European Queen Quickest In Round 2 Of Derby On Saturday

Yet again it was another night at Shelbourne where punters struggled in the betting ring as, the shocks of the 2014 Boylesports Irish Greyhound Derby continued.

It started badly in the opening two heats as two of the Ante-Post favourites Droopys Nidge and Mind the Net both failed to win their respected heats at odds-on. In the second last heat of the night, European Queen made it two from two in her Derby campaign as she went on to record the fastest time of the night in 29:56. Ballymac Vic did send favourite backers home with a winner as he won the final heat of the night in impressive fashion and recording a winning time of 29:65.

The opening heat saw many of punters banker of the night, Mind the Net, head to traps the odds-on 4/9 favourite and as the traps rose, it appeared as though the race was already over. Mind the Net shot out of the trap 6 and with that break, the roar went up from the punters as the bookies feared the worst.

The 8/1 Whizzing Archie who came in as a reserve in the opening also broke quickly and flew up the inside to lead at the bend, Blenhiem Cracker showed up well to the bend and managed to get up the inside of the fav at the bend and pushed him off at the second bend. This did cost Mind the Net a little ground and with Cracker running wide down the back, he carried Mind the Net wide too which allowed Archie to kick further clear down the back.

Archie had a far enough as the line came and he went on to beat Mind the Net by 3/4 of a length in 29:82. Droopys Ward ran really well to get through in 3rd, he missed the kick and when he had built up ahead of steam by the 3rd bend, he got his run closed off again but, he showed plenty of bottle as he battled away to make it to round 3.

Heat 10 also saw an upset as the Ante-Post fav and 4/6 favourite for the race Droopys Nidge went on to yet again run below his best. It was instead the well backed Ghost Town who was punted from at fancy prices all week that went on to make all in 29:84. Ghost Town went off at 8/1 because since his track record performance in Cork, he had not been at his best but as the traps went up, he got a much better start than he had got in previous outings.

Droopys Nidge had got away to a decent start himself on the outside but, he was unable to match Ghost and Borneo to the opening turn. On the corner Borneo moved slightly off the bend and collided slightly with Nidge which allowed Ghost Town to kick further clear as the entered the back. From here Nidge struggled to land a blow as he continues to run below his best in this year’s Derby. Borneo tried to make up the ground on the pace setter but, the closest he got to the leader was two lengths at the line. Nidge did also progress to round 3 as he finished a further length and a half back in third.

The fastest time of the night came in heat 15 as the strong running European Queen made all to win in 29:56 at a returning price of 5/2. Queen was impressive in the opening round but, she was even more so on Saturday night as she went to win by a length over Highview Premier with Shopping Basket a further seven and a half lengths back.

Queen is renowned for her back straight and finishing kick but, the way she is going to the bend at the moment she will be very hard to keep out of the frame. Out of the boxes it was Highview Premier and Shopping Basket who collided in the early strides which allowed European Queen to take full advantage on the run to the bend.

As Queen rounded the bend in front it appeared as though it was only a matter of how far she was going to win by but, Highview Premier who did have to ride a hefty bump out of the boxes, stayed on extremely well to narrow the gap down to a length at the line. Shopping Basket who went off the 1/1 money jolly, had a far from clear passage but, he did knuckle down well and battled to the line to finish third.

Ballymac Vic who has come up trumps for punters on many occasions in the past, dug them out again in the last heat as he went on to win at 6/4 and post a time of 29:65. There was plenty of early in this race and it was a real battle to the bend but, the experienced Vic managed to squeeze up the inside of Indigojack at the bend and he showed he still has the hunger for the game as he forced his way through to take up the lead.

The race was essentially over from this point as Vic extended his lead into the back straight, Indigojack did try his best to close on the leader but, it was all in vain. Tyrur Supermac who had a far from ideal draw out in 4, showed good all-round pace to pick up Indigojack and secure 2nd place four and a half lengths behind Vic. Indigojack did also manage to progress as he held on for third two lengths behind in third but, it was Ballymac Vic who sent the punters home with a winner as he showed he is still a major player in this year’s Derby.