View From The Terraces – Quarter Finals

Shelbourne Park hosted the Quarter Finals of the Boylesports Irish Greyhound Derby on Saturday night and after sub standard performances by ante post market leaders over the last few weeks there were plenty of questions to be answered…

Ireland served a sporting spectacle between Kerry and Mayo yesterday that had the world talking but the performance of Tyrur Sugar Ray raised the roof of Shelbourne Park in the last quarter final of the Boylesports.com sponsored Irish greyhound derby.

After a plethora of poor draws in the opening rounds Tyrur Sugar Ray (9/4) now back in his favourite red jacket silenced his age critics by demolishing a top class field by seven lengths.

Astonishingly Tyrur Sugar Ray is now only one step away from contesting his third Irish greyhound derby final. Fifteen minutes earlier Laughil Blake (5/4) shrugged off a reported injury scare to prevail in a deep stretch thriller with Deanridge Pennys with fellow ante post market leader Mind The Net (7/4) exiting the stage in lacklustre fashion.

Tipperary handler Michael O Donovan has Laughil Blake in fine form and is fully entitled to dominate the ante post market although the winner will remember last night’s grueling contest.

Kerry handler Liam Dowling is no stranger to big race success but he might have to thank RTE radio for the motivational commentary they provided en route to Shelbourne Park as both Ballymac Vic and Vulturi kept the county colours flying high in the remaining quarters.

Friendless in the market Ballymac Vic (5/2) appeared to face a horror draw but a flying break turned elimination into victory in a matter of seconds further highlighting age is no barrier to success.

These veterans haven’t gone away you know…. Dowling double was completed when the heavily supported Vulturi (6/4) amazingly led around the opening corner after slight trouble, scoring by an ever increasing six and half lengths to the delight of the terraces.

Punters arguably won the quarter final battle with Vulturi the best backed through the day…Earlier on the card the Ger Mc Kenna-Seamus Graham Memorial plate heats provided some thrilling finishes that set the scene for the evenings main fare with Laughil Bolt (Evs) getting punters off to a flying start in the opener.

The winners task was made easier by the withdrawal of Vimmerby but the Pat Guilfoyle handled Laughil Bolt made no mistake, scoring in 29.61. Amazingly three short heads decided the remaining plate heats and after a series of costly short priced defeats over the last fortnight Fiery Splendour (3/1) returned to the winners enclosure for winning owner Eimear Coffey.

Terrace post race expletives unrepeatable. The punting hangover continued when Meadowview Dove (3/1) reversed last weeks form with Blenhiem Cracker (6/4) in an argy bargy finish while Paradise Silva (5/4) failed to get the better of Jackal Frampton (2/1) in a driving duel to the conclusion of the final heat.

Bookmaker starting prices never breached the 3/1 barrier for the Plate and Derby heats suggesting punters won this battle… See you Saturday for more.