A quite absorbing night’s action was in prospect for the third round of the paddypower.com Irish Greyhound Derby. After punters latched on to many of the hot dogs and short priced favs during my morning’s trade at Paddy Power Towers, I feared a potential blow out was on the cards, or in rather more stated terms ’something and bust’!!!!
On arrival at the track around 7pm and managing to park up in the next parish, it was a clear indication that a vast amount of people had turned up in their droves. One word of advice for future attendees, get there early as this is an occasion that captures a nation. Once again this evening’s racing starts off with three various stakes, the first over 525, where off the record, two greyhounds must be placed in your notebooks: eventual winner, a lovely little bitch called Mystic Mega(Westmead Hawk/Droopys Stacey)and Droopys Edgar(Droopys Vieri/Droopys Zara), the subject of very good reports. A 575 final is Race 2 which goes the way of Greenwell Minx, sister to UK trained Greenwell River and Cool, and Race 3 a 525 stake goes to Pat Buckley’s Cabra Tiny…… and this turned out to be just the start of what proved a night of immense achievement and success for the Tipperary trainer.
The six greyhounds for Heat 1 of the Derby arrive for parade in very good time in front of packed stands, with patrons all buzzing with anticipation. 5/2 the field are the cries from the books, it really did have an open looking feel to it - co-favourites Oran Classic, Barefoot Bolt and Maireads Fantasy. After what seemed an eternity on parade the greyhounds are placed into the starting traps….bell goes, hare in motion…lids rise and it’s a level sort of break, the Maireads bitch a little tardy at the start. There was unfortunately no hiding place at the corner with Oran Classic with the benefit of the inside just turning in front of Deanridge Fury, carnage in behind. In a tremendous finish it’s Ian Reilly’s Deanridge Fury who comes out on top close home, nabbing leader Oran Classic with Belvedere Champ staying on late for the third qualifying spot, the time 29.79. Unfortunately amidst the early carnage the Paul Hennessy trained Barefoot Bolt sustains what looks to be a serious injury, my best wishes goes out to all connected to the greyhound.
Heat 2 features the first of the good things in the form of the Pat Buckley trained Slip the Lark perfectly drawn in six with five railers inside. He goes to traps the 4/6 fav, looking a very fresh hound, and has little problem in accounting for his rivals, again showing lovely early pace in beating the eventual second Must Be Keano to the corner. Unfortunately there was a lot of bother in behind, with Kilhedge King being knocked over - I hope all is ok with him. The favourite powered on for a five and a half length success in a time of 29.58, Group Skater taking the third placed spot. Slip, without putting the mockers on him, looks a dog bound for the final again?
Heat 3, and Easter Cup winner Droopys Noel is the favourite at 7/4. Once again the Pat Buckley trained greyhound is the toast of favourite backers as he just outpoints Three One Three to the first corner and draws on for a four length success from last week’s defeated rival Airport Pilot, who could never quite get to a challenging position after a slow start and early crowding, Three One Three back in third. The time was 29.74, and a double in the heats, a treble on the night for Pat…..well up to now anyway!!!
The bells were ringing loudly around Shelbourne Park - were they in anticipation of what we were about to receive in the next heat? Well it could have been, however it was an unexpected fire alarm, thought to be triggered by long standing photographer Imelda Gruer trying to hastily track me down for photo duty later on…more lens cracking from yours truly!!!
In Heat 4, Owen McKenna’s Faypoint Man, a ready winner last week, was the short priced 4/7 favourite to turn over his nearest market rival Tyrur Giovanni again, but on this occasion Giovanni was having none of it, coming out the boxes on elastic and comprehensively overturning the form of seven days ago, a ten length turnaround, bells ringing, and strides away in a fastest of the night 29.45 - yet another success for the Tipperary handler, Pat Buckley. Corporate Attack runs on for third place. Is this a ‘new kid on the block’ I wonder? It was certainly a devastating performance, but light relief for the layers.
It was going to get even better for the books in Heat 5 when the 4/5 jolly, St Louis Spirit, mistimed his break and was immediately playing catch up. This for me was a little chink in the previously unblemished armour of the St Louis express, having been gone beyond recall in the two previous rounds, tonight he couldn’t do it from off the pace, and with the eventual winner Mecano clocking a time of 30.04, the slowest of the night, it was a stark contrast to what we had come to expect from this flashy individual. Mecano, a 7/1 chance (nibbled), was the next winning leg of a wonderful four timer(five on the night) for Pat Buckley. St Louis Spirit did qualify, more importantly getting another bite of the cherry for his loyal supporters in second, Mid West Blue finishing back in third place.
Heat 6 was a renewal of rivalry between the Champion Stakes Final 1-2, Fatboyz Nodrog and Shaneboy Lee, but it was far from a similar outcome in this heat tonight, as UK challenger and Barrie Draper trained outsider Magna Venturer produced his best performance to date, making just about all in recording a super 29.59 run(to the hush of the crowd) from the consistent performer Cashen Legend in second, with Shaneboy Lee who was noted having bother at bends 1,2 and 3, back in third, but surely just happy to be through to the quarters. Fatboyz Nodrog was not at the races and bowed out tamely after third bend trouble sealed his fate. This was a significant step up by the Draper charge, a solid run on the night, and a gift from god for the layers.
Heat 7 and all eyes were on the pup sensation (and his owners), Scolari Me Daddy, proudly and loudly, the pride and joy of the Glamour-paws-syndicate, Hobbsy watch out!! He went to the traps the even money favourite and this time he got his just desserts, in tasting his first success of the paddypower.com Derby, striding on from the game Royal Tornado(I like him) with Global Hope taking the third qualifying spot, the pups time a good 29.68. Commeth the Glamour paws girls, Commeth Imelda and her camera, I’m the odd one out at the back if you get to see!!!
In the midst of the photo shoot, and chatting with a lovely man, P.J. Fahy, we are left stranded in the centre of the track as the greyhounds in Heat 8 are about to go in, featuring the ante post fav College Causeway. Could it be a clean sweep for the inspired Pat Buckley? Well if Pat wanted to call on a greyhound to do this for him, there would simply be no other choice than the wonderful Causeway. He again produced astonishing track craft to catch long time race leader Contador and the handy Mesedo Blue, to win on the bridle in 29.81, to the incredible roar of his many, many followers. A sound and sight to behold from the middle and a great viewing point.
Well what an achievement by Pat - 5 heat runners, 5 winners, take a bow and Imelda another picture with all five greyhounds lined up in front of Pat and I. A very proud moment for me!!!
There is only one word to describe this competition…..SPECIAL.
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