BoyleSports Coursing Derby 2020 – Preview

Greyhound expert Damien Lonergan previews the BoyleSports Irish Coursing Derby listing his best bets for the biggest event on the Coursing calendar.

1st Quarter
Bexhill Flare is the first of the big guns to leap off the page at you in the opening quarter of the Derby. After claiming the Glin Derby at his local meeting for Bexhill team of John Barrett and Conor Sheehan this fellow was transferred right away to the maestro Brendan Matthews.

It wasn’t long until he produced him again as he coasted through the Galway & Oranmore Trial Stake which was ran in Glin. The draw could have been kinder to Flare as a potential clash with Clever Wonder in round two is on the cards.

Wonder is a dog that many would like to avoid in the early rounds of the Derby.

Bexhill will have to be on his toes.

We won’t have to wait long for the first mouth watering buckle in the Derby as Ballymac Driveon and Partys On Willy will cross swords early on Friday morning.

Ballymac is one of the heaviest dogs in the Derby tipping the scales close to 100lbs. He will have to bring his A game to the table very early as Partys On Willy moves through the gears extremely quick. Hard to call who goes off favourite in the course here; I’d be giving a slight vote to Partys On Willy.

Of the others in the group, Foxhollow Adios is the type who can stay running all day and if getting over a round or two he becomes a player. Doonard Abel done nothing at all wrong in the Corn Na Feile and if he transfers that form he can go a few rounds.

Selection: Bexhill Flare
Danger: Clever Wonder

2nd Quarter
On paper this looks to be softest quarter (that’s If there ever is such a thing in Clonmel). Victor Ludorum is a dog on many peoples lips at the moment. I haven’t seen him in action yet but the weight of money speaks volumes and has caused this fellow’s price to be carved up.

He meets Knockrour Leigh in round one and this is by no means a forgone conclusion. Leigh could be a potential banana skin for Victor here. Mad Mans Game left Cashel with a big reputation winning what looked a decent trials stake but disappointed slightly in Abbeyfeale.

He will be out to put the record straight again and has the beating of Needham Quest. Do It Hope was well supported when collecting his trial stake in East Donegal where he looked to relish the top of the field. He looks to be nicely placed at the bottom of this quarter and it would be no surprise to see him dominate the early rounds.

Quarrymount King hasn’t been seen in public since claiming his ticket in the Sevenhouses trial stake ran in Nenagh. This could be a real dark horse. The Quarrymount prefix was always one to avoid on the big stage and this lad will be no different. The only doubt about him is we haven’t seen him since.

Selection: Victor Ludorum
Danger: Do It Hope

3rd Quarter
Cuban Boris goes into the Derby as one of our worst results in the book. In his trial stake in Kilsheelan, Boris was showing plenty of gears in the middle of the field which suggest he will be right at home in Powerstown Park.

The two runners at the top of this draw that can cause him problems are Bus Connects and Bank Defect. Bus Connects has to be respected following his victory in the Cup in East Donegal. Like Do It Barney, it looked like he relished the extra yards at the top of the field.

Bank Defect put in two polished runs in Abbeyfeale before losing out to Doonard Abel in the semi-final. Any further improvement can see him make his way through a few rounds. The bottom of this quarter looks ultra competitive with Highbury being the shortest price runner.

Being only a July puppy you would expect natural improvement from this fellow, some of which he showed in Abbeyfeale. Banba Caravaggio showed a fair bit of improvement in the Corn Na Feile following his win in the Regional and he could well outrun his price of 20/1.

Dicks Partner was a hot favourite to win his trial stake first time out in Kilsheelan but was overturned in the final by Cuban Boris. The few runs turned him inside out as he showed when winning in Abbeyfeale second time of asking. Trying to pick one in this section to make the quarter final is a nightmare.

Selection: Highbury
Danger: Cuban Boris

4th Quarter
The course the I’m looking forward to most in the first round of the Derby is in this quarter. Soul Man against Bornforhardship has all the ingredients of a thriller. Both of these have pace to burn and will be at their best early.

Soul Man might just shade it!

Merchant House has to be given a lot of respect for two reasons; the first being he has a Cup under his belt already this season and the second is he’s trained by one Brendan Matthews. He should go on and meet Upper Hand in round two which could be a buckle.

Callaway Rambler was promoted to Derby favourite following the withdrawal of his kennel mate Glorious Glin. His win in the puppy stake in Abbeyfeale was impressive which caused his price to reduce to 12/1 but after the non-runners he is now our 8/1 jolly.

Coalition Wonder has been tipped by a few shrewd judges of late, he could be waiting in the long grass for Callaway in round two. Prepare for fireworks!

Selection: Callaway Rambler
Danger: Coalition Wonder

This looks to be one of the most wide open Derbys in years. I wouldn’t be surprised if its 10/1 or 12/1 the field on the opening morning.

I’d have to maybe side with Bexhill Flare for the win, this hoping he has improved further from his trial stake and I see no reason why he shouldn’t. His potential course in round two against Clever Wonder could be a vital course in the Derby.

*Prices correct at time of publication