Will the Irish prevail in the Williamhill.com English Greyhound Derby?
The Irish are known for producing big competition runners. Last Friday they demonstrated their ability as they recorded an impressive first session of second-round heats in the Williamhill.com English Derby at Wimbledon in the form of Mesedo Blue, Tranquil Time and Krug Ninety Five all coming home clear in their respective heats.
Tranquil Time was the first to represent the Irish in the opening heat in which he emerged triumphant for trainer Paul Hennessy. The powerful charge was always in command after the first bend, coming in three-quarters of a length ahead of Barrie Draper’s Moveit Jamie in a fast 28.48sec.
Charlie Lister’s ante-post favourite and last year’s Derby runner-up Fear Zafonic went crashing out in what was the shock of the night. Zafonic made a suited trap two start in heat four but failed to produce one of his best breaks and was unlucky to face further bumps, allowing Seamus Cahill’s Sparklee Bernie to capitalise and take the early lead. But Sparklee Bernie was not good enough to hold off Fraser Black’s Krug Ninety Five who landed a late victory in 28.63sec.
Mesedo Blue completed the Irish treble in heat seven for Seamus Graham when leading from the outset. The favourite came home a length-and-a-quarter clear of Ministry Magic in 28.39sec, while Oran Classic qualified in third.
Barefoot Bullet and Slick Robert also managed to claim qualification spots to add to the Irish tally from Friday’s heats. Beaming Dilemma was the only Irish elimination in heat two on the day.
As the second-round heats continued the following day, the results were no different for the Irish with Forrest Boss out-pacing Scottish Derby winner Nambisco by a length to take heat 12 in 28.54sec.
Toomaline Jack is now the joint-favourite after producing an excellent performance in heat 14 which saw him clock the fastest time of the night and beat Barnfield Rockey by almost four lengths in 28.45sec.
Heat 15 saw the favourite Give Mesome Luck miss out on qualification by half a length. The heat did however work in favour as Faypoint Man, Sevenheads Bay and Archaton Pine all secured third round places from it.
The third-round draw will see a total of 11 Irish-trained greyhounds flex their muscle across Wimbledon’s 480m to try and progress to a more promising stage. The early eliminations of favourites such as Eye Onthe Storm and Fear Zafonic leaves the competition wide open for anyone to claim the cool £75,000 on offer but certainly increases their chances, will the Irish prevail in this year’s English Derby?
Third Round draw on 15/05/2010:
Heat 1 – 19:45: 1 Moneygall Obama; 2 Mesedo Blue (m); 3 Raving Black (m); 4 Forest Boss (m); 5 Courtcraft Jamie (w); 6 Farloe Skywalker (w).
Heat 2 – 20:00: 1 Ministry Magic; 2 Blonde Button; 3 Nambisco; 4 Headit on Ellis; 5 Glenard Sunrise; 6 Adageo (w).
Heat 3 – 20:15: 1 Barnfield Rocky; 2 Bandicoot Tipoki; 3 Bada Who; 4 Rainham Giles; 5 Farloe Titan; 6 Gilbeyhall Jake (w).
Heat 4 – 20:30: 1 Krug Ninety Five (m); 2 Bosscroker (m); 3 Honey Impact (m); 4 Barefoot Bullet (w); 5 Carrigoe Bigphil (w); 6 Cloheena Cash (w).
Heat 5 – 20:45: 1 Kerrs Destiny; 2 Eye Onthe Tempo; 3 Tranquil Time; 4 Kinda Easy (w); 5 Deanridge Imp (w); 6 Bubbly Totti (w).
Heat 6 – 21:00: 1 Judicial Pause; 2 Tyrur Speedy; 3 Romeo Reason; 4 Class Vieri; 5 Oran Classic; 6 Ten Large Down (m).
Heat 7 – 21:15: 1 Roo Come On; 2 Sevenheads Bay; 3 Faypoint Man (m); 4 Moveit Jamie (m); 5 Toomaline Jack (w); 6 Westmead Grant (w).
Heat 8 – 21:30: 1 Lyreen Mover; 2 Micky Robbie; 3 Archarton Pine; 4 Slick Robert (m); 5 Sparklee Bernie (w); 6 Westmead Scolari (w).
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