Round Two Rough For Punters

The 2014 Boylesports Irish Greyhound Derby continued this week and again it was spread over two nights however, it was a week to forget for punters as the upsets continued to win the heats.

One of the staggering statistics of round 2 is that there was no odds-on winner in the entire round and of the 16 heats there were just three favourites who went on to win.

Thursday night saw just one favourite go on to win and that came in the opening heat as Kippers Usain went on to score in 29:83 at a returning price of 6/4.

The run of the night came from Ballyana Foxtrot when he posted the fastest time of the Derby so far when winning in 29:39. Some of the main shocks of the night came Paradise Maverik and Hawaii Kinsale as they went on to upset the odds by defeating much more fancied runners.

Kippers Usain went on to come from behind the tiring Kilara Hey Mac in the latter stages and he got punters off to an ideal start but, that was as good as it got for them on Thursday night. Kippers has now made it two from two in his Derby campaign and he is still available at 40/1 to win the event.

Ballyana Foxtrot was an eyecatcher in defeat last week after a troubled passage but, the James Roche trained runner was quick into stride and after leading around the opening bends, it was clear a big run was on the cards.

However, few could of expected him to do the second fastest run of the year over this trip of 29:39, only Droopys Nidge has gone quicker and Ballyana has bee halved from 66’s to 33/1 to win the Derby. Laughil Blake was the fastest first round winner but, he was beaten in round 2 by Pat Buckley’s Paradise Maverik who is also still unbeaten in this year’s Derby.

Blake did not lose much in defeat it was more a case of Maverik being to good on the night after a quick getaway and also improving significantly on his opening round win. Maverik is more renowned for his finishing ability but, the way he is going to the bend at the minute at 33/1 he is still value.

Arguably the most anticipated heat of round 2 did not go on to disappoint spectators as Hawaii Kinsale bounced back to form with a win, the controversy about Holdem Spy was fueled and Skywalker Farloe took a big step forward from round 1.

Kinsale led down the back from Spy and Farloe further back, but at the third bend Spy took up the race and yet again he appeared to have the race at his mercy but, again he did not go on and win, instead he finished 2nd to Hawaii in a photo finish.

Skywalker Farloe did improve significantly from the opening round and with a good draw in round three, he could still be a big player in this year’s event.

Saturday night was yet again a costly night for punters as only two of the eight heats were won by favourites, they were Quick Blaze and Ballymac Vic.

There were still plenty of shocks as we saw Mind the Net and Droopys Nidge both suffer odds-on defeats. Quick Blaze was well backed and ended up going off the 9/4 favourite, out of the traps Blaze was quickest into stride and he proved too strong by holding onto victory by a head in 29:99.

Ballymac Vic did manage to dig some punters out of a hole by winning the last heat of the 2nd round at 6/4 in 29:65. Vic who has already won the Champion Stakes this year is showing that he is still going to be a major factor in this year’s competition.

Vic showed that his hunger for the game is still there as he drove through a small gap at the opening bend which proved to be the winning of the race.

Mind the Net went to traps the 4/9 favourite for the opening heat on Saturday night and when he broke in front it appeared the race was over but, after taking a slight bump at the bend it handed the initiative to Whizzing Archie who went on to win the heat.

Archie who only came into this year’s Derby as a reserve, has proved a real success and is continuing to run out of his skin. Archie broke well and he managed to get through on the opening bend to take the lead and from there he went on to beat Mind the Net in 29:82.

Archie is still available at a big 66/1 and Mind the Net is now the 8/1 Ante-Post favourite for outright honours.

Droopys Nidge went into round 2 as the Ante-Post fav but, yet again he failed to sparkle as he had to settle for third in behind Ghost Town and Borneo in 29:84. Nidge ran well below his best in the opening round and many expected him to improve significantly but, it was not fourth coming.

He did break reasonably well but, it was Ghost Town who broke the fastest on the inner and he led all the way to secure victory at 8/1 and is still available at 100/1 to win this year’s Derby. Nidge for the first time in this year’s Derby is no longer the Ante-Post fav and he is now second in the betting at 10/1 behind Mind the Net the new jolly.

All the 3rd round heats, specials and outright’s are available on www.Boylesports.com. See you all in Shelbourne on Saturday night for the Boylesports Irish Greyhound Derby Round 3.