Diamond and Pat shine as Holland starts with a treble

BOCKOS DIAMOND justified his position as outright favourite by setting the first night standard in the BoyleSports Irish Greyhound Derby over 550 yards at Shelbourne Park on Friday.

A modest start in heat two proved only a temporary blip as he flew round in 29.23sec with trainer Graham Holland going on to complete a treble after end-of-meeting victories for Clona Pat and Bombay Pat, the last-named's 29.34sec particularly noteworthy in the last race of the night.

Bockos Diamond is now 4/1 outright with the sponsor BoyleSports, with Bombay Pat 6/1.

Rd 1 Ht 1 - 1st T2 Breaghmore Dice, winning time 29.77sec

14/1 outsider Breaghmore Dice made the most of a fast start to land a shock victory in the opener. A fast start quickly had him in front, he and closest pursuer De Foxy Devil were then left clear when Toolmaker Note in four ran off at the first bend causing issues for those out wide. That included odds-on Coosane Pickles who was repeatedly denied a run before claiming fourth late on and relying on being one of the fastest 18 of those to progress. Up front, Breaghmore Dice scored by two lengths and the same from De Foxy Devil and Fairy Footsteps in 29.77sec.

Rd 1 Ht 2 - 1st T5 Bockos Diamond, winning time 29.23sec

Ante-post favourite Bockos Diamond was only fifth out of traps but tore to the bend to take early control and went on to put in an exhibition performance. Some four lengths to the good entering the back straight, he went through the third bend sectional in 16.85sec and came home six lengths ahead of Hawkfield Abbie in 29.23sec, the third fastest time of 2024, with Beanos Lodge third and a taken-off-his-feet Ryhope Beach fourth. It was an 11th win in 12 career starts for a greyhound who has already claimed three titles.

Rd 1 Ht 3 - 1st T1 Kapuka Warrior, winning time 29.55sec

Kapuka Warrior did not make it past opening night in his first Irish Derby tilt in 2023 but fared much better this time courtesy of a fine all-round display. He broke well from trap one and was left with a tidy advantage when closest pursuer Daraghs Sydney eased at the first turn. Never seriously threatened afterwards, the leader pulled clear from the third bend to beat a staying on Maireads Prince by six lengths in 29.55sec with Clona Stand third and Daraghs Sydney fourth.

Rd 1 Ht 4 - 1st T5 Carrick Aldo, winning time 29.42sec

Winner of the 2023 Irish Sprint Cup at Dundalk and a finalist in the two-bend classic this year, Carrick Aldo made a winning competitive debut over 550 yards. Cheque For Cash was sent off favourite ahead of him and broke in front but, crucially, moved middle and into trouble soon after leaving trap one, while Carrick Aldo enjoyed a solo to the bend and utilised his sprint pace to lead up. Clocking 16.92sec to the third bend, he saw out the trip well to beat Cheque For Cash by four lengths in 29.42sec with fully eight lengths back to Daleroad Devon in third.

Rd 1 Ht 5 - 1st T6 Seven Beach, winning time 29.50sec

Jennifer O'Donnell, who has sent out the last two Irish Derby winners in the shape of litter-brothers Born Warrior and The Other Kobe, was on the mark with Seven Beach although it was a mighty close thing in the end. Sent off the 4-7 favourite, last year's semi-finalist broke well and disputed early with Droopys Metaphor before going on at halfway. However, A Lucky Julie, showing no signs of needing her first race since dead-heating with Fleadh Saraide in the Irish Oaks final back in June, was in full flow by the third bend and rattled home to force a photo, going down by the minimum margin in 29.50sec with Droopys Metaphor two and a half lengths away in third.

Rd 1 Ht 6 - 1st T3 Jaytee Craze, winning time 29.63sec

Irish St Leger finalist Jaytee Craze led for almost all of the contest in a powerful display. He broke in front but did not quite have the legs to clear Rushy Meadows at the opening turn, the pair coming together before Jaytee Craze again asserted into the back straight. Another bump at halfway saw Rushy Meadows briefly drop back as Jaytee Craze took full command from the third turn, going on to beat Dark Dilemma by four lengths in 29.63sec. Rushy Meadows was third with Produce champion and UK Select Stakes winner Unanimouspanther, surprisingly only in as a reserve, left waiting on a possible fourth-place qualification.

Rd 1 Ht 7 - 1st T5 Dynamic Force, winning time 29.67sec

Paul Hennessy became the first trainer to double up in the 2024 BoyleSports Irish Derby when Dynamic Force immediately followed kennelmate Jaytee Craze's victory. The winner was only moderately away as Up Front Magic broke best on his outer but Dynamic Force went up well to the bend to hit the front. The recent Bart Leahy Memorial winner at Curraheen Park was never threatened from that point and came home two and a half lengths clear of a very game Up Front Magic in 29.67sec with Whyaye Bonnylad shading Newport Pier for third.

Rd 1 Ht 8 - 1st T6 Magical Sapphire, winning time 29.91sec

Magical Sapphire made it four wins in four starts over the course and distance when coming out on top in what proved a fairly scrappy contest. The winner enjoyed a decent run early whilst others jostled for racing room, turned second behind outsider Tinahue Pappone and loomed up to challenge at three-quarters. It was hard work getting past and the pack closed but Magical Sapphire ultimately asserted and went on to beat Superfast Gorden and Undulation, who both endured troubled runs, in 29.91sec.

Rd 1 Ht 9 - 1st T4 Ballymac Danica, winning time 29.82sec

Ballymac Danica, who broke the Limerick 525 yards track record in the opening round of the Kirby Memorial, made all to land odds of 4/6. Having just her third run back from a lengthy break, she showed the benefit of the previous two when comfortably seeing off Farney Chime by five and a half lengths in 29.82sec with Robbies Galaxy performing wonders to qualify in third having been last after serious first bend trouble.

Rd 1 Ht 10 - 1st T5 Down To Business, winning time 29.66sec

Down To Business was another heat winner to go from the front. He showed just enough early pace after a good break to clear fast-up Droopys Carbine at the first bend and always seemed to have the measure of his rivals from that point. Outsider Glitzy Magic stayed on to finish a two lengths second behind the 29.66sec winner with Droopys Carbine just holding favourite Randolph Scotts for third.

Rd 1 Ht 11 - 1st T6 Tarsna Maasai, winning time 29.52sec

Tarsna Maasai, whose only defeat in his previous five starts had come when second behind the brilliant Bombay Pat in the Maiden Derby final at the start of the month, underlined the merit of that form. Juvenile Derby champion Callaway Knegare, sent off a shade of odds-on, was slowly away and facing a battle to qualify from the off as Tarsna Maasai led the field along. Bubbly Shadow, who as Merits Inclusion finished second in the Kirby Memorial, made a big move along the back only to be chopped for room when challenging at the third bend. That was basically race over with Tarsna Maasai going away again to beat Bubbly Shadow by four lengths in 29.52sec with Callaway Knegare flying late to claim the vital third spot.  

Rd 1 Ht 12 - 1st T4 Clona Duke, winning time 29.66sec

Graham Holland emulated Paul Hennessy by completing a first night double when 2022 Juvenile Derby champion Clona Duke rolled back the years. He had not raced since finishing second to kennelmate Clonbrien Treaty in the Easter Cup final in April but showed few signs of rustiness as he made all. A couple of lengths clear into the opening turn, he emerged some five lengths ahead out of it after general scrimmaging in behind and faded only a little late on. Da Bold Falcon did close him down to three lengths as he crossed the line in 29.66sec but it was a comfortable success with Thats It Jack taking third.

Rd 1 Ht 13 - 1st T6 Bombay Pat, winning time 29.34sec

Bombay Pat made sure the night ended with a bang by producing a superb display despite missing a beat at the start as Graham Holland claimed training honours with a treble. The Maiden Derby champion quickly recovered from his tardy exit with a brilliant burst of early pace as he left his rivals toiling. Racing only against the clock, he went through the third bend sectional point in 16.93sec and came home five and a half lengths clear of Carmac King in 29.34sec. Ower Cracker was third two lengths away with Coolavanny Otto completing after a first bend tumble.