Diamond blitzes Shelbourne records in Holland four-timer

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.

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

Bockos Diamond simply took the breath away with what must be close to the perfect greyhound performance as round three was launched in almost unbelievable fashion. In front a split second after leaving traps, Graham Holland's star quickly went clear from Carrick Aldo, himself well ahead of the rest by the first bend, and was then only racing the clock. By going through the third bend sectional point in 16.63sec, five spots faster his previous record-setting round two time when he finished four spots outside the overall record, Bockos Diamond confirmed Pestana's 28.99sec mark was under threat and so it proved. At the line, he stopped the clock in 28.94sec to an audible gasp from the crowd as he scored by three lengths from an incredibly gallant Carrick Also with always-third Superfast Gorden a further four lengths away. Follow that ….. 

Rd 3 Ht 2 - 1st T1 Ballymac Briar, time 29.68sec

Heat two was no less dramatic than the opener but for differing reasons with first serious trouble rounding bends one and two ending the chances of strongly-fancied duo Bubbly Shadow and Tarnsa Maasai then the result going to a three-way photo. Ballymac Briar had gone up quickly on the inside and railed into a definite lead at the turn while others tangled with De Lahdedah and Scooby Pacemaker pursuing The race tightened up at three-quarters with Scooby Pacemaker briefly looking the chief threat but Ballymac Briar kept finding and held him at bay by a head in 29.68sec with De Lahdedah a short-head back in third. Sterling late work from Deadly Choice was only good enough for fourth, another length away. 

Rd 3 Ht 3 - 1st T1 Untold Dollar, time 29.34sec

Untold Dollar, just last going into the first bend, barged through in the depleted field to lead coming out of it as he went on to complete a double for Graham Holland. The 11/10 second favourite quickly put the race to bed, drawing away to beat market leader Seven Beach, who had to ride a heavy first bend bump before getting back on an even keel, by six lengths in 29.34sec. Is She There qualified in third half a length away.

Rd 3 Ht 4 - 1st T3 Extra Gain, time 29.82sec

The slowest heat of the round but that will not concern the connections of the three who made it through including 25/1 winner Extra Gain. The section of the race from just before the first bend to approaching halfway saw first March On Freddie, the Grangeclare Lady, briefly Tuono Charlie, Grangeclare Lady again and, finally, Short Grip lead amid chaotic traffic issues. Ultimately, Short Grip would maintain the advantage, holding a rallying March On Freddie and A Lucky Julie by half a length and the same in 29.86sec with a very unlucky Tuono Charlie just eliminated in fourth despite a late charge.

Rd 3 Ht 5 - 1st T6 Ballinabola Jim, time 29.39sec

Ballinabola Jim completed a magnificent seven-timer. Led into the bend by Hot Wood, he rode crowding to assert before the second turn and had opened up a lead of a couple of lengths by the third. It was not quite all over as Da Bold Falcon drove through into second behind him and closed all the way to the line with Ballinabola Jim holding on by half a length in 29.39sec. It was three lengths back to dead-heaters Hot Wood and Singalong Dolly with the last-named getting the last qualifying position on a coin-toss.

Rd 3 Ht 6 - 1st T6 Bombay Pat, time 29.30sec

A third winner on the night for Graham Holland as Bombay Pat proved much the strongest all-round. Short Grip flew from traps to lead and held the advantage to near the third bend where she was challenged on both flanks by the eventual winner and Callaway Knegare. Bombay Pat just got first crack and also took the outside route whereas Callaway Knegare was stopped in his run on the rails and had to regather himself. By that time, Bombay Pat was long gone as he scored by two and a half lengths from Short Grip in 29.30sec, with Callaway Knegare a further length back.

Rd 3 Ht 7 - 1st T6 Cheap Sandwiches, time 29.18sec

Different heat, same outcome in the shape of a Graham Holland winner. This time it was Cheap Sandwiches whose early path was smoothed by Blackeyed Turbo and Mustang Fever on his immediate inside having a coming together out of traps allowing him to turn close behind Hawkfield Blue. Asserting into the back straight, he quickly went clear and beat the early pacesetter by three lengths in a superb 29.18sec with Mustang Fever recovering from her early travails to take third, another three lengths away.

Rd 3 Ht 8 - 1st T5 Undulation, time 29.16sec

A poignant victory for Undulation, whose trainer Brendan Matthews had lost his daughter Jacqueline Conlon earlier in the day.  The winner raced in midfield on the run to the bend, turned third and had leader Cheque For Cash in her sights early in the back straight. It was only a matter of time before she hit the front, doing so at halfway and even the strong Boylesports Bob, who followed her through, could make no decisive impression as she scored by a length in a second-best-of-night 29.16sec. Cheque For Cash held on for third.