Ready For Level Terms In Round 2

Punters had a beano in the opening round of this year’s Derby and fingers crossed we can get back on level terms after round two!

Farloe Blitz is the first of the big guns into action on Thursday night in heat one; he is drawn in three but this won’t be too much of a problem to him. There isn’t too much early in the heat so he can have things his own way on the run to the corner, he’s not noted for his stamina but the way he opened up down the far side last week he will be a long way clear off the last bend and can race to victory.

Owner and trainer combination of Owen Mckenna and Paul Ellis will be hoping for a quick fire double in heat two with Farloe Rumble. I’m going to go against him though with Calzaghe Clampett who surprised Ballydoyle Honey last week. I wouldn’t be Savethedon’s biggest fan but I think he can land the spoils in heat three, connections changed the seeding on this runner to inside from middle. His biggest danger can come from kennel companion Blonde Nipper on the outside.

Heat four is an open enough heat. I was disappointed with Ardrahan Zindi last week but I can forgive her for that run. She can make amends here from a nice draw on the fence. Ivy Hill Bart ran well after trouble last week and can chase her home.

Riverside Pat recorded one of the best times of the round last week and can dominate in heat five. It’s a tricky race to call. Shutthebackdoor can show them the way early but isn’t the greatest stayer, so they will be all having a go at him on the run home. Pat gets the vote to lead the charge.

I have to say the worst drawn dog in the second round of the Derby goes in heat six, Fair Taxes. He’s a bang railer and got handed the stripe jacket! His only saving grace is that trap five Creamery Bale also likes the fence and there is not much early on their inside. The big question is can they get to the fence? I’m going to go for an upset in this heat. Mimis Ace is a dog with bundles of ability but has yet to put it all together in Shelbourne he could be worth a bet at a price.

The Holland bandwagon can keep on rolling in heat seven. Sidarian Vega should continue his love affair with Shelbourne Park with a win here from trap three. Mucho Macho Man can lead the pack in behind. The last heat on Thursday night looks a cracker on paper. The two kennel companions Ballydoyle Honey and Rural Hawaii take on each other and throw the massive improver Gyp Rosetti into the mix, then you have a race on your hands.

Honey ran an absolute screamer last week finishing second after getting no run to the corner. She didn’t get loose until off the second bend. The amount of running she did to get as close to the winner as she did was unreal, bearing in mind he was doing 29.62 up front. Rural to his credit ran his best race to date in HQ and will have the outside to himself as usual. Im going to give the vote to the lady on the rails though. If she can turn not too far behind Rural I think she will take some stopping.

Saturday’s Session
It’s races like heat nine on Saturday night that makes the Derby so special, it is without doubt the toughest heat of the round. You can make a case for all six runners here. I am Laughil Duke’s biggest fan so I’m going to be biased with my selection.

I thought he ran brilliantly last week and all I want him to do is track Barefoot Artist around the first two bends and then he can take off.

It won’t be as easy as this though, Tyrur Tommy, Cable Bay and Jaytee Jet were all fancied last week but failed to deliver. They will all be out for revenge. The vote still goes to the Duke if he can get a clear run around the opening turns. Sidarian Teejay caught my eye in defeat behind Urban Gossip last time, flying home behind a confirmed stayer. He gets the nod in heat ten from the ever consistent Paradise Maverik who has his favoured rails pitch.

Slippery Fred got himself back on track after a poor show in Wimbledon last week and he can make it two from two in the Derby with a win in heat eleven. He is not the best drawn in the heat but has the superior pace. Ballybough Mike opposes him for the second week in a row and it wouldn’t be the biggest shock in the world if he turns the tables.

Fred gets the pick here, Blue Cafu can also sneak through in this heat. Urban Gossip got off to a rare fast start last week, the question is can she do it again? No better man than Reggie Roberts to do it! If Coolavanny Jap was back to his best he would go off a short price for this heat twelve, but there are still question marks over his fitness, you would think that last week’s race would have brought him forward a bit. If this is the case then he gets the nod over Urban Gossip and Vultri.

Larry Dunne can have a double on Saturday night; Slippery Snowy can land a blow in heat thirteen. He is perfectly housed in five and is certain to go off a short priced jolly. He could be a leg of many people’s accumulators on Saturday night. Heat fourteen is wide open, Morning Music is a big loser in our ante-post market so we are weary of him, he looks a real 600 yard dog or maybe further. The vote here however goes to Hovex Prince he could go off at a bit of a price and cause a shock.

Amazing Dude was one of the best backed runners last week and judging by his performance his supporters will be back for more in heat fifteen. He is well housed in three. The danger is on his inside Offshore Bound. The Dude would want to turn the second bend well in front because this dog could catch pigeons! The last and final heat should be all one way traffic for the ante-post favourite Ballymac Matt. He is drawn in one and can kick on from the second corner. He is the 8/1 jolly at the moment and if he turns on the style again this week, his price could tumble.

We were extremely happy with turnover for the opening round, we came out on the wrong side of things but that’s the way it goes. Ten out of twelve jollys won on Thursday night which made us suffer! But we regathered ourselves quickly and are ready do to battle again in round two. All sixteen heats are priced up and available in shops and online. Our specials proved very popular before the first round and are revised and back up in the market. We hope to see as many of you as possible in HQ on Thursday and Saturday night! #BetOnBoyle