View From The Terraces – Derby Review

Shelbourne Park stadium is part of a very illustrious Dublin 4 sporting postcode and last night the venue hosted the first session of the Boylesports sponsored Irish Greyhound Derby worth €125,000 to the winner.

The opening heat set the scene for an evening of thrilling viewing as the
Peter Cronin trained Global Chariot (5/1) proving as tough as teak in the lead, fended off the UK handled favourite Droopys Norris. Bookmakers 1 Terraces 0… In typical sporting style there are ups and downs but very few could have fathomed that the lowest point of the evening would be delivered in such cruel style when the sponsor owned Boylesports Hero dramatically faded to the rear of the field in the second heat appearing to suffer a career ending injury just as victory seemed
assured.

While there are losers there have to be winners and the New York registered, Tom and PJ Quinn owned, Emers Superstar (11/4), prevailed in a thrilling finish to beat long time leader Indigojack. Bookmakers 1.5 Terraces 0.5…

In true appreciation punters regrouped and set about trading blows with bookmakers in true derby style and when ante post joint favourite Skywalker Farloe went to traps for the third heat the decibel level escalated in anticipation. Sadly Skywalker Farloe ran lethargically behind Blenhiem Cracker (5/1) to silence the crowd but punters needed only fifteen minutes to strike back and they heavily supported the PJ Fahy owned Tyrur Supermac (4/6) in the fourth heat. Like a true Galwegian he delivered. Bookmakers 2.5 Terraces 1.5.

Last year’s withdrawn finalist Kereight King (Evens) was expected to get his 2014 campaign off in style in the fifth heat but the latter couldn’t reel in the strong running Pat Buckley trained Paradise Maverick (7/2) who headed Ivy Hill Prince at the penultimate corner to record his third straight success.

Midday plunges contested the next two heats in the form of Fiery Splendour (4/5) and Kippers Usain (3/1-6/4) and both scored, the latter a second Pat Buckley trained winner that received a homestretch roar that any Run For The Roses crowd would be proud of. Bookmaker-Terraces drew all square and the second half was now in full swing…Derby runner up from 2013 Cabra Buck (4/6) was expected to cement his position as a viable contender for outright glory in the ninth heat but after a flying start was soon overhauled on the run up by Millridge Leader (3/1) who proved too
tough to pass, scoring by a cosy two lengths at the line. Bookmakers 4.5 Terraces 3.5…

Recent Champion stakes winner Ballymac Vic (1/2) like Cabra Buck isn’t getting any younger but post racing looked banker material for the tenth contest however an eleventh hour reserve Whizzing Archie (6/1) entered the fray after the defection of Jims Blessing and that changed the landscape of the race. Whizzing Archie powered to the front on the run up and held all challenges for the Mccoygould-hughes-syndicate, that’s one McCoy winner that didn’t please the punters who were now on
the back foot.

Gamble of the day Rocky Domain (7/2-6/4) packed the stands for the penultimate heat but a poor break and trouble in running left the Harolds Cross trial stake winner Ravenswood May (10/1) clear of the pack and a facile scorer for owners Gerry Barber and Derek Hatch.

Formbooks lay in tatters as bookmakers scrambled to price the final heat favourite in the form of the Johnny Kavanagh trained Vimmerby (4/5) and in true Irish fashion punters dug deep and supported the latter at all prices as if the world was about to end. Vimmerby trapped fastest and that was game set and match for supporters and although Laughil Bolt tried to narrow the margin the leader was now gone beyond recall, recording the fastest time of the session in 29.66.

Bookmakers 6.5, Terraces 4.5 was the margin at the finish but the terraces have the momentum, roll on Saturday!