Jim sets Saturday standard as run-off delays third round draw
BALLINABOLA JIM produced the run of Saturday night in round two of the BoyleSports Irish Derby over 550 yards at Shelbourne Park.
Completing a six-timer, Brendan Murphy‘s dog was soon in control and came home nine and a half lengths clear of Callaway Knegare in a superb 29.07sec.
Next best was the 29.16sec from shock 16-1 winner Scooby Pacemaker in heat 15, trained by dual Derby winning handler Jennifer O’Donnell.
The race was also notable for a dead-heat for third between Arthur Cornflake and Dashing Toro with the duo set for a run-off meaning the third round draw has been delayed.
Brendan Matthews’ Bubbly Shadow was another to impress when taking heat 14 in 29.20sec where odds-on Boylesports Bob qualified in third after a troubled run.
The Saturday Derby session had started with Liam Dowling’s English Derby champion De Lahdedah registering his first victory since with a fluent 29.30sec success in heat nine.
There was a double for Graham Holland courtesy of Cheap Sandwiches (29.21sec) and Bombay Pat (29.41sec)
Other heat winners were Pat Buckley’s Beanos Podge (29.42sec) and Shea Campbell’s Robbies Galaxy (29.66sec).
Rd 2 Ht 9 - 1st T1 De Lahdedah, winning time 29.30sec
De Lahdedah served a timely reminder that is should not be overlooked with the English Derby champion leading throughout to register a first victory since Towcester. Making a superb start from trap one, he was soon in control and, although running wide along the back straight, was never threatened. He was initially pursued by Bartlemy Cop until that rival lost momentum at the third bend where Extra Gain moved into second and ultimately got within two and a half lengths of the 29.30sec winner with Clonfert Annie taking third.
Rd 2 Ht 10 - 1st T1 Beanos Podge, winning time 29.42sec
Pat Buckley claimed a one-two with Beanos Podge leading home kennelmate Singalong Dolly. Whyaye Bonnylad trapped in front and led but had steered a middle course throughout and, when he did so at the third bend, Beanos Podge seized the opportunity. The pair had a brief coming-together allowing Singalong Dolly to close but Beanos Podge was soon on an even keel again and came home three lengths clear of her in 29.42sec with Whyaye Bonnylad just half a length away in third.
Rd 2 Ht 11 - 1st T6 Robbies Galaxy, winning time 29.66sec
Robbies Galaxy was last out of traps but timed his challenge to perfection as he got up in the very last stride in a real head-bobber. After crowding slightly with fast-starting Prince Naseem, Southwood Stan paced up to lead with both Superfast Gorden and Robbies Galaxy avoiding the worst of first bend trouble to go off in pursuit. Superfast Gorden made his move between turns three and four but it was tough work getting past Southwood Stan and, with the pair locked together, Robbies Galaxy pounced on the outside. The photo showed he had prevailed by a short-head from Superfast Gorden in 29.66sec with the same distance back to Southwood Stan in third.
Rd 2 Ht 12 - 1st T6 Bombay Pat, winning time 29.41sec
Bombay Pat quickly recovered from a less-than-stellar start to ultimately comfortably justify odds-on favouritism. Down To Business was first to show and led to near the second bend but Maiden Derby champion Bombay Pat went on at that point and stretched away to win by four lengths in 29.41sec with Blackeyed Turbo, who had been last entering the back straight, producing a big second half move to claim third another three lengths adrift.
Rd 2 Ht 13 - 1st T6 Ballinabola Jim, winning time 29.07sec
The run of Saturday night came from 'Big Jim' as Ballinabola Jim completed a six-timer. He was smartly into stride on the outside whereas odds-on Callaway Knegare collided with Quarry Boy out of traps and immediately trailed the field. The race was effectively over as a contest when Ballinabola Jim made the bend in front with the recent Yvonne Barry 600 winner running right away from his rivals. Mustang Fever held second for much of the journey but Callaway Knegare powered through late to claim second from her in a photo, albeit some nine and a half lengths behind the superb 29.07sec winner.
Rd 2 Ht 14 - 1st T3 Bubbly Shadow, winning time 29.24sec
A superb all-round performance saw Kirby Memorial runner-up Bubbly Shadow advertise his claims for Derby glory. Only moderately away as Is She There pinged, Bubbly Shadow showed excellent early pace to lead before the turn then opened up in tremendous style along the back straight to put the race to bed. Continuing to power on, he came home fully six lengths clear of Is She There in posting 29.24sec with Boylesports Bob recovering from first bend trouble which saw him trail the field to take third, another head away.
Rd 2 Ht 15 - 1st T5 Scooby Pacemaker, winning time 29.16sec
Scooby Pacemaker belied odds of 16-1 with an authoritative performance. He cut across then cleared his rivals from trap five pursued initially by Arthur Cornflake then when powerful Deadly Choice moved into second at the penultimate turn, he comfortably held that rival at bay by three lengths in clocking an excellent 29.16sec. There was drama in terms of the third qualifying position with Arthur Cornflake being joined on the line by Dashing Toro, who ultimately progressed when he was the only greyhound presented for a Tuesday run-off with UK-based Arthur Cornflake unable to return.
Rd 2 Ht 16 - 1st T6 Cheap Sandwiches, winning time 29.20sec
Cheap Sandwiches quickly took control in a depleted line-up which had been reduced to four runners following the withdrawals of Ballymac Danica and Hello Diego. A third winner of the round for trainer Graham Holland, Cheap Sandwiches led up and went on to beat always prominent Hot Wood by four lengths in 29.20sec with Ballymac Briar six lengths away in third having lost ground when forced to check as he challenged for second at the penultimate turn.