GREAT HOPE FOR IRISH IN TOWCESTER

Ian Fortune

Eight Irish trained greyhounds will take their place in the semi-finals of the Star Sports & Orchestrate English Derby at Towcester this evening hoping to earn a chance at possible immortality in next week’s final.

It’s been yet another wonderful renewal of the classic, particularly for those from this side of the Irish Sea but there is still much work to do.

ACE AND DENIRO TO GO TOE TO TOE

The opening semi-final is dominated by the Irish runners with five set to line up at 9.18pm.

Lennies Eddie, Epic Ace and the Liam Dowling trained trio of Ballymac Duffle, Ballymac Deniro and Ballymac Iroko make up the quintet and each has the pace and ability to make the frame.

Strike It Skye is the sole UK hope in this contest and she too must be respected given her incredible pace. So much will depend on the opening exchanges but logic suggests that Epic Ace, Ballymac Deniro and potentially Lennies Eddie will be prominent into the bend.

Ballymac Duffle is certain to finish like an express but will need to find the gaps, while the same can be said for Strike It Skye and Ballymac Iroko. Epic Ace has been faultless thus far with four wins from four in the classic and is set to start favourite but Ballymac Deniro is on a march, improving with each outing and has the early speed to challenge and potentially lead around the turn.

It really is a fascinating contest. Slight preference is for Ballymac Deniro but Epic Ace won’t want to lose his unbeaten status in the classic and looks a serious player. In reality, there are countless possible outcomes and those involved in any of the six would take third place now.

RALF, CORNER AND TANK AIMING TO UPSET TEAM UK

The second heat is every bit as fascinating with the home team holding a stronger hand.

Scooby The Lady is a marginal favourite for the UK but Liam Dowling’s Ballymac Ralf and Mark Wallis’ Irish Derby finalist Proper Heiress are just behind her in the betting.

Hackney Corner and Lennies Tank will join Ballymac Ralf to complete the three-strong Irish challenge in this contest. Hackney Corner needs to start on terms but is showing great early speed. He actually has a kind draw in five and it would be no shock to see him play a big part in proceedings.

Lennies Tank has been a victim of the trap six hoodoo with very few greyhounds, if any, coming away in front while wearing the stripes. He has all the pace in the world but needs to come away racing to put himself in a position to threaten.

Much will depend on whether Proper Heiress can contain Scooby The Lady into the turn. If the dup were to go up side by side, it is entirely possible they could clash. Sole Focus completes the field on the fence but is a huge price to emerge on top.

Instead, Ballymac Ralf and Hackney Corner are perhaps best equipped to benefit should the two principal UK runners get in each other’s way. Ballymac Ralf will finish like a train and will be hard to contain with a clear passage, while Hackney Corner should be prominent and could potentially slip around in front.