Inside Traps To Dominate Quarter Finals

Results went both ways last weekend; there are some very sticky races this week and we have bet them as competitive as we can. Here is a look at the four quarter finals…

Heat One
Farloe Blitz is back in his beloved trap one this weekend in the first quarter-final. He last raced from this box in the opening round where he recorded a smashing 3.30 sectional. Another smash break from here can see him race to the front early.

The other early pace runners in the race come from two (Shutthe Backdoor) and six (Rural Hawaii). Rural ran very well last week, he was only beaten half a length by Secreto, he actually half lost the race himself running wide off the last bend. He will be a big player out wide here being the only wide seed in the race. Samiya is fast becoming a household name in Irish greyhound racing after her performances in the last two rounds of the Classic, she is a big thorn in our side in the ante-post market after being backed at 200/1 before the start (ouch)!

This lady is over shadowing her litter sister at the moment, Ballydoyle Honey, and will have her fair share of supporters this weekend, she is a powerful stayer. Blue Cafu is running ok so far but this is a massive step up from what he has been running against. Shutthe Backdoor is running above himself and will have it all to do to get involved here, while Dolcino Flyer is running on every night he will need a lot of luck in this contest. The verdict goes to Blitz on the inside.

Heat Two
Ballymac Matt is the dog on everybody’s lips at the moment in this year’s Classic, he has broken 29.50 in the three previous rounds and looks to have this heat at his mercy again. He flew the boxes again last week in a weaker race and will have to do the same here. This will be the first time he will come up against something with a turn of early pace.

Savethedon got back to winning ways last time and can give Matt a race to the bend now that his confidence is high. The Don recorded a nice 29.57 last week so he can give odds on players of Matts a small bit of a scare if he gets loose early,

Priceless Lassie will be running on late for the last qualifying position. If this race goes to script, there can only be one winner, Ballymac Matt.

Heat Three
Tyrur Tommy went off well supported last time (cost us a few quid) and duly obliged for his supporters. He has gotten a very nice draw in this decider and can go in again. Connections are very bullish about this lad’s chance in the Derby and he seems to be improving with every run.

Offshore Bound drawn in two is doing all his running from the 750 boxes home so shouldn’t worry Tommy on the run to the corner. Farloe Rumble is yet to register a win in the competition but showed a nice turn of foot going into the third bend last time, this fellow could be battling it out for a qualifying position in the latter stages of the race. Fair Taxes is running extremely well at the moment, even finishing a well beaten second last time he caught the eye.

Known as a front runner, Taxes found himself well adrift around the opening bend after a little bumping but stayed on with determination, I liked that about him. Gaytime Hawk caused an upset last time out from trap one, but finds himself wearing the orange jacket of five this week. He will be looking for the fence in my opinion.

Paradise Maverik in six will be fighting it out at the death to qualify, but faces a bad trap draw. I can’t split Fair Taxes and Tyrur Tommy here, on the basis of the draw I’m going to stick my neck out and say Tommy.

Heat Four
This the trickiest heat of the night for me, it is extremely competitive. Cases can be made for every runner. Cable Bay is recapturing the form which saw him win the Con and Annie Kirby Stakes in Limerick. He went down as an unlucky loser last week only to be beaten half a length. He loves the fence in my opinion and is the best drawn in the race.

Secreto bounced back to winning ways last week picking up Rural Hawaii up the home straight, this was his first win since June and will do his confidence a world of good. Peregrine Falcon is one of two unbeaten runners left in the classic, he took off last week winning a decent race in 29.50.

Trap three shouldn’t be much of a hindrance next week as he has won from trap four in the second round. Traps four and five want the rails badly in this heat so there could be a bit of trouble on the run to the bend which could play into the paws of the wide seed Jaytee Jet. Jet is yet to find his feet in Shelbourne but is always threatening to do a big run, this is his best draw so far. Sidarian Vega in five could make a lot of room for him. I’m going to side with Cable Bay along the rails in this heat.

The Plate
The Plate got off to a fantastic start last Thursday where we saw a track record run from Tyrur Van Gaal, an amazing 29.10! He is now a short priced favourite to take the plate and on last week’s running all he has to do is stand up.

Laughil Duke is next in the betting after a rough ride last week where he suffered a shock defeat at 2/7. Even though he was beaten, there was a lot to like about the way he ran on to qualify. Other dogs of note in the Plate are Gyp Rosetti, Glenbuck Bill, Blonde Nipper, Barefoot Artist, Slippery Snowy and Country Legend. The rest of the Plate will be run in conjunction with the Derby so it makes for a great nights racing!

All the vibes so far in this year’s Derby are very positive, attendances and turnover are up so we hope things keep heading in the right direction. We are expecting a big crowd again Saturday night with the football semi-final replay on in Croke Park.

If there are many Dublin or Mayo supporters going to Shelbourne after the match, keep hold of your match programme and produce it at the gate you will get in for half price! We also expect a few Kilkenny and Galway supporters up early to support their local runners the night before the match!

All four quarter finals of both the Plate and the Derby itself are priced up and on display on www.Boylesports.com , also keep up to date with all of our specials and market movers! See you all in HQ this Saturday night. #BetOnBoyle