Boylesports Hero Out – Heats 1-5 Review

Boylesports Hero suffered a career ending injury as the Boylesports Irish Greyhound Derby got underway last night…

Heat 1
Global Chariot was a surprise winner of the opening heat for Peter Cronin as he went on to defeat British raider Droopys Norris, Ardnacrusha Lady and Barefoot Agent. Lady was quickest into stride from trap 6 and she poached an early lead to the bend. Global Chariot who was well backed at fancy prices earlier in the week, made a mediocre start but, showed good early to join lady at the bend and pushed his way through to the front by the 2nd turn.

Droopys Norris who went of fav, was slowly into stride but, from an ideal draw in trap 1 he was able to put himself in a challenging position off the 2nd bend. Down the back it was Chariot who was in front but, Norris was closing on the leader as they approached the 3rd corner, however the hungry pup in front was not going to relinquish his lead easily and Chariot stuck to his guns well to win half a length in 30:05 from Droopys Norris, the early leader Ardnacrusha Lady a length and a half further back and the staying on late Barefoot Agent who also progressed to round 2.

Heat 2
Without doubt the most disappointing part of a wonderful opening night’s racing came in heat 2, when Boylesports Hero suffered what looks like a career ending injury when hitting the front off the 2nd bend.

As the lids opened it was IndigoJack, Emers Superstar and Bayside Sparky who were quickest into stride but, Hero was making up good ground to the turn and joined the leaders between the opening bends. This was where disaster struck, just as Hero hit the front as they went around the 2nd bend a large gasp went up from the crowd as everyone could see he had clearly gone wrong.

Down the back it was Indigo Jack who led from Emers Superstar with Bayside Sparky back in 3rd. As the entered the 3rd bend the gap had closed between Jack and Emers, you could see it was going to be a close finish. As they turned for home there was little between the pair but, Emers pulled out that bit more to take the win by 1 length in 29.92 from IndigoJack back in 2nd.

Ballyana Foxtrot was 3 lengths back in 3rd but, was an eyecatcher in defeat, he found trouble everywhere but still stayed on well to grab 3rd. Bayside Sparky finished fourth and Smurfing Convoy who finished 5th also qualify as 5 went through in this heat.

Heat 3
Favourite backers had another set back in heat 3 as Blenhiem Cracker who was also fancied by a few and backed at big prices earlier in the week went on to beat Skywalker Farloe who went off the 1/2 fav.

As the lids opened it was Skyview Blue and Highview Thady who were the fastest away but, it was Blenhiem who showed the best early to match the pair to the bend. At the corner Blenhiem was on the receiving end of a bump from Skyview on his inside and this gave Skyview the advantage which he took into the back straight.

In behind Tyrur Nathan and Skywalker Farloe were both very slow into stride, Nathan got a nice run around the opening bend and he turned in 3rd, but Farloe was struggling to get a run in the early stages. Into the 3rd bend and Blenhiem seized the initiative with a bold move up the inside of Skyview which proved to be the winning of the race.

Nathan also was closing into the 3rd bend but he ran very wide off the last bend which gave away more ground to the leader, Skywalker was showing signs of rust as his unfamiliar kick down the back and from the 3rd bend just wasn’t there but, I’m sure with more racing it won’t be long coming back. In the end it was Blenheim Cracker who won by half a length in 30:14 to Tyrur Nathan a further half a length back to Skyview Blue and getting through in 4th was Skywalker Farloe who was 2 lengths back. The Bookies were way ahead at this point.

Heat 4
Finally, a win for the punters as Tyrur Supermac went on to win at 4/7 and give the punters something to cheer about. Having been well punted all week and on course it was no surprise to see him go off so short.

Supermac was quickly into stride along with Clares Wonder in 6, but Supermac moved off the opening bend slightly and in the process bumped Clares Wonder costing him ground. While this was going on Lemon Miley slipped through on the inside and took it up entering the back. Supermac who was being roared on by the public down the far side, took up the race again before the 3rd bend. At the 3rd bend there was more bumping which resulted in Miley losing his chance of qualification.

Clares Wonder after the early bump had recovered and moved menacingly up around the bottom two bend but, gabve away more ground running wide off the last. Highview Ranger and Overcharge who were massive prices in the ring stuck to their task well and battled on gamely to pick up the 2 remaining qualification slots.

Supermac railed off the last bend well and managed to secure the win by a diminishing short head in 29:98 from the fast finishing Clares Wonder. Overcharge was another 3 and a half lengths back and he finished 2 and a half ahead of Highview Ranger.

Heat 5
Heat 5 saw another jolly overturned this time it was Kereight King who went off even money but, the winner Paradise Maverik did go off the well backed 2nd favourite at 7/2 so it wasn’t all bad for punters in the 5th. Ivy Hill Prince came out like a scalded cat from trap 2 but, moved inwards costing Maverik early ground.

Kereight King is normally a lightning starter but by his standards he was very slowly away and encountered trouble at the bend as a result. Heading down the back the lead was still with Prince but the fast finishing Maverik was breathing down his neck and at the 3rd bend Maverik made his move, which proved to be a successful one. In behind Ardfert Thunder led from Kereight King and the fast finishing Jackal Frampton back in 5th, these 3 would go on to get the remaining qualifying slots as 5 went through in this heat.

Off the final bend King went outside Ardfert Thunder and moved passed him into 3rd place. Jackal Frampton ran extremely wide on the home straight and just on the line he nicked fourth from Ardfert Thunder. Paradise Maverik was the winner by a length over Ivy Hill Prince in 29:97, Kereight King finished 3rd a further 4 lengths back, Jackal Frampton and Ardfert Thunder crossed the line virtually together a half a length behind.