkers made his move down to the third turn.
Charging up the fence, he hit the front for a couple of strides only for Born To Perform to drive the bend to go back to the front. By this point, Clonfert Annie, who had taken a bump in the opening yards and at the bend, was starting to motor.
Coming from fifth spot, she moved fourth on the third turn before coming between rivals to go third on the final bend. Born To Perform began to drift wide as they turned for home, forcing Clonfert Annie to switch sides and challenge on the leader’s inside but she headed Bonkersinyonkers passing the 550yd boxes before grabbing the lead inside the final twenty yards.
She would get up to win by a neck from Born To Perform in 29.91 with Bonkersinyonkers another two and a half lengths back in third.
Heat 24 – ALL IN GOOD TIME
In Good Time was back to winning ways in Heat 24, showing fine back straight pace to make a decisive move passing halfway.
Trained by Brendan Maunsell for the Working Together Syndicate, the son of Droopys Sydney and Peters Queen disputed the lead into the turn alongside Bartlemy Cop and Hello Sonny.
He may have taken a bump at this point but turned close to Bartlemy Cop before taking over as they approached halfway. It would prove the decisive moment in the contest. The slow starting Deadly Choice came with a huge charge into the third turn to moved second around the last two bends but he had too much ground to make up.
In truth, In Good Time kicked again up the straight to emerge a relatively easy winner by two lengths in 29.63. Deadly Choice was a good second with a five length gap to Bartlemy Cop in third.
Heat 25 – SHE REALLY IS THERE
The Rosemary price trained Is She There may have been a decent price to win Heat 25 but her victory was certainly deserved after she broke fast to lead the field into the back straight before rallying to see off Quarry Boy.
Romeo Taylor was the warm favourite from three and was expected to set a blistering pace but he completely mistimed his exit and was never a player at any point. In contrast, Is She There broke smartly and quickly mastered Prince Naseem into the turn.
Driving the bend, Eugene Price and Colin Rosbottom’s Is She There caused Prince Naseem to check off, allowing Quarry Boy to move second. The latter quickly began to close on the leader and actually took over around the last two bends.
Is She There was very game, however. Showing fine determination, she stuck on grimly to beat Quarry Boy by a length and a half in 29.83. Prince Naseem recovered from his opening bend bother to take third, just a length adrift.
Heat 26 – AN EVENTFUL FINISH AS PUMA POUNCES
The results page will tell you that Benalmadena Puma came out on top in the final heat of the round but that only goes to tell a small part of the story.
After twenty-five heat with little drama, this was the most eventful contest with Laurels champion Crafty Shivoo crashing out after herself and her great market rival Cheap Sandwiches clashed on the bend.
Not A Wink then got involved, leaving Ballyhimikin Leo to take charge as they hit the back straight. His time at the head of affairs was relatively short-lived, however. Benalmadena Puma began to close with real purpose into the third turn before making his move between the last two bends.
Going to the front, the son of Good News and Impact Iowa quickly moved into a decisive lead. Remarkably, Cheap Sandwiches recovered so well from his opening bend troubles that he moved second on the final turn but there waws no stopping Benalmadena Puma, who went on to cross the line three and a half lengths to the good in 30.03.