Matt Marches On

Saturday night’s action in Shelbourne really lived up to our expectations, the place was packed to the rafters.

The atmosphere was electric throughout the evening but the roar that went up when the bell was sounded for the final itself would make the hairs on the back of your neck stand up. I’ve never experienced anything like it in a greyhound stadium.

What a thriller the final turned out to be! Farloe Blitz led as we all expected but couldn’t skip far enough clear of his main rival down the back straight. The writing was on the wall between the last two corners when Matt ranged up behind Blitz and made the decisive move to challenge on the outside up the home straight. This move won the Derby for Matt and was well deserved.

The cheers from the crowd as the man himself Shane Dowling walked the winner up the track just showed what a popular win it was. Liam Dowling has been trying for so long to pull this one off, he gave it a good rattle over the last few years with Ballymac Vic but this year turned out to be his year!

We would like to congratulate Liam, Shane and Jane Dowling on their great training performance.

I was speaking to Shane the week before the draw and he told me “we hope to burn a fair bit of diesel over the next six weeks Damo, it’s a long way between Ballymacelligott and Shelbourne”. How right he was! I’m sure the cheque for €125,000 will go a fair bit in covering the diesel bill!

And we are not forgetting the other part owners of Matt, The Kelly And The Lads syndicate, I’m sure most of you know these wonderful people. Kelly and Tony Macari and Alan Findlay make up the syndicate, these are tremendous supporters of greyhound racing in the UK and deserve every success they get. They run their dogs in England under the Pin Point prefix.

Well done to all involved in making the BoyleSports Derby so special and making it one of the best yet! We have introduced Matt at 25/1 to bring off the double.

Pat’s Panda Leads The Way At The Cross
Harold’s Cross was busy as usual on Friday night for the opening round of the Dublin Coach Puppy Juvenile. Favourite backers at the Cross really lined their pockets for the weekend as no less than eight favourites obliged in their respective heats.

There was some fantastic displays on the night from a number of leading contenders but it was the Pat Buckley trained Barnfield Panda who got the award of fastest heat winner as he stopped the clock in the fastest of the year, 28.46. This son of Taylors Sky is only a newcomer to the Buckley team, what will he be like when he settles into his new surroundings?!

He showed massive early gears to the turn and that was the race put to bed. He looks tailor made for Harold’s Cross and Wimbledon maybe? Next best on the clock was the Paul Hennessy trained Jaytee Dutch. Dutch wasn’t the quickest into stride but raced up to the corner and rode a small bump before taking aim at the early leader Black Alder down the far side. Jaytee went into overdrive between the last two bends and quickly swept to the front and opened up a gap on the run home in a time of 28.54.

Other runners to catch the eye were the Mossy O’Connor trained Ballymac Ogie 28.67, Newlawn Simon 28.64, Skywalker Archie 28.67 and Creamery Bale 28.82. The second round takes place this coming Friday night with a few very interesting draws.

Here We Go Again
The 2015/16 coursing season kicks off this weekend in both Liscannor and Kilflynn. Liscannor gets the season underway every season and this year the weather over the last week or two has been kind to the Co Clare club.

The McDonagh Cup is the highlight and it has attracted a few classy hounds. The opening buckle in the stake really wets the appetite for all of us coursing enthusiasts after a long break, Avenue Ranger takes on Blueview Sanual. Avenue Ranger hails from the yard of last year’s Derby winning trainer Dan Brassil while Blueview is under the guidance of the legend that is Maxie Collins.

These Blueview dogs are usually finely tuned at the beginning of each year so this could be a thrilling buckle. Avenue Ranger gets the narrow vote. Shyan Jonboy ran up the T.A Morris stake at the National Meeting last year so is no slouch, he can be Ranger’s biggest danger in the top half of the draw.

Advantage is an interesting runner in the bottom half of the draw, he won his trial stake here last season but injury prevented him from taking his place in the Derby. He loves this field and the local knowledge will stand to him. Last year’s surprise package Whiskey Galore makes a return after getting the mother and father of a hunt in Mooncoin last year. Whiskey had his place cemented in the Champion Stakes only for the hunt, he was a winner at both Waterford and Kilsheelan last season.

If he has come back to himself he will be hard to beat. Avenue Ranger gets the vote to kick start the season for trainer Dan Brassil. Gripwell Candy gets the nod in the All Age Bitch stake at this County Clare venue. She collected her Oaks ticket at this field last season and ran exceptionally well in the Oaks itself getting beat in the quarter final by the runner up Leigh Snowie.

Stephen Fuller Cup
The Stephen Fuller Cup in Kilflynn oozes class throughout the field, it has really set the bar high for the rest of the season as regards All Aged events. Kyle Bruce is likely to start favourite for this hot event after some top class performances at both Clonmel and Limerick last season.

Bruce is as tough as they come and should take a lot of beating here, he faces third season campaigner Sturdyandstaunch in his opening buckle. Stephens Owen was well fancied going to Clonmel last year and put in a big performance in the opening round in a fast clock, he looks nicely placed in the top half of the draw. Whatdoyoufancy, Bedford Banker and Game Eanna can give Owen a good run for his money.

Kyle won’t have things his own way in the bottom half here. It looks red hot with the likes of Central Investor, Skellig Harbour, Wizard Matthew, Chubbys Charmer and Funny Alonso all standing in his way.

Kyle Bruce gets a confident vote to come out on top here if he can recapture last year’s form. Michael Field always has his runners in tip top shape at the start of the season.

We will have prices available throughout the year on all Trial stakes and All Aged events throughout the 2015/16 coursing season as well as weekly updated prices on both the Derby and Oaks. You can check out all these prices on www.Boylesports.com or call into any of our shops nationwide. #BetOnBoyle