BoyleSports Irish Greyhound Derby 2nd Round Heat Betting

Martin Lanney from Slane, Co Meath, is no stranger to winning on the big stage.

He won the Dundalk Sprint Cup with Johnny Gatillo back in 2007 and the Oaks at Shelbourne Park with Forest Natalee in 2017. The derby is a race that is yet to land on his impressive CV but…

Great Eastern could change all that.

He might not be the flashiest greyhound in this year’s BoyleSports Irish Greyhound Derby or even the fastest, but the way he ran on Friday in the first round was very good as he skipped around in 29.62 beating the awesome Ballymac Cooper. It’s no surprise to see that punters are latching onto Great Eastern to win his heat this Friday with his price trimmed into 2/1 from 11/4 in heat 4 following a 17.23 sectional to the third bend.

This dog is owned by Martin’s father Seamus Lanney and he should book his place in the third round this weekend with a repeat performance. His outright price is 66/1 from 100/1. The epic 10/1 first heat winner from round one runs from trap three Allaghaun River for John Lenihan who is from the border of Kerry and Limerick. John assured me he is a Limerick supporter and was thrilled with his dog winning in 29.46 recording the fastest clock of the night. He is just 10/3 now for this heat and he is not without a chance.

We have the wonderful Ballymac Arminta to look forward to in heat 1 of the second round and this Liam Dowling bitch is not surprisingly the 8/13 favourite. Arminta is also 16/1 from 20/1 in the outright despite her below par performance last week finishing second behind Droopys Hunch in 29.51. We know she is capable of 29.12 having recorded that in the BoyleSports Champion Stakes last month in the semi-final and she can also fly from the traps with a 3.34 split. Arminta will get things off to a flying start for the favourite backers if she brings her top form with her.

If Droopys Pension in trap five can overcome the draw, then he will run a big race at 7/2.

Heat 3 looks a cracking heat but also a very tough one. We make Slippy Cian the 4/5 favourite as he faces his old derby friend and 2018 champion, Ballyanne Sim. Sim is 9/4 and runs from trap three but he loves the rails. The last time he raced from trap three around this circuit resulted in him grabbing fourth place in the first round of the derby last year. Sim is consistent and always flies from the traps but trap one Pennylane Fionn (10/1) was forced to move off the rails last week in a race that Sim was in as he cut right across her for the rails. To add more confusion, heat winner Ballymac Trinkle is in trap two and she also flies out. I think this race will be ran to suit Slippy Cian so based on that, he gets my vote here. He was second to Deadly Dynamite, but Cian was doing 29.32 this time last year, won on the Night of Stars, won the Race of Champions and is an all-round versatile, genuine, fast and consistent greyhound with 18 wins from 34.

The amazing Wolfe is 2/5 to win heat 5 so there is no surprise there. He done 29.22 last week and a 17.07 sectional to the third bend. The most exciting thing to add to this heat is that Deadly Dynamite (7/2) is in trap two. Dynamite done 17.25 to win in 29.59 which is phenomenal for a young dog. He has plenty to find on Wolfe on times for sure but it should be a good battle and I can’t wait for it.

Newinn Lester is 10/11 from Even money to land heat 6 and I can’t see him being beaten really. He done very well behind Killmacdonagh in the first round as she was never going to be passed. He has 28.05 around HQ for the 525 yards trip and is lightly raced for a 3-year old. Puppy derby runner-up Sliabh Liag led all the way last week but failed to hold on towards the line. She can lead again here but Newinn Lester should prove strong for these.

Ballymac Tas done 27.97 in Limerick and was the 6/4 favourite for the Con & Annie Kirby Memorial. She is the 2/1 favourite in heat 7 and I’m going to go against her. She can sometimes give herself too much work to do and although she has a much better draw in trap one, I like Cabra Firmino in trap three for Patrick Guilfoyle at 9/4. He was second to Grangeview Ten who done the fastest sectional of 17.04 so based on that it’s hard to see past Cabra here as he should take up the early lead. He might not stay the best; that’s the only negative and that is where BoyleSports King (10/3) in trap six could come into the picture as he will be flying home.

Heat 8 is all about the super cool Lenson Blinder at 8/13. This dog just oozes talent. He got to the derby quarter finals last year, beat Magical Bale in one of the rounds in 29.39, won on the Night of Stars, was in the 600 final here, the Easter Cup final and the Leger final. Not bad at all. He ran on strong behind Grangeview Ten last week after a slight bump when they came out of traps and he would have appreciate the run too. Lenson to add another one to the punters’ list and Redzer Ardfert in trap one (5/1) to qualify.

Macaroon Cruz has been made the 9/4 favourite in heat 2 for Graham Holland who also trains trap four here, Lenson Austin. There is just one heat winner in this heat which is Highview Micro and the Gerry Meriman dog is 3/1 here. Macaroon Cruz is always running in top company and was lucky to get through as one of the fastest fourth place finishers. For me, it’s 5/2 chance Jumeirah Buddy in trap one for Gerry Holian. He led all the way last week and was denied victory by a short head in 29.70 to the six-bend pro and shock winner Redzer Ardfert.

Jumeirah can set the pace again here and just hold on.

Sarah’s Picks for Friday
Ballymac Arminta 8/13
Jumeirah Buddy 5/2
Sippy Cian 4/5
Great Eastern 2/1
Wolfe 2/5
Newinn Lester 10/11
Cabra Firmino 9/4
Lenson Blinder 8/13

Link to Friday night’s 2nd round heats

*Prices correct at time of publication.