Vimmerby Fastest In Opening Session – Heats 6-11 Review

Vimmerby recorded the fastest time in last night’s Irish Greyhound Derby opening session…

Heat 6
This was the closest finish of the night with the short priced favourite Fiery Splendour getting up in the final stride to catch Kisses for Cloda. Cloda pinged the lids to lead to the bend from Fiery and Budgie Bypass on the outside, Fiery steered a wide course around the opening which carried Budgie wide and allowed Thornvalley to slip through on the inside to turn 3rd behind Cloda and Fiery.

As the runners entered the back it was Cloda who led from Fiery, Thornvalley and Budgie back in fourth. As they approached the 3rd bend Fiery loomed upsides Cloda to do battle for the win, Budgie who stayed wide throughout passed Thornvalley between the last 2 bends to move into 3rd place.

Off the last bend Fiery moved off and Cloda took up the outright lead again but, Fiery didn’t give up and he managed to get up by the shortest of margins to win in 30:00. Budgie Bypass stayed on well to finish 3rd a further 2 lengths back with Thornvalley hanging on to qualify in 4th 2 lengths behind.

Heat 7
This heat was over very early bar the shouting as the heavily backed favourite Kippers Usain gave the punters more to shout about and also trainer Pat Buckley a double on the night. As the traps opened there was a white flash and that was Usain who timed his start to perfection.

The Pat Buckley trained runner was clear at the opening bend and defeat never looked in doubt. British raider Baliff Turbo managed to turn 2nd and looked as though he has no issues with getting used to the starting traps in Shelbourne. Barnish Panther and Skywalker Legend were both in good positions to secure there qualification as the greyhounds entered the back straight.

Down the back Kippers began to extend his advantage over the field and it was clear that he was going to post the fastest time of the night to date. Baliff Turbo continued to give chase but Barnish Turbo and Skywalker also began to improve on Turbo down the back. As they turned for home Kippers was clear and went on to score by 4 lengths in 29:73. Barnish Panther wore down Baliff Turbo to snatch 2nd by a short head with Skywalker Legend a further length behind.

Heat 8
Bookies came out on top in this heat as the odds-on fav Cabra Buck had to settle for 3rd as Millridge Leader went on to win at a price of 3/1. Buck who was backed into 4/6 before the off was fastest into stride as he made one of his regular fast starts but, it was Millridge Leader who showed more pace to the corner and he took up the lead before the bend.

Saint Anthony was also making good strides to the corner but, was forced to check out wide which carried him into the path of Ardfert Tee Jay and this cost the latter momentum also. As the greyhounds headed down the back the Maurice ‘Mossy’ O’Connor trained Millridge Leader was showing little sign of easing off as he extended his advantage over Cabra Buck.

Saint Anthony recovered from his early bumping to head down the back in 3rd and he showed plenty of pace as he began to close on Cabra Buck in 2nd. Tee Jay was showing also beginning to pick up again down the back having been hampered at the bend. As they rounded the last bend Millridge Leader was clear and he went on to win readily by 2 lengths in 29:87 from the rapidly finishing Saint Anthony who was impressive in defeat, Cabra Buck was 3rd in the end half a length behind Anthony. Filling the qualification places was Ardfert Tee Jay a further 2 lengths back.

Heat 9
There was a big upset here as the reserve Whizzing Archie came in to defeat the 1/2 favourite Ballymac Vic and give the bookies back to back wins with short priced jolly’s being beaten.

From the traps it was Jacks Ace in the stipes who was fastest into stride he was followed on the inside by Whizzing Archie but, Ballymac Vic by his own high standards was not well away at all. Jacks Ace stayed out wide going around the opening bend and that gave the advantage to Archie who did not need a second invitation to take up the lead going around the opening 2 bends. Vic was struggling to make up the ground he lost and at an early stage it appeared that the heat win was going to prove very difficult.

As they head down the back Archie was not easing off and he was trying his best to keep his advantage over Jacks Ace, Vic was also trying to make up ground down the back and the strong running Homeless Boy was doing his bit to ensure of qualification. At the 3rd bend it was still Archie who led from Jacks Ace, Vic at this point appeared to check as he began to close.

Up to the line it was Whizzing Archie who won by a length in 30:00 from Jacks Ace, Ballymac Vic finished in 3rd some 5 lengths behind Jacks Ace and Homeless Boy was a neck back in fourth.

Heat 10
More pain for the punters as Ravenswood May was a surprise winner at 6/1 of this heat and one of the best backed runners of the night Rocky Domain (5/4) exiting the competition. May and Rocky were both quickest into stride but, Rocky moved out from the boxes hampering himself and Holdem Hawk. At the bend May also moved off and carried Rocky very wide which cost him dearly.

This allowed the bitch to open her advantage over the field entering the backstraight, Raheen Boy who had stayed wide throughout avoiding all the trouble found himself in 2nd going down the back. Millies Tavern the 2nd bitch in the race also moved into a qualifying position down the back straight which she held onto for the remainder of the race.

Entering the 3rd bend it was Ravenswood May who extended her advantage to about 3 lengths over Raheen Boy in 2nd, Millies had secured 3rd place and the English Runner Holdem Hawk was battling away and was moving into 4th. At the line it was May who secured victory by 2 and a half lenths over Raheen Boy in 29:97, Millies Tavern held on for 3rd a length and a half back with Holdem Hawk staying on for fourth.

Heat 11
John Kavanagh’s Vimmerby the 4/5 favourite sent punters home happy and saved the fastest run of the night till last with an outstanding performance. Vimmerby showed his regular early pace from a far from ideal draw in trap 5 and the writing was on the wall as he took command of the race by the opening bend.

Laughil Bolt showed good early after not the quickest of starts as he turned 2nd to Vimmerby at the opening bend. Farloe Nutter who has an impressive strike rate to date was able to position himself in 3rd by the opening corner. Torpeys Ace was slowly into stride but, managed to manoeuvre himself into 4th between the opening two bends.

Down the back Vimmerby really began to accelerate and set out a strong pace but, the young pup Laughil Bolt stuck to the task well and tried his best to keep with the leader. They were in Indian style fashion down the back as Farle Nutter and Torpeys Ace gave chase in 3rd and fourth respectively.

Vimmerby appeared to extend his advantage between the bottom two bends over Bolt who didn’t appear to run the 3rd bend as well as the leader. Farloe Nutter was getting the better of Torpeys Ace in their own battle for 3rd place. Vimmerby crossed the line and stopped the clock at 29:66 2 lengths clear of Laughil Bolt in 2nd.

Farloe Nutter was a further 3 lengths behind and Torpeys Ace finished up in fourth. Roll on Saturday!