The Irish Derby

Diamond blitzes Shelbourne records in Holland four-timer

Nov 3, 2024 • 2 min read

BOCKOS DIAMOND rewrote the history books at Shelbourne Park as round three of the BoyleSports Irish Greyhound Derby got off to a sensational start.

Sent off 1/5 favourite for the opening heat, Graham Holland's star immediately made his intentions clear as he took total command, initially passing through the third-bend sectional in a new best of 16.63sec, five spots better than his own mark set eight days earlier, and then crossed the line in 28.94sec, taking five again off Pestana's previous track record.

It was a 13th career victory in 14 starts for Bockos Diamond, the trainer going on to complete a heat four-timer courtesy of Cheap Sandwiches (29.18sec), Bombay Pat (29.30sec) and Untold Dollar (29.34sec).

Second quickest on the night was Brendan Matthews' Undulation (29.16sec) in the finale although it was a very mixed night for the trainer whose Bubbly Shadow sustained very serious injuries in the heat won by Liam Dowling's Ballymac Briar (29.68sec).

Brendan Murphy's Ballinabola Jim (29.39sec) completed a seven-timer in 29.39sec, while Gerry Holian's Extra Gain took a scrappy heat in 29.82sec.

Saturday's quarter-finals - first: 1 De Lahdedah, 2 Superfast Gorden, 3 Cheque For Cash, 4 March On Freddie (w), 5 Ballinabola Jim (w), 6 Bombay Pat (w).

Second: 1 Untold Dollar, 2 Ballymac Briar, 3 Singalong Dolly, 4 Mustang Fever (m), 5 A Lucky Julie (w), 6 Cheap Sandwiches (w).

Third: 1 Extra Gain, 2 Da Bold Falcon, 3 Undulation (m), 4 Is She There (m), 5 Boylesports Bob (w), 6 Carrick Aldo (w).

Fourth: 1 Callaway Knegare, 2 Hawkfield Blue, 3 Short Grip (m), 4 Scooby Pacemaker (m), 5 Bockos Diamond (w), 6 Seven Beach (w).

Bockos Diamond is now 6/4 ante-post favourite with sponsor BoyleSports with Bombay Pat (8/1) the only other quoted in single figures.

Click for BoyleSports' outright Irish Derby prices

Rd 3 Ht 1 - 1st T5 Bockos Diamond, time 28.94sec (track record)