MIXED LUCK FOR IRISH AT TOWCESTER AS DIAMOND SURVIVES A FRIGHT
Ian Fortune
There were mixed fortunes for the Irish at Towcester on Friday night as the Star Sports/ TRC English Derby got underway.
In all, 13 greyhounds representing these shores lined out and 7 of them progressed including the red-hot favourite for outright glory, Bockos Diamond, while his kennel companion Val Tashadelek set the standard on the night as their handler Graham Holland completed a fine hat trick.
DIAMOND BACK TO WINNING WAYS
Bockos Diamond was expected to emerge a comfortable winner of Heat 6 but had to work a little harder than many expected to justify his lofty position in the market.
He certainly didn’t fly from traps and was playing catchup from the start with strong stayer Killieford Goram absolutely rocketing from trap four.
It meant that Bockos Diamond had to attempt to get around that rival on the turn. Despite taking a couple of bumps in the process, he was on terms entering the back straight before putting his foot down into the third turn.
Building a decisive advantage, Bockos Diamond would coast home to hold the rallying Killieford Goram by a length in 29.23.
VAL SETS THE STANDARD
Val Tashadelek was subject to plenty of support in Heat 9 and duly obliged from an ideal draw on the rail.
Charging into the turn, he took charge before easing on to win by three parts of a length from the persistent Romeo Tomcat in 28.81.
SANDWICHES TOO HOT
Graham Holland would complete a treble in the last of the ten heats with his Boylesports Irish Greyhound Derby runner-up Cheap Sandwiches showing hi class to justify odds of 1-5.
Although headed at traps, he flew into the turn to assert on the outside of the track. The brilliant son of Burgess Bucks would go on to beat Glory Lord by two lengths in 28.91.
CRAZE GIVES IRISH PERFECT START
Jaytee Craze gave Ireland the perfect start, storming home to lead late for Paul Hennessy.
Mever far off the pace, despite finding little room on the turn, he took over from long-time leader Salacres Tipster on the run in to win by a length from the staying on Droopys Bookem in 29.24.
PEBB LOOKS A PROSPECT
Ireland’s third winner on the night was Ballymac Pebb as he belied his experience, showing great track craft and determination to win Heat for Liam Dowling.
Incredibly, the son of Doolin Duke was making his four bend debut but it was scarcely evident.
He was a little squeezed in the early yards and found himself in behind his rivals into the turn but importantly he worked his way to the fence. Scraping the paint off the fence throughout, he improved his position to enter the back straight in third before pouncing on the run in. Slipping up the inside of Swords Don at the final turn, he would ease on to score by a length from Prince Naseem in 29.31.
Sadly, Swords Don and Riverside Pingu failed to progress for Graham Holland.
CHARGER SAFELY THROUGH
Bubbly Charger qualified in second in Heat 2 for Brendan Matthews.
The warm favourite Tiffield Tarquin flashed from the outside box to make all, cutting off Bubbly Charger on the turn. He would remain in second, however, eventually going down by almost seven lengths. The winner stopped the clock in 28.94. Sadly, Untold Rufiyaa carried little luck in this contest. David Byrne’s charge would finish fourth.
BIG RUN FROM DIEGO IN DEFEAT
Ireland lost two representatives in Heat 3 with both Ballymac Sorrell and Ballymac Rapid failing to make the frame.
Hello Diego did progress, however. The Maiden Derby champ missed the start and was off the pace for much of the way before flying home to grab second behind the trap to line winner Teejays Chelm. Teejays Chelm would win by a length and a quarter in 29.27.
DREADFUL LUCK FOR SCOTTS
There was heartbreak in Heat 4 as Randolph Scotts lost his action when forced to check up at the opening bend when disputing second spot.
He would eventually finish tailed off, although he did continue to gallop suggesting the issue is muscular.