Round Three Redemption For Punters

As we move into Round Three of the Boylesports Irish Greyhound Derby, we take a look at a breakdown of each individual heat.

Heat 1

The opening heat on Saturday night is likely to see plenty of support for Skywalker Farloe who is currently odds-against for the win and this price may prove to tempting for punters, I am going to go for a bit more value and take a chance with El Flutter who has done little wrong so far and is a very temping price.

Whizzing Archie came into the Derby as a reserve and has showed his worth in the competition to date by remaining unbeaten. He will need to continuing to start as quickly as he has done so far if he is to progress again.

Abbey Carla has run out of her skin so far in the Derby but, this is again a big ask for her to progress and her best chance of qualification does rely on her leading to the bend.

Tyrur Supermac has the all round ability to have a big say in this year’s Derby and for me he is yet to produce one of his better starts but, if he could find one of them in this heat he could be a main player.

My selection El Flutter, I feel has been underrated so far in his Derby campaign and I think he has an excellent opportunity of qualification again. He may lack early but, he has a favourable draw with three inside seeds and two wide seeds on his outer puts him in an ideal position.

Ecclestone was an English Derby semi finalist who was unlucky in the opening round and ran well to qualify in round two but, if he is to progress this week he cannot afford anymore excuses.

Skywalker Farloe has failed to sparkle so far in the Derby but, this year’s Easter Cup champ is sure to be hard to beat if he continues to improve with each run and if he can get back to near his best he will be very difficult to beat in this heat.

Heat 2

Droopys Nidge is another one of the big guns who we are still waiting to fire on all cylinders and if he continues to run below his best he may struggle in this tricky heat.

I’m going to take on the favourite again here and I’m going to go for the unbeaten bitch European Queen. Droopys Ward proved just how good he is at qualifying through competitions this year as he was runner up in the English Derby and from a good draw on the inside, I feel he could progress further.

Metro Jack recently won the Dundalk international and he is yet to get a clear run so far in the Derby but, he has a good chance in this heat as trap one lacks early and with a fast start he may improve upon his heat win in round two.

Paradise Maverik also remains unbeaten in the Derby but, he does face a trickier draw this time in comparison to his earlier two wins. He won both of his heats from trap one but, this time its tougher as he is in trap three and if he is to progress he will need to get a clear run.

Homeless Boy so far, has not proved that he is the force of old and he will need to reproduce his best form to be a factor here. Droopys Nidge has the potential to win this year’s Derby but, he needs to improve and get back to his earlier form.

Nidge has failed to produce his best form but, with a lack of out and out early in this heat he has a chance of leading which should tell us a lot more about where Nidge is at ability wise.

I am going for European Queen who has been a revelation in the opening two rounds and she is showing more early than I thought she had. I think she will turn close into the back and considering the times she has posted in the earlier rounds, I think she is the one to beat.

Heat 3

This is a wide open, high quality heat and despite not winning last week, I’m going for Laughil Blake to get back to winning ways in this heat. Kippers Usain has a near 50% overall win record and has been running as good as ever so far in this year’s event and if he can start as well as he did in the previous rounds, he should have a big say again.

Emers Superstar has the potential to win this heat but, he will need to clear Usain on the inside, which will not be easy. Vulturi has captured many peoples imagination with his finishing ability and in a race with five other early paced runners, this heat might be run to suit his running style.

Swords One has outrun his price so far to progress this far and he will need another career best run if he is to progress from this tough heat. Quick Blaze was impressive when winning last week but, the trap draw this time around has not worked out in his favour being in trap five as an inside seed and if he is to win this heat he will require a rapid getaway in his bid to get to the rails.

Laughil Blake goes in stripes and he has an ideal draw being the sole wide seed in against five inside runners. Blake was the fastest in the opening round and despite not winning last week, I don’t think he lost much in defeat as he still posted a very good time.

There was only a head between Vulturi and Blake last week and for me, from this trap draw, I can see Blake yet again get the better of Vulturi.

Heat 4

Another heat with five inside seeds the trap draw has proved all important and because of that I’m going to go with Jaytee Ospret who runs from trap one. Osprey has battled very well to progress to this point and this is the first time she has got a favourable in this Derby.

I think she is well positioned to make a bold bid and at a decent price I’m going to go with her for the win. Hawaii Kinsale bounced back to form with a surprise win in the last round and if he can get a similar start he has the ability to win a heat of this nature too.

Droopys Norris showed what he is all about in the last run after a scintillating win however, the draw did suit as he had lots of room on the way to the bend but, this time around he may find trouble early as the inside seeds outside him try to get across.

Thornvalley made all for a shock win in the previous round but, he will need a similar start here to get across to the rails and that will not be easily achieved even with a quick start.

The pup in trap five Lenson Sanchez clearly has ability to of made the Derby third round after only having one start prior to the event but, on his form to date he may struggle in this heat to progress further.

There is another British challenger in this heat as Farley Rio goes from trap 6 and after winning last week, he again has strong claims of progressing. Similar to the last heat, with five inside seeds in this race, the trap draw does suit Rio on the outside and if he can get a decent getaway he will be hard to knockout.

Heat 5

I am really concerned that this heat could turn very messy, very quickly, with six inside seeds all in the one heat. In such a tough heat, I am going to go for a value selection again, this time it is Highview Premier.

Trap one Highview Premier ran a gallant race in defeat last week in a very quick time and if he can get a cleaner start, he can take advantage of an ideal draw on the inside of six inside seeds. Killinan Baby progressed significantly last week which suggests she could get back to her earlier career form and if she improves again she could progress.

Vanfrankie has the all round ability to be a Derby winner but, he will need to start quickly here to lead up trap four and I think connections would gladly just settle for a qualification spot now from a tricky trap draw.

IndigoJack is one of the fastest starters in this year’s Derby but, so far he has failed to get home but, with that early he will always have a big say of qualifying. Kisses for Cloda has bounced back to the form of his career but this is a horrible make up for him, not only is he an inside seed drawn in trap five but, he has one of Ireland’s tightest railers drawn in six.

Cloda is going to require a quick start and plenty of luck early if he is to progress from this draw in my opinion. In trap six we have the worst drawn greyhound of the entire third round and that is PJ Fahy’s, Tyrur Sugar Ray.

He has been a credit to connections in his long and illustrious career but, if he is to get through from this nightmare draw, he will need to call upon all of his experience and race qualities.

Heat 6

Ballyana Foxtrot was the fastest winner in the second round and I think he is value again to make it two on the spin. Surley Bassi has done extremely well to get this far and her best chance of qualification is a to keep to the inner at the corner if there is any trouble at the bend.

General Wolf is one of those runners who continues to run well and keep qualifying but, doesn’t get the full amount of recognition and I can see this experienced sort progressing further. Deanridge Pennys is still seeking a good start and a clear run in this Derby and if he is to show exactly what he is made of, he will need a quick start to lead up Wolf on the inner.

Barefoot Agent does his best running from halfway and his lack of early is a cause for concern in this heat but, if there is trouble up front he will be staying on well at the end. I’m going with trap five Ballyana Foxtrot for the win and if he starts similarly to last week, I can see him taking victory again.

Foxtrot had been running well in Limerick prior to the Derby and last week he proved he is ready to translate that form to Shelbourne which will be enough to win this race.

In trap six we have an A1 seeded greyhound, Tyrur Fredrik and it must be said he has done very well to get to this stage but, to continue his run, he will need to run up to his best but, with a ast start he has a solid chance of progression.

Heat 7

The heat of the round may well be the penultimate heat where Ballymac Vic takes on British raider Holdem Spy and co. I find this one of the most difficult heats to pick the winner of but, I am going to go with the ever reliable Ballymac Vic.

Trap one will be occupied Vic and he was mighty impressive from this trap last week after making all in 29:65. This heat is packed with early pace so he cannot afford any mistakes at the traps but, with his experience I think he has the best chance.

Fordeflag was a shock 20/1 winner in the previous round and if he is to progress again he will need to match his career effort last week. There is a second runner for Liam Dowling in this heat, it is Green Prince, this flying starter rarely runs a bad race and he may prove the stiffest competition to his kennel mate on the run to the bend, this is where his chances lie, he needs to lead to win.

Bornneo won’t be suited by having to wait till the second last heat of the night and with a quick starter on his inside, he will need to be at his best to get through. Then we come to Holdem Spy who has been one of the most talked about greyhounds in this year’s Derby and not for always all the right reasons.

Nobody can deny his pace and in my opinion he is the fastest greyhound in the competition but, it is clear for everyone to see that despite not causing interference he clearly feels he has enough done when he hits the front and although I think he is a banker to qualify, I couldn’t recommend him for the win with the utmost confidence.

Budgie Bypass is another one of those improving pups who has ran really well to get this far and if this early paced runner is to go through again, he will need a rapid start and a slice of luck.

Heat 8

There is just one odds-on shot in the entire third round and it comes in the last heat, it is Mind the Net and I think he will get back to winning ways in this heat.

Holdem Hawk is a strong stayer who if in touch at half way will have a chance of qualifying but, from what he has shown so far, it may prove difficult.

Shaneboy Frankie is yet to break well in this year’s event and he too cannot afford to many more mistakes if he is to get through to the latter rounds.

Shopping Basket was highly impressive in the opening round and did well just to qualify last week. Basket has got a great chance of leading up the inside pair here and if he does he may prove the biggest danger to the jolly.

Ivy Hill Prince showed exceptional early in Limerick but, he is yet to reproduce that sort of sectionals in Shelbourne and IF he can get one of those, he will improve significantly.

Ghost Down landed a big priced gamble last week but, the Cork track record holder faces a much more difficult task in this heat from trap five and if he is to qualify he will need to be at his best. Finally, in stripes we have the new Ante-Post favourite Mind the Net who despite losing last week, has seen plenty of support in the outright market.

Mind the Net has trapped well on his to starts so far in this year’s Derby and if he continues to do so he is sure to be a major player. I think if he starts well again, he will turn close and just prove too strong for his opposition from halfway.

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