BoyleSports Irish Coursing Derby 2018 – Quarters Preview

A run through of the 2018 BoyleSports Coursing Derby quarters…

First Quarter
Without doubt the buckle on paper in the first round of this year’s Derby looks to be between Roquefort Teddy and Silent Whisper.

Roquefort Teddy has been talked up ever before he reached a field. We didn’t get to see him in action until Tubbercurry and he didn’t let himself down. He is extremely fast but also injury prone. If Silent Whisper was meeting him in any other round he would be favourite for the course, but as it’s the first round you would think Teddy has the upper hand. It’s the course that will decide the outcome of the quarter.

Of the others Needham Yippee appeals to me most. His form against Part Exchange in Knockgraffon is very good and if returning to that line, he can dispose of a few at the top of this draw.

Fraggle Rock is unbeaten in his career thus far and he comes to Clonmel with the same credentials as a certain dog called Go Home Hare.

Selection: Roquefort Teddy
Danger: Needham Yippee

Second Quarter
Outoftheshadow could be the Timber House of this Derby. He is the only dog in the past two seasons to clock with Blades Of Fire and that makes him a little special.

Out of all the big guns in this year’s Derby he looks to have the best draw by far. He can make his way to the quarter-final without getting out of third gear; that’s not running down the dogs around him or anything but this lad is a pure speed merchant.

Clon Eagle is a dog I liked at the start of the season. The penny didn’t drop with him until Kilsheelan and he is in the right hands. For anyone doing the short odds, he could be one to keep on your side.

Touchstone is owned by the same connections as Outoftheshadow. He ran very well in the first round of the Corn Na Feile when beating the well fancied Needham Rocket. What a dream it would be for Mark and Ailish Dilger if they could get both runners through to Monday morning.

Selection: Outoftheshadow
Danger: Clon Eagle

Third Quarter
Plenty of bogeys in the ante-post book in this quarter. If Watchman wins this Derby I will be getting the P45! e have him for chunks. He won independently in Edenderry and went in at 20/1. He is now a 7/1 chance. Somebody somewhere likes him! You have to respect the kennel he comes from.

City Link looks to be Matthews’ trump card. All reports from Bandon said he loved the rising ground so he’s guaranteed to love Clonmel. He meets Bagsy The Front in the first round. If he gets over that he will give Watchman a good run for his money.

Coolavanny Juno is a very interesting runner from the Derby winning kennels of Noel Browne. He is only a May pup so natural improvement will be there. Can he perform like his father on the main stage?

We can’t leave this quarter without mentioning Ashmore Derby who is representing BoyleSports!

His first round run in the Corn Na Feile looked very good but was easily beaten by Outoftheshadow in round two. Don’t be surprised if he is around at the business end of this quarter.

Selection: City Link
Danger: Coolavanny Juno

Fourth Quarter
Connections of Part Exchange could have hoped for a way easier draw then this! A clash with Kyle Steel could be on the cards in round two, what a mouth-watering buckle this could be. Ever since Cashel Part Exchange has been a dog everybody’s lips.

After running up to Outoftheshadow he flanked the form when easily winning in Knockgraffon. Kyle Steel showed plenty of ability when winning in Castleisland, clocking favourably with Blades of Fire.

That form put him right up there with the top ones. The second round between these two could decide the quarter. Connections of Lone Rocket are fairly bullish about their chances. We have only seen him once this season so far but what we have seen of him is good.

Expect him to put in a few saucy clocks in the opening rounds. The heavyweight Zizu is also a bad result for us in the ante-post book. He ran well in Fermoy but failed to live up to his reputation in Abbeyfeale.

Selection: Part Exchange
Danger: Lone Rocket

Part Exchange gets the biased vote from me in the Derby. Although he has a very tough draw I can see him being favourite on the last morning. He is bred for speed and stamina and connections couldn’t be happier with his preparation so far.

We could have a repeat of the final in Cashel but with a different result, Exchange can level up the score with Outoftheshadow!

*Prices correct at time of publication