Is there any way The Rocket can be beaten?
Clares Rocket
Some say he will have to be kidnapped again! The way he is going at the moment he has the Derby at his mercy. He can do no wrong, he looks to be showing more early and middle gears this year and he ain't coming home too bad either.
We thought there was a chance he could be led to the corner last week with the likes of Jaytee Yankee and Dorotas Wildcat on his inside but that didn't happen. A 3.29 sectional had him well in command approaching the opening two turns and from there he turned the race into a procession.
As he reached the home straight he was over six lengths clear stopping the clock in an amazing 29.15.
Super Sonic
Sonic had to perform a minor miracle to win on Thursday night. He was only fourth into the turn and edging inwards he took a bump from Chawke It Down. This left Marion Maloney’s brilliant son of Knockglass Billy and Vickis Dream with a mountain to climb.
Up front Buckos Dream continued to dictate, but he was challenged at the third turn by Jaytee Barracuda which led for home. But at this stage Sonic was absolutely flying in behind and the Graham Holland trained tracker got his nose ahead on the line for a head verdict over Jaytee Barracuda in 29.62. Buckos Dream was some three lengths third.
Good News All Round
Good News left Shelbourne Park on Thursday night with the fastest time after recording 29.49. Once getting drawn in red Good News was always going to be popular in the betting market.
After a level break he raced to the corner slightly in front of his closest market rival Dream Dude on the outside. All didn't look well with Dude as he negotiated the first two bends which allowed Good News to skip clear. As he reached the Judge he had over eight lengths to spare over Hey Bound in second and Lemon Pete back in third.
Phat's The Daddy
Me Phat Daddy displayed all his qualities to kick off the second round with a superb success. Owned by the Glamour Paws Syndicate, the son of Scolari Me Daddy and Lemon Rita was ideally housed in the red jacket and after a fast start he dominated throughout.
Sidarian Fern was soon his nearest pursuer, but at no point did she look like closing the gap on the leader. Instead Me Phat Daddy stayed on far better than last week to extend his advantage in the closing yards. At the line he had four and a half lengths to spare in a fast 29.65.
Fwesh Indeed
Fweshfromthesesh landed a nice touch in the final heat on Thursday night. Available at 2/1 on Thursday morning he went off a well fancied even money jolly and didn't give his supporters a moments worry.
Racing level enough to the bend he ran a beautiful second corner which made him shoot clear down the back. Stamina could be a slight concern with this fellow but he still managed to hold out a length victory over Droopys Harbour in second place in a time of 29.80.
Support for Harold
Tyrur Harold made it two from two in the Derby thus far when coming from behind to win his heat on Saturday night. Showing a nice change of gear into the third bend Harold shot to the front from Cometwopass and Clona Kid before going on to score in 29.68. Harold has been the best supported dog in the outright since betting was revised on Sunday morning.
Best Of The Rest
Tom Buggy’s Kilgraney Ace is a trap six specialist and he certainly used his draw to perfection in winning this contest. He broke well but it was Black Farren who led up from Droopys King and Kilgraney Ace.
Brinkleys Blaze broke slowly and was at the back of the field racing to the bend. Kilgraney Ace moved second between the opening bends and he then went past Black Farren into the third bend.
Maintaining a wide course around the bottom bends he still kept increasing his lead and raced home three lengths in front of Black Farren in a smashing time of 29.36. Higher Level came with her typical late finish to take third place another five lengths back
Swords Pepe
The biggest upset on Saturday night came in the final heat as we saw hot favorite for the heat Whoops Jack exit the Derby. Jack failed to get his usual fast start on the outside which left him on the back foot straight away.
Instead it was the outsider of the field Swords Pepe who set the pace from stout stayer Ballymac Sarahjo in second. The writing looked to be on the wall approaching the penultimate turn as Sarahjo made her move on the leader.
She was forced to check between the final bends and had to relaunch her challenge on the outside of the leader turning for home. Killeshil Jack was now a closing third but on the run for the line Liam Dowling’s Ballymac Sarahjo hit the front and won by half a length from Killelshil Jack in 29.95 with Swords Pepe two lengths third.
All eight heats are priced for Saturday night. We are well behind at the moment so hope to get some sort of a result this weekend. It will be hard to get the likes of the Rocket or Sonic turned over but the other six heats look fairly competitive.
*Prices correct at time of publication
Clares Rocket
Some say he will have to be kidnapped again! The way he is going at the moment he has the Derby at his mercy. He can do no wrong, he looks to be showing more early and middle gears this year and he ain't coming home too bad either.
We thought there was a chance he could be led to the corner last week with the likes of Jaytee Yankee and Dorotas Wildcat on his inside but that didn't happen. A 3.29 sectional had him well in command approaching the opening two turns and from there he turned the race into a procession.
He roared down the far side and opened up a big gap between himself and the rest of the field.""
As he reached the home straight he was over six lengths clear stopping the clock in an amazing 29.15.
Super Sonic
Sonic had to perform a minor miracle to win on Thursday night. He was only fourth into the turn and edging inwards he took a bump from Chawke It Down. This left Marion Maloney’s brilliant son of Knockglass Billy and Vickis Dream with a mountain to climb.
Up front Buckos Dream continued to dictate, but he was challenged at the third turn by Jaytee Barracuda which led for home. But at this stage Sonic was absolutely flying in behind and the Graham Holland trained tracker got his nose ahead on the line for a head verdict over Jaytee Barracuda in 29.62. Buckos Dream was some three lengths third.
Good News All Round
Good News left Shelbourne Park on Thursday night with the fastest time after recording 29.49. Once getting drawn in red Good News was always going to be popular in the betting market.
After a level break he raced to the corner slightly in front of his closest market rival Dream Dude on the outside. All didn't look well with Dude as he negotiated the first two bends which allowed Good News to skip clear. As he reached the Judge he had over eight lengths to spare over Hey Bound in second and Lemon Pete back in third.
Phat's The Daddy
Me Phat Daddy displayed all his qualities to kick off the second round with a superb success. Owned by the Glamour Paws Syndicate, the son of Scolari Me Daddy and Lemon Rita was ideally housed in the red jacket and after a fast start he dominated throughout.
Sidarian Fern was soon his nearest pursuer, but at no point did she look like closing the gap on the leader. Instead Me Phat Daddy stayed on far better than last week to extend his advantage in the closing yards. At the line he had four and a half lengths to spare in a fast 29.65.
Fwesh Indeed
Fweshfromthesesh landed a nice touch in the final heat on Thursday night. Available at 2/1 on Thursday morning he went off a well fancied even money jolly and didn't give his supporters a moments worry.
Racing level enough to the bend he ran a beautiful second corner which made him shoot clear down the back. Stamina could be a slight concern with this fellow but he still managed to hold out a length victory over Droopys Harbour in second place in a time of 29.80.
Support for Harold
Tyrur Harold made it two from two in the Derby thus far when coming from behind to win his heat on Saturday night. Showing a nice change of gear into the third bend Harold shot to the front from Cometwopass and Clona Kid before going on to score in 29.68. Harold has been the best supported dog in the outright since betting was revised on Sunday morning.
Best Of The Rest
Tom Buggy’s Kilgraney Ace is a trap six specialist and he certainly used his draw to perfection in winning this contest. He broke well but it was Black Farren who led up from Droopys King and Kilgraney Ace.
Brinkleys Blaze broke slowly and was at the back of the field racing to the bend. Kilgraney Ace moved second between the opening bends and he then went past Black Farren into the third bend.
Maintaining a wide course around the bottom bends he still kept increasing his lead and raced home three lengths in front of Black Farren in a smashing time of 29.36. Higher Level came with her typical late finish to take third place another five lengths back
Swords Pepe
The biggest upset on Saturday night came in the final heat as we saw hot favorite for the heat Whoops Jack exit the Derby. Jack failed to get his usual fast start on the outside which left him on the back foot straight away.
Instead it was the outsider of the field Swords Pepe who set the pace from stout stayer Ballymac Sarahjo in second. The writing looked to be on the wall approaching the penultimate turn as Sarahjo made her move on the leader.
She was forced to check between the final bends and had to relaunch her challenge on the outside of the leader turning for home. Killeshil Jack was now a closing third but on the run for the line Liam Dowling’s Ballymac Sarahjo hit the front and won by half a length from Killelshil Jack in 29.95 with Swords Pepe two lengths third.
All eight heats are priced for Saturday night. We are well behind at the moment so hope to get some sort of a result this weekend. It will be hard to get the likes of the Rocket or Sonic turned over but the other six heats look fairly competitive.
*Prices correct at time of publication