PLUNGE BREAKS IRISH HEARTS WITH DERBY SUCCESS

Ian Fortune

Droopys Plunge handed Patrick Janssens a second Star Sports/ TRC English Derby title at a packed Towcester on Saturday night, upsetting the huge Irish contingent who were counting on one of the five Irish trained finalists to do the business.

This was a dramatic contest with plot twists aplenty but ultimately Droopys Plunge did exactly what was needed to emerge a tremendous winner for the Three Tall Men Syndicate and the aforementioned Janssens.

This would be a race to remember with a stellar line-up. De Lahdedah and Bockos Diamond were both chasing history but it wasn’t meant to be. Just over two lengths would separate the entire field at the line but 10-1 chance Droopys Plunge would emerge triumphant, aided by a flying start and a huge finishing flourish, to deny Bockos Diamond and De Lahdedah.

The knowledgeable crowd knew the start was going to be of great importance and so it proved with Droopy Plunge rocketing from trap one. De Lahdedah also broke fast, in contrast to Sole Mio, Cheap Sandwiches and Bockos Diamond.

Bombay Pat, while not fast away, was better at the traps than normal and he would display massive pace to go to the front on the bend. Bockos Diamond would also fly into the bend to turn second, while Droopys Plunge lost his pitch, eventually turning fourth as Cheap Sandwiches moved into third.

Importantly, De Lahdedah also lost his position with Sole Mio getting in his way on the corner. It was now race on.

Graham Holland had the front three as they entered the back straight with Bombay Pat a length in front, although Bockos Diamond was now in full flow. Cheap Sandwiches, despite being forced to check wide on the opening bend, somehow took over in third but there was a great shadow looking over the trio with the hugely strong Droopys Plunge sitting in fourth on the fence. Sole Mio was next with De Lahdedah now at the tail of the field after losing his position.

Bockos Diamond was under severe pressure but the Irish Derby champ put in a huge charge to the third turn to get upsides Bombay Pat. The pair disputed the lead around bends three and four but both were under pressure from behind. Cheap Sandwiches drew closer on the outside but Droopys Plunge was the real threat.

Bockos Diamond hit the front turning for home and, momentarily, it seemed as though he was going to do it but Droopys Plunge stuck to the fence, finishing himself with a glorious passage. He didn’t need a second invite.

Going to the front halfway up the run-in, he would emerge a tremendous length and a half scorer in 28.76. Bockos Diamond clung for on second with De Lahdedah producing an incredible effort from off the back to finish just a short head away in third. There was another short head to Cheap Sandiwches and a short head to Sole Mio in fifth, while Bombay Pat was just a half length adrift in last.

It had been a truly remarkable classic for the Irish but it just wasn’t meant to be. Droopys Plunge, a greyhound that began his career around Curraheen Park last year, winning in the Denis Linehan Solicitors Open Unraced Stake was now under the care of a Belgian, Patrick Janssens, and he was understandably in joyous form after the contest. 

A FAYPOINT DOUBLE

There had been Irish success earlier on the card with Faypoint Harvey and Faypoint Susie winning the first two races for Graham Holland.

Ultimately it was a disappointing night in Northamptonshire for those travelling over from the emerald isle.