2011 Ladbrokes Irish Greyhound Derby- Tyrur Big Mike and Razldazl Jayfkay take part as main sponsor’s favourites
The 2011 Ladbrokes Irish Greyhound Derby kicked off on Thursday, the 30th of June, at Shelbourne Park Greyhound Stadium in Dublin. The final of the Derby offers prize money of €120,000, making it one of the world’s richest greyhound racing events.
The betting market for this race has already been set ablaze with derby sponsors, Ladbrokes, declaring both Tyrur Big Mike and Razldazl Jayfkay as their favourites at equal odds, with a 14/1 shot.
The Conor Fahy trained Tyrur Big Mike is last year’s winner of the Ladbrokes Irish Greyhound Derby semifinal.
He is back this time around to complete unfinished business and take home the title and much like Ladbrokes, many other bookmakers too have him in as their favourite to win the race.
Razldazl Jayfkay, trained by Dolores Ruth, is a dog worthy of being favourite too, as he rides into the Derby on the back of his massive winning spree, comprising of seven consecutive victories.
Coincidentally, this parade of victories started at Shelbourne Park and that too against Tyrur Big Mike, who Jayfkay outran on the 9th of April by a neck’s length.
These two might be the favourite for the main sponsor of the event but many firms are booking Broadstrand Lad, trained by Linehan, as their favourite.
Broadstrand Lad, son of Hallucinate and Kiln Lark, started his career in February 2010 and won his maiden against Peggys Way by 3 ½ lengths.
Almost two week later he ran at Shelbourne Park and won again, this time against Cians Fantasy by 2 ½ lengths.
Dolores Ruth has another competitor in the race as well, Razldazl George.
Much like Broadstand Lad, he too has the added advantage of having run at Shelbourne Park a number of times.
He has in fact won six out of the nine races he has run at the track and he performs much better here than at Wimbledon. Keeping this in mind he is priced at 16/1.
English Derby finalist, Barefoot Bullet, is also running the Derby and is a safe bet as he comes fresh from his commendable performance at the English Derby.
Paul Hennessy’s pupil gave spectacular performances, one after another, in the English Derby at Wimbledon, but as luck would have it, ended up finishing second.
With a field as competitive as this and expectations as high as they are today, the 2011 Ladbrokes Irish Greyhound Derby is bound to be riveting and exciting.
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