DESIRE FLIES THE FLAG FOR IRELAND AT TOWCESTER
Ian Fortune
Ireland had another evening to remember at Towcester on Saturday as the opening round of the Star Sports/ TRC English Derby came to a conclusion.
The Irish were responsible for four of the eleven heat winners including Lennies Desire who set a blistering standard.
LENNIE IN A DIFFERENT LEAGUE
Lennies Desire was absolutely rampant in the second heat on the card, showing alacrity from boxes to dominate from the opening yards.
This was nothing more than a rout with the Paul Hennessy trained star powering further and further clear to eventually win by nine and three quarter lengths from the highly thought of Vhagar in a stunning 28.58.
PAT JUSTIFIES SHORT ODDS
Bombay Pat was Ireland’s second winner of the night when justifying long-odds on favouritism in Heat 27.
In victory he was the sixth winner of the opening round for Graham Holland which is truly remarkable.
It wasn’t all plain sailing for the sensational tracker, however. He missed the start from the outside box and was behind both Keylogues Runner and Kevins Rocket into the turn but the front duo bumped, allowing the advancing Bombay Pat to make his move.
Going to the front before the second bend, he moved through the gears in the style of a champion to put the result beyond doubt. He would eventually go onto win by two and a half lengths from Kevins Rocket in 28.81.
JOE SHOWS STUNNING EARLY SPEED
Ballinabola Joe sent out a clear warning to his Derby rivals that he is a greyhound with a big future when scorching clear to hold the big finish of his compatriot Barefoot On Fire in Heat 29.
Posting the fastest sectional of the opening round - 3.91 – Ballinabola Joe was always in the driver’s seat.
Going up fast from trap six, he would enter the back straight wit three and a half length in hand on Barefoot On Fire. The Irish trained duo stretched right away from the chasing pack to ensure it was going to be an Irish one-two but Ballinabola Joe had to race right to the line to hand Pat Buckley and Brendan Murphy a winner. Barefoot On Fire really flew from the third turn to close rapidly on the pace-setter but Ballinabla Joe was not for catching and he held on to win by a half length in 28.62.
BRILLIANT BOB ARRIVES LATE AND FAST
Moments after his kennelmate Barefoot On Fire ran a big race in defeat, Boylesports Bob produced an incredible finishing kick to get his Derby campaign off to a winning start for Paul Hennessy and owners Ned Murphy and John Boyle.
Boylesports Bob wasn’t the fastest into stride and found himself held up at various points in the contest in fourth but this allowed him to conserve energy for the home straight. Switching inside off the final turn, he suddenly put on the afterburners, charging up the inside of Droopys Metaphor, Fabulous Sonique and Headford Asher to lead late for a wonderful victory. He would see off Fabulous Sonique by three parts of a length in 29.16.
TIBET TAKES SECOND
Ballymac Tibet was second in Heat 25 for Liam Dowling.
The inexperienced youngster found himself off the pace but he improved his position from halfway to eventually chase home Rapido Ali. He would finish two and a quarter lengths down in 28.98.
PLANET PROGRESSES
Crokers Planet would progress in Heat 31 for Graham Holland.
A newcomer to the Riverside Kennels operation, he had no answer to Ballybough Nutz but was in second for much of the way before eventually finishing just over six lengths behind the winner in third.
BARRIER QUALIFIES IN THIRD
Pain Barrier was the final Irish qualifier of the round in the last of the 32 opening round heats.
The Brendan Matthews trained Kirby Memorial finalist was third from the outset, eventually finishing just under four lengths behind Churchfield Syd. Sadly, Untold Dollar would fail to qualify in fourth.
NO LUCK FOR ICE
Clona Ice never got involved after a slow start in Heat 28.
He would find himself off the pace in the early yards before finishing fourth.