A VINTAGE JUVENILE

Ian Fortune

There is no doubt the RPGTV Juvenile Derby is amongst the best in the modern era.

From an original sixty runners, we’re down to the final twenty-four and they are a very select group. Saturday’s second round was nothing short of spectacular and the quarter final draw has thrown up some truly wonderful races to look forward to.

The full draw can be found below and the eye is immediately drawn to the second and third heats as so many of the leading fancies for outright glory clash. Heat 2 is particularly hot with brilliant second round winners Droopys Got It, Three Canons and the standard setting Velasco drawn side by side on the inside of the track.

Add in the huge eye-catcher Romeo Hanzo and the talented duo of Ballymac Run and Bunkers Hill and it’s a very special contest.

The third heat isn’t far behind. Another Holiday has the best of the draw on the fence as he seeks an eighth career victory in what will be his ninth start. He needs to come away racing, however, as Clona Duke, Tullig Raven, Storys Cashout and Romeo Command can all run. Petersburg, a brother to Another Holiday, completes the line-up and he too can motor into the corner.

After returning to winning ways in brilliant fashion at the weekend, the Oaks champ Raha Mofo will bid to follow up in the final heat. Nothing will come easy for the Murt Leahy trained star, however, as unlucky second round losers Bogger Hunter and Radical Hero have obvious claims. The talented trio of Ballymac Drama, Ballymac Bronze and Ravensjet complete another superb line-up.

Trinity Junior may have suffered his first career defeat in the second round but he can be forgiven for that run and is likely to have a big say in the opening heat. Again, nothing will come easy as Bens Teddy, Brinkleys Magic and Paradise Nikibel are amongst his rivals. Paradise Moldova is well housed on the fence in the same contest, while Marinas Joker will no doubt go up fast from trap four.

RPGTV JUVENILE DERBY

Quarter final draw

Heat 1

1 Paradise Moldova

2 Bens Teddy

3 Brinkleys Magic

4 Marinas Joker

5 Trinity Junior

6 Paradise Nikibel (w)

Heat 2

1 Droopys Got It

2 Three Canons

3 Velasco

4 Romeo Hanzo

5 Ballymac Run

6 Bunkers Hill

Heat 3

1 Another Holiday

2 Clona Duke

3 Tullig Raven

4 Petersburg

5 Storys Cashout

6 Romeo Command

Heat 4

1 Ballymac Drama

2 Ballymac Bronze

3 Radical Hero

4 Ravensjet

5 Bogger Hunter

6 Raha Mofo (m)