Sarah’s Saturday Night BoyleSports IGD Round-Up

on September 2, 2020 at 11:28 am

Sarah Kinsella was at Shelbourne Park on Saturday for Round 3 of the BoyleSports Irish Greyhound Derby. Here’s her latest blog from another entertaining evening.

48 Becomes 24

It was another thrilling night of action on Saturday at HQ as the third round of the BoyleSports Irish Greyhound Derby came to an end. 48 has now become 24, and this Saturday night we have four stunning quarter-finals to look forward to but who will make the semi-finals? Let’s take a look at the 8 heats from the third round…

Still life in the old dog yet

Clona Blaze is great, isn’t he? He produced a brilliant break from trap six in the opening heat to cruise to victory in 29.48, managing to avoid the traffic problems at the first bend.

He also produced the third fastest sectional to the third bend of 17.14, not bad for a greyhound who just turned four years of age!

Clona Blaze has the most experience of all the Derby runners left. Wouldn’t it be fantastic to see him make the final again? He was third to Ballyanne Sim in the 2018 final for trainer Graham Holland and judging by the way he ran on Saturday night, he could just make another final. He is 33/1 to win it.

Newinn Sheedy was second and Toolmaker Sydney was third. We had to say farewell to last year’s champion Lenson Bocko but hopefully we will see him back for Derby final night.

Great Name That

I’m sure the ‘Very Quiet Syndicate’ from Tralee were anything but on Saturday night, as their Great Name That retained his unbeaten run in this Derby by landing heat 2 in 29.49 for Liam Dowling.

He is running fantastic with 33/1 up for grabs for those of you who fancy him to go all the way. Catunda Logan was trying his best to get round the first bend but unfortunately, he was bumped and made his exit from the Derby.

Liam O’Rourke’s Ropewalk Bhoy was a very good second, while Indesatchel was third.

Newinn Taylor Sensational

Newinn Taylor done what we all knew he could do and he did it in style, clocking the fastest time of the night – 29.11 with a 3.33 sectional, but the most eye-catching moment of this wonderful display was his 16.79 sectional to the third bend, a new record.

He really is a remarkable greyhound who is getting more accustomed to Shelbourne Park now and seems to be enjoying himself.

BoyleSports Xtra ran a blinder in second and is a dog who seems to be staying much better this year compared to last year when he used to empty out coming home.

John Boyle could have another finalist here and maybe could go one spot better than BoyleSports King! Mustang Firmino was third for Kieran Lynch, another dog that we haven’t seen the best of yet in this Derby. Taylor is 4/1 to win the Derby.

Ballymac is Wild for Winning

Liam Dowling had another good night at HQ – his kennel is flying. Ballymac Wild was awesome, showing serious pace into the first bend to go on and win in 29.31 by four lengths! A super display and another who is unbeaten in the Derby.

I thought Deerjet Sydney ran a cracker, and have been a fan of this dog since the start – he is 25/1 to win.

Razldazl Annie was third for the man on fire, Neilus O’Connell. Ballymac Wild is 8/1 in the outright and is fast becoming plenty of people’s top choice to be crowned this year’s winner.

Glengar Bale does it again

You won’t meet a nicer family at the dogs than Pat Buckley. Always so kind and friendly, especially Emma, who was thrilled again with Glengar Bale.

After a level enough start, this speedster set a gallop to take up the lead and in a matter of second. We all knew he was going to win.

29.45 and a 17.16 sectional, his slowest to date but still a solid performance. He is just 9/2 to win the Derby.

Frankies Jet was second and I was thrilled for his lovely trainer Brian Johnson, who bred this dog himself and is his first ever Derby runner. I love stories like this.

Frankies Jet is running well to qualify each week without winning and is 66/1 to make all of Brian Johnson’s dreams come true. Kilara Icon was third for Robert Gleeson – this dog has serious pace down the back straight.

Waikiki Keano makes all for Peter Cronin

What a performance from Waikiki Keano who won in 29.53 for happy owner Tomas Wall. He showed beautiful early pace to lead up, but Meenagh Miracle put up a good battle to just finish half a length in second. It’s 16/1 for a bitch to win the Derby!

Ballymac Cooper missed the kick and was in last place at the first bend. He managed to qualify and is 8/1 to win the Derby. After all, he did do 29.10 the week previous so we all know what he can do when he hits the lids. A good result for the bookies this race.

Jennifer O’Donnell chasing the Derby dream

Scooby Princess ran a great race to clock 29.53, booking her spot into the quarte-finals! She flew out and wasn’t letting Great Eastern intimidate her at the first two bends as she shook him off and powered down the back straight.

She stays so nothing was going to catch her. She won by seven and a half lengths – impressive.

Catchmeflying for Thomas Buggy is still there and that man again Neilus qualified with Razldazl Peaky in third. But Scooby Princess, this was her moment, and is 33/1 to win the Derby!

Flawless Pestana!

What. A. Greyhound.

Pestana, you are adding more joy and excitement to this Derby week after week. I love him. He is a big loser for us in the outright, meaning he is now just 3/1 to win the Derby after his 29.15 victory.

He blasted from trap four, shot straight to the rails with a 3.32 sectional. He clocked 16.90 to the third bend and showed no sign of fatigue to win by seven and a half lengths. Sensational.

He has trap five this Saturday, so this will be a huge task for him, but I think he can do it. Owen McKenna and owner Des Grace were thrilled, as you would expect.