MAGIC MONARCH SETS THE STANDARD AGAIN

Ian Fortune

Bouncing Monarch again took the headlines at Shelbourne Park on Friday night as the BOYLE Sports Irish Greyhound Derby continued with the first session of second round heats.

There were numerous superb performances but Bouncing Monarch was over two lengths faster than his nearest rival as he again highlighted his obvious chances of winning the Derby.

Michael O’Donovan and Pat Buckley were responsible for four of the eight winners with both recording a double, while the Mark Robinson trained Getup The Boy was next fastest to Bouncing Monarch on the clock as he impressed in Heat 4.

Heat 1 – BARRY LEAVES HIS RIVALS FEELING SOBER

After sending out two opening round heat winners, Karol Ramsbottom made the perfect start to the second round with Sober Barry running out a superb winner of the opening heat.

Sean Malone’s son of Skywalker Barry and Sober Pearl made full use of his superb early dash to lead up from five.

There was little room to race on his inner, but Produce Stakes winner Berlin Trilogy managed to turn second. As hard as he tried, Berlin Trilogy could never quite get on terms and he was forced to check at the third turn. This allowed Priceless Romeo to emerge as the main threat. Indeed, it seemed likely that Priceless Romeo would come through to score but Sober Barry had other ideas. Sticking on grimly, Sober Barry went on to secure a length verdict over Priceless Romeo in 29.42. Bockos Gold stayed on to finish third, some three lengths further adrift.

Heat 2 – SOLO GETS GOING AGAIN

After serving up a thriller in the opening round, Solo And Go and Lennies Dynamic renewed rivalry in the second round with the pair again going toe to toe in Heat 2.

And again, the verdict went the way of Solo And Go for Liam Dowling and the Kingdoms Palace Syndicate.

The duo headed the betting and it was soon clear they were going to have the race between them, although Glengar Kane was never far away in third. Solo And Go flashed from four and quickly moved across the track towards the fence. Lennies Dynamic went up fast from six and the duop were side by side on the turn.

With Lennies Dynamic steering a middle path, Solo And Go moved to the front into the back straight but the pair were soon side by side again with Lennies Dynamic charging into the third turn. All the while, Glengar Kane was just behind the pair in third.

It seemed as though lennies Dynamic was going to sweep the third turn and go on but Solo And Go wasn’t having any of it and he seemed to kick again. As hard as Lennies Dynamic tried, Solo And Go simply wasn’t for catching. The son of Ballymac Best and Ballymac Minton dug in to win by a length and a half in 29.34. Lennies Dynamic did nothing wrong in second with Glengar Kane running another big race, the same distance away in third.

Heat 3 – A LEADING PROFILE

Low Profile followed up an impressive opening round victory with an even better display in Heat 3 for Graham Holland the RT & C Syndicate.

Lone Calling broke smartly to lead up from two but was under severe pressure when Low Profile slipped around a close second.

It seemed inevitable that Low Profile would challenge at some point and he chose the third turn to launch a decisive move. Moving upsides his rival at this point, the son of Ballymac Bolger and Crafty Jayko eased to the front but had to be on his toes on the run in as the early pace-setter rallied.

In the end, Low Profile was too strong and he comfoprtably held on to score by a length and a half in 29.37. Lone Calling ran a fine race in second with Bombay Special always third, some three lengths further adrift.

Heat 4 – HE’S SOME BOY

Heat 4 was billed as Ballymac Deniro’s chance to confirm his standing as one of the leading fancies for Derby glory but a missed start and a slight stumble at traps would prove his downfall.

Instead, it was another proven performer that came to the fore with Getup The Boy emerging a wide margin winner for Daniel Ornstein and Mark Robinson to send out a clear signal that he is to be taken seriously in the classic.

The 2025 Juvenile Derby champion faced a tricky draw in four but he was on a mission. As Ballymac Deniro was fluffing his lines, Getup The Boy was putting himsself in a position to win the race. Roaming Shelby went up strongly, as did Magical Jet on the inside but they were to bump on the corner.

Getup The Boy was a close third and took a quick step to his right to avoid the front two before shooting around them as if on rails. It was a most fluent manouvre and one that left him clear of his rivals into the back straight.

Thereafter, it was nothing more than a procession for Getup The Boy. Maintaining a typically merciless gallop, the son of Ballymac Cashout and Peckies Flyer powered home five lengths clear of 50-1 chance Magical Jet in 29.28. Remarkably, a length and a half further back, was Kevinsfort Fancy at odds of 100-1.

Heat 5 – CHIEF IN COMMAND

Grouchos Chief confirmed his standing as one of the sharpest and most exciting youngsters in the land with a terrific display in Heat 5.

Not always the fastest into stride, he again gave his rivals a start but quickly engaged the afterburners to pass his kennel companion Grouchos Frank into the turn.

Running a tremendous corner, he entered the back straight with almost three lengths in hand on Slippery Brian, who had run a good first bend to move second. Kapuka Coley wasn’t far away in third but Grouchos Chief was moving with some purpose.

Showing a bit more strength than in previous outings, the leader never really looked like surrendering his advantage. Slippery Brian did close, as did Kapuka Coley but Grouchos Chief stuck on well to score for Pat Buckley and Ken O’Connell. The hugely talented son of Signet Ace and Droopys Lois, who was havingh just his sixth career start, emerged on top by a length and a half in 29.44. Slippery Brian held off Kapuka Coley by a neck to take second.

Heat 6 – HACKNEY WITH A PLAN

Hackney Plan was something of a drifter in the market in Heat 6 but scarcely put a foot wrong as he emerged a facile winner for Michael O’Donovan.

AS he did seven days earlier, hackney plan shot from traps and was in front from the opeing yards.

Shotgun dez attempted to get back on terms but once Hackney Plan took the bend, the race was effectively over as a contest. Kilcolgan Norman slipped around second but seemed to lose his action early in the back straight.

Blastoff Heffo was then left to take up the chase, but it was futile. Hackney Plan was on his way to a comfortable success. The powerful son of Droopys Flytline and Fatbotz Storm was relentless, pulling away to eventually emerge a very easy seven length scorer in 29.37. Blastoff Heffo was second with rank outsider Mona Lee Monbeg running on for third, another length and a half further back.

Heat 7 – WARRIOR DASHES CLEAR AGAIN

Ballyea Warrior was a most taking winner in the opening round, displaying superb trapping ability and early speed to dominate and he did much the same in Heat 7 of the second round.

In doing so, the razor-sharp son of Ballymac Kingdom and Wolfofallstreets completed a double on the card for Pat Buckley.

Harlequin Gee Up also went up fast but was always playing second fiddle once failing to lead Ballyea Warrior. Behind the front two, Lennies Eddie recovered from a bump at boxes to turn third but there was no stopping the pace-setter.

Clear by halfway, he continued to move with fluency throughout, eventually securing his second victory in the classic by three and a half lengths in 29.40. there was a two length gap to Lennies Eddie, who for the second week running had to depend on a photo finish to qualify as he held off Mydras Opinion and Coolemount Fame by a head and a short head.

Heat 8 – MONARCH MARCHES ON

Bouncing Monarch only strengthened his grip on the Derby market with another flawless display in Heat 8.

This was again an exhibition from the Michael O’Donovan trained Kirby Memorial champion as he broke smartly before showing superior early speed to Ballydoyle Tina on his inside.

Once clearing the bend, it was business as usual for Dave Fradgley’s brilliant son of Deerjet Sydney and Lemon Elsa. Ballydoyle ran hard in second but Bouncing Monarch cruised clear like a supercar moving through the gears.

By the third turn he was clear and in total command and he maintained his relentless gallop to eventually see off his pursuer by four lengths in a fastest of the session 29.11, just one spot slower than his opening round effort. Ballydoyle Tina had two lengths in hand on Firstpastthepost, who ran a big race in third.