The BOYLE Sports Irish Greyhound Derby begins this Friday, August 22nd, with 72 dogs beginning their journey to fight it out to win one of the sport's biggest prizes.
A total of 144 names went into the draw drum for the opening round of the BOYLE Sports Irish Greyhound Derby at Shelbourne Park on Monday afternoon. There will be 24 opening round heats with a straight four to qualify from each, leaving 96 for the second round. 4 to qualify
The breakdown of the 144 is 98 inside seeds, 15 middle seeds and 31 wide seeds. Defending champion Bockos Diamond has been drawn in Heat 5, where he will wear the stripes. The final of the classic is scheduled for Saturday, September 27th.
Heats
BOYLE Sports Irish Greyhound Derby Round 1 Tips – Friday Heats
Cheap Sandwiches
Heat 1
1 Desert Flower – 20/1
2 Hackney Tango – 6/1
3 Darraghs Sydney – 14/1
4 Ballyhimikin Rio – 6/1
5 Flight Club (w) – 8/1
6 Cheap Sandwiches (w) – 2/5
Tip
The first heat of the Derby will be all about last year’s runner-up, Cheap Sandwiches, who will be expected to go off heavy favourite. Desert Flower could have major place claims at a big price if he can take his trapping from Curaheen Park to Shelbourne Park.
Heat 2
1 Toolmaker Josepe – 2/1
2 Brickhill Mona – 20/1
3 Danzig Rebel – 14/1
4 Drogon – 10/1
5 Lennies Madge (w) – 2/1
6 Snazzy Boss (w) – 7/4
Tip
The second heat of the night looks to be a more competitive betting affair with Trap 6 the likely favourite for Graham Holland. Toolmaker Josepe has proved to be a powerful galloper in recent weeks , and I think he could take the spoils here.
Droopys Patriot
Heat 3
1 Faypoint Harvey – 3/1
2 Droopys Patriot - 11/10
3 Stefans Goal – 16/1
4 Westway Rossa – 5/1
5 Borna Thyme (w) – 20/1
6 Lemon Joey (w) -10/3
Tip
There’s plenty of “Big Competition” experience in this race with Trap 2 being an Irish Sprint Cup runner-up, Trap 5 being a Tipperary Cup winner, and Trap 6 being a Produce Stakes winner. Droopys Patriot looks to be a potential superstar, though, and I fancy him for this heat.
Heat 4
1 Cheque For Cash – 7/4
2 Harry Houdini – 8/1
3 Droichead Nua – 8/1
4 Breaghmore Dice – 10/1
5 In Good Time (w) – 6/1
6 The Other Wild (w) – 6/4
Tip
There’s a real mix of experienced campaigners and young up-and-comers in Heat 4 on Friday Night. However, the dog to take note of is The Other Wild for trainer Jennifer O’Donnell who looks to be another who could emerge from the pack in the coming weeks.
Heat 5
Bockos Diamond
1 Shanahee Boomer – 6/1
2 Epic Ace – 9/2
3 Ballymac Lake – 10/1
4 Harlequin Gee Up – 25/1
5 Manalishi Jet (w) – 14/1
6 Bockos Diamond (w) - 2/5
Tip
Defending Champion Bockos Diamond will justifiably dominate the discourse for this heat as the market's current outright market leader, and he looks to have lengths to spare on the; rest here. If looking for an each-way market play, Epic Ace or Ballymac Ace would be my picks.
Heat 6
Bombay Pat
1 Priceless Romeo - 8/1
2 Cashout Girl - 25/1
3 Southwood Stan – 10/1
4 Toolmaker King – 4/1
5 Bombay Pat (w) – 1/2
6 Hello Diego (w) – 8/1
Tip
Bombay Pat will be a deserving favourite ahead of this heat, but on current odds, I see value in looking at one of the outsiders. Toolmaker King has caught the eye already , even if the most lightly raced in the heat, and I think he has every chance of causing a shock.
Heat 7
1 Sunshine Sioux – 5/1
2 Proper Heiress - 7/4
3 Phoenix Memphis -6/1
4 Misterin Bola – 33/1
5 Funintherun (w) – 8/1
6 Ballinabola Joe (w) – 6/4
Tip
Poper Heiress is one of the leading UK hopes and with a record of 16 wins and 2 runner-up finishes from 18 runs, he can’t be dismissed. It’s all about how he takes to Shelbourne Park, but a 29.75 run first time around suggests to me he can pick up a few heat wins.
Heat 8
De Lahdedah
1 De Lahdedah – 11/10
2 Ballyhooly Bruno – 5/1
3 Oreo Ollie – 8/1
4 Bowadis Raven – 20/1
5 Sole Mio – 7/2
6 Coosane Pickles (w) – 4/1
Tip
Another heat, not short on pace, headlined by 2024 English Derby winner De Lahdedah, who continues to age like a fine wine. De Lahdedah will be a worthy favourite for this heat, but don’t rule out Ballyhooly Bruno picking up the heat win either.
Heat 9
1 Great Morning – 33/1
2 Harlequin Paul – 6/1
3 Slipalong Duke – 7/1
4 Shebetheone – 3/1
5 Canya Steve – 25/1
6 Seven Beach (w) – 4/7
Tip
Heat 9 is one for favourite backers, Seven Beach is one of the best around, even if approaching his fourth birthday. Jennifer O’Donnell should have him perfectly tuned to go through a few heats in this competition, though outright glory may be now out of reach.
Heat 10
1 Casements Fort – 8/1
2 Ardera Freya – 6/1
3 Lookandlep – 3/1
4 No More Fiftys – 9/2
5 Droopys Slick (m) – 5/2
6 Betgoodwin Ben (w) - 3/1
Tip
There’s plenty of lightly raced or unexposed hounds to choose from in this race, and from a betting perspective, it’s one I’d personally avoid. There has to be a winner, though, and Ardera Freya could be a strong each-way market move.
Heat 11
1 Bubbly Charger – 7/2
2 Swithins Jim – 10/1
3 Bushpark Rodney – 6/1
4 Hackey Corner – 6/4
5 Ballymac Tibet (m) – 11/4
6 So Cool (w) – 8/1
Tip
Another high-quality competitive affair, with each dog trained by some of the biggest names in the sport on the island. Ballymac Tibet, though lightly raced, is the most known here and as a Champion Plate winner and Juvenile Derby Finalist looks a good value betting prospect.
Heat 12
1 Swords Style – 5/4
2 Doctor Darcy – 9/2
3 De Bono Lad – 6/1
4 Drombeg Banner – 3/1
5 Blackeyed Turbo (m) - 8/1
6 Knockard Hero (w) – 10/1
Tip
The final heat of night one looks to me to be one of the most open heats of round one, with very little separating each dog on the clocks. Swords Style for Graham Holland is the likely market leader, but recent Leger winner Drombeg Banner has every chance of success here .
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