Holdem Spys Round 2 Chances – Heats 1-8 Preview

On Thursday night, Round 2 of Boylesports Irish Greyhound Derby heats get underway at Shelbourne Park at 8:30pm.

Heat 1
Pat Buckley’s Kippers Usain is likely to head to traps the favourite for the opening heat and if he is to win, he will need to start as quickly as he did last week because Kilara Hey Mac in trap one is also a very quick starter so there is little room for error.

Hey Mac failed to get home last time but if he can come on for the run I think he may have the slight edge and will go on to win because of the trap draw. Usain will need to clear Hey Mac in my opinion if he is to win. Personally I think that is unlikely, but I still expect Usain to go very close and progress to the next round.

Holdem Hawk ran like a dog who badly needed the run around Shelbourne last week and if he is to progress, he must step up from that run. Ardnacrusha Lady can be a lightning quick starter but she faces a tricky trap draw from trap 4. Although, if the inside pair collide, she may clear them at the bend and this will be required if she is to qualify.

Priceless Lassie is a bitch with a big future but, without a doubt her inexperience is still clearly a big issue as she walked from the traps last week and if she is to get through she will need luck in running. Tyrur Fredrik is the sole wide seed and this favourable trap draw along with a decent start should see him in with a good shout of going through.

Heat 2
Deanridge Pennys will head to traps the short priced jolly for this heat but for me I think there may be value else where. I’m going to go with Ballyana Foxtrot in trap 6 who showed plenty in defeat last week and has a decent trap draw on the outside.

Smurfing Cowboy will go off at a huge price and will need a career best effort just to qualify. Pennys goes in trap 2, he will need to improve on his last few starts but, his ability when he is on form would suggest he will take plenty of beating in this sort of heat. Global Chariot is a very young pup who did ever so well to cause an upset and win last week, he will however need a reproduction of that run to feature in this tricky heat.

Jaytee Seville is a bit of a rogue but his ability is clear for everyone too see. He may not have the best early pace but if he can turn close at halfway expect him to be flying home and he could grab a qualifying position. El Flutter has a similar running style to Seville; from halfway El Flutter does his best running. I was really impressed with him last week and how he ran in defeat, I feel that he may too be over-priced and I for one would not be surprised to see him involved in the finish.

Finally, my selection Ballyana Foxtrot goes in trap 6, he did everything wrong last week and was still an eye-catcher in defeat. There is a big opportunity for him to lead up on the outside this week as the pair inside him do lack early so, at a decent price I’m going to go with Ballyana for the win.

Heat 3
The fastest opening round winner Laughil Blake goes in this heat and he is a short priced fav to keep his unbeaten record in this year’s Derby intact. I do feel this pup is improving at the right time and I think Blake will go on to win this heat, while laying down yet another marker to the Derby field.

Paradise Maverik is a strong running sort who is in the form of his life at the minute, the only issue I would have for Maverik is that he may be too far behind Blake down the back to pick him up. Vulturi was hugely impressed in the opening round as he came from behind to pick up Holdem Spy and win his heat on 29:80. If he can keep tabs early then watch out because he will be finishing fastest in this heat and I fully expect him to get through to round 3.

Runaway Rover showed some nice middle pace in the opening round but, failing to stay the trip and if he can come on for the run, with the lack of early on the inside he will stand a chance of qualification. Cabra Buck didn’t look the force of old last time out and if he is to qualify he must improve on his latest efforts. Jackal Frampton’s best form would put him in with a big chance but, he must start much quicker than he did in the opening round.

Laughil Blake goes from 6 again and with a similar start to round 1 I expect him to turn close with Cabra Buck but, prove too strong for him and by the line I think he will still be far enough ahead to hold off the fast finishers.

Heat 4
This is one of the most open races of round 2 and even picking what will go off the jolly is tough to call. I think the bitch in trap 3 Jaytee Osprey might just have the edge over the field after her impressive opening round performance. She is likely to turn behind Farloe Quest in trap 1 but, I think Osprey will stay on the best for the win. Farloe goes from trap 1 and after a very nice all the way win in round 1, you would expect his confidence to be sky high.

Farloe will need to ping the lids again to win but, I feel he might get picked up late however, I still think he has a great chance of qualifying. Homeless Boy clearly needed the run in the opening round and he will need to find his old form if he is to grab a win in this heat. Osprey goes in trap 3 and if she breaks smartly, I expect her to take some stopping in this race.

Farley Rio ran really well on his return to Shelbourne and if he can get a better start, he could be a big player here. Overcharge must start quicker than his latest run and he will probably require a career best effort to see him through here. Ardfert Tee Jay is a pup with a huge future but, his Shelbourne form to-date is not as strong as his old Tralee form and if he can find that form expect him to be involved in the finish.

Heat 5
Arguably the most anticipated race on the whole 2nd round is this heat as Pennys Deanridge, Skywalker Farloe and Holdem Spy all go head to head.

I’m going to go for Holdem Spy for the win as I just feel his latest run and a stronger run race will suit him the most.

Hawaii Kinsale ran very well in the Derby last year but, has failed to reproduce that sort of form since then and if he is to win this very tough heat he will need to improve his recent form dramatically.

Pennys Deanridge ran extremely well in the opening round while posting a career best effort and if he can start as quickly I think he could cause an upset and should qualify. I felt that Saint Anthony was a real eye-catcher in defeat last week but, the draw has not been kind to him and in a heat of this quality he will need plenty of luck. Raheen Boy ran really well to finish 2nd in round 1 but this would appear on paper to be a bridge too far for him.

Skywalker Farloe was quite disappointing for an Ante-Post Derby favourite in the opening round but, it would be foolish not to expect this year’s Easter Cup winner to improve considerably for the run. However, I expect him to qualify but, I think he might be still a little bit more to find with Holdem Spy. I think Holdem Spy ran well in the opening round despite it being quite a shock to see him in front and then being passed on the line. I feel with a strong pace up front Holdem Spy will prove too strong for his rivals.

Heat 6
This is yet another top quality race in round 2 as Vimmerby, General Wolf and Vanfrankie go to do battle. If I was pressed for a winner I would be inclined to go with the experience and early pace of Vimmerby. In trap 1 we have Fordeflag who will be up against it in this heat and if he is to progress he will require a mixture of a good start and luck.

Vimmerby recently made the Champion Stakes final only to encounter big trouble at the opening bend but, he bounced back impressively well last week with a very good win. I think with his consistent early pace he is sure to be a big player. The ultra-consistent General Wolf is sure to make a bold bid for qualification and with a clean getaway he could cause an upset. Sidaz Pedro showed big pace from the 2nd bend but if he is to get involved in this heat he must start quicker.

Vanfrankie was one of the most impressive winners of the opening round and if this pup can continually start well he is sure to play a major part in this year’s event. I fully expect him to qualify but, Vimmerby’s experience might just give him the edge. Millridge Leader ran well in this year’s Boylesports Race of Champions and after a nice win in the opening round he is sure to be full of confidence and he might grab himself a qualifying position.

Heat 7
The start will be crucial in the penultimate heat and I think that if Emers Superstar can start well then he can go on to victory. Kisses For Cloda surprised me with how well he ran last week on his comeback from plenty of injuries and as long as he is in the same shape and not feeling those injuries he can make a bold bid again.

Emers Superstar ran with great credit in the big puppy stake in Limerick and he does enjoy running in Shelbourne so I think he will take some stopping. He does require a good start with early either side of him but, if he gets one I think he can secure victory. Highview Ranger is a promising pup who will need to start much quicker than he did last week to get involved but, he is more than capable of doing that.

Ivy Hill Prince is another who ran really well in Limerick but, is still to prove he can run as quick in Shelbourne and if he can then he could be a surprise package. Jacks Ace can be a frustrating sort at the boxes but, he got a good getaway last week and if he is to have any chance of progressing through this competition he will need to continue to do so.

Tyrur Nathan goes from trap 6 and the Champion Stakes runner up is sure to be close up at the finish. If Jacks Ace doesn’t get a good start the Nathan will have the outside all to himself and from halfway he will be doing his best work to pick up the likes of Emers Superstar.

Heat 8
I tipped up Laughil Bolt and he finished 2nd to Vimmerby but, I think this week we might be able to get redemption. Shaneboy Frankie did well to qualify in the opening round having missed the kick badly and getting trouble at the bend but, if he is to win this he must start a lot faster.

Ravenswood May was a surprise all the way winner last week and with a hit and miss starter inside her, she has a chance to lead up again and that is where her chances lie. Abbey Carla outran her price substantially in the opening round and she will require a similar performance to qualify here. Everything went wrong for Metro Jack last time out but, if the Dundalk International winner can secure a cleaner passage throughout he will be a major threat to all in this heat.

On Alert also encountered plenty of trouble in the opening round and it is hard to gauge off his Harolds Cross form how good he is but, in a tricky heat he does have a chance of qualification. My selection Laughil Bolt runs from trap 6 and despite not winning last week, I feel he lost very little in defeat. He was the quickest of this field in round 1 and the way this race looks like panning out, I think he will go on to victory.