UK raider Freddie stars on second night of Irish Derby
MARCH ON FREDDIE put down a huge BoyleSports Irish Derby marker with a brilliant best-of-round 29.19sec victory in heat 18 over 550 yards at Shelbourne Park on Saturday.
David Mullins' UK raider was sent off 3-10 favourite and made those odds look generous in the extreme as he led into the turn and then really turned it on along the back straight.
None of his rivals, the closest pursuer of whom was Irish Leger runner-up Miami King, could live with him as he came home seven lengths to the good in a time only one spot slower than Seven Beach's best-of-year in August.
English Derby runner-up Boylesports Bob had gone only six spots slower in the preceding heat as he registered a third first round victory for trainer Paul Hennessy.
On a night when Untold Dollar's 29.55sec heat 22 victory - a fourth for Graham Holland in round one - from trap three was the only one from a greyhound not drawn four, five or six, training honours went to Pat Guilfoyle who landed a double with Knockeen Dazzler (29.72sec) and Mustang Fever (29.86sec).
Rd 1 Ht 14 - 1st T4 Deelish Nora, winning time 29.71sec
Veteran trainer John McGee was on the mark as his Deelish Nora showed fine early pace and was just able to clear her rivals to take a decisive first bend lead. Six lengths clear at halfway, she was closed down rapidly by Castleivy Ginge between the last two bends but found plenty on the run-in. At the line, she was two lengths to the good of that rival in posting 29.71sec with favourite Ballymac Briar third.
Rd 1 Ht 15 - 1st T6 Boylesports Bob, winning time 29.25sec
Boylesports Bob powered through late to claim victory in a race also notable for the ending of Tuono Charlie's winning sequence at 16 although his six-bend stamina ensured he qualified. Irish Oaks finalist Short Grip set the early fractions but Boylesports Bob recovered from a tardy start to turn in third, well within striking distance. He passed Poets Dawn to take second approaching the penultimate turn then powered past Short Grip on the run-in for a two lengths victory in 29.39sec with Tuono Charlie another length away third.
Rd 1 Ht 16 - 1st T6 March On Freddie, winning time 29.19sec
Anything litter-brother Bockos Diamond could do 24 hours earlier, March On Freddie proved more than to matching with an electrifying performance which set the Irish Derby alight. David Mullins' UK challenger showed good early pace to lead up and, after seeming to feel his way around the first couple of bends a little, he really extended along the back straight and did not relent. At the line, he was seven and a half lengths clear of the useful Miami King in clocking a rapid 29.19sec, the best of the first round, with Syd Zafiro two lengths back in third.
Rd 1 Ht 17 - 1st T6 Tribal Syd, winning time 29.50sec
There was a third successive winning odds-on favourite from trap six with Tribal Syd racing to a comfortable success. The Tipperary Cup winner was out-trapped by Southwood Stan but beat that rival to the turn and went away for a four and half lengths success in 29.50sec with Towcester Juvenile champion Faypoint Harvey always third and another length back.
Rd 1 Ht 18 - 1st T4 Singalong Dolly, winning time 29.39sec
Irish Cesarewitch heroine Singalong Dolly only came into the Irish Derby as a reserve but belied odds of 14/1 with a superb success. Pat Buckley's bitch took a flier from four and the writing was on the wall for her rivals when she cleared odds-on Hawkfield Blue at the opening turn, going on to beat English Derby finalist Ballymac Gizmo by four lengths in 29.39sec. Hawkfield Blue, denied the lead, was pressured late but held third by a head from Deadly Disco.
Rd 1 Ht 19 - 1st T5 Mustang Fever, winning time 29.86sec
Mustang Fever just pipped Crokers Rocket and Grangeclare Lady in a thrilling three-way finish. Grangeclare Lady took the field along but was challenged by Mustang Fever throughout the second half of the contest. Initially denied when looking to the inside route, Mustang Fever came up the centre of the track to catch a tiring Grangeclare Lady only for 50/1 rank outsider Crokers Rocket to flash home out wide. The photo revealed a head victory for Mustang Fever in 29.86sec with Grangeclare Lady a neck back in third.
Rd 1 Ht 20 - 1st T6 Ballinabola Jim, winning time 29.40sec
English Derby champion De Lahdedah was turned over at odds of 1/5 as Ballinabola Jim recorded a fifth successive victory. Having gone unbeaten through the recent Yvonne Barry 600, he passed crowding rivals to lead early in the back straight and was in command from that point, going on to Denos Bay by four lengths in 29.40sec. Little went right for De Lahdedah who was initially chopped for room when challenging at the opening turn and then constantly switched positions looking for a way through. He finally got in the clear off the last to take third.
Rd 1 Ht 21 - 1st T6 Knockeen Dazzler, winning time 29.72sec
Kirby Memorial winner Knockeen Dazzler made a successful debut for Pat Guilfoyle but ultimately had to dig in to secure victory. He paced up well to lead Dromana Dano round the first bend and was some four lengths clear at the third bend but UK raider Arthur Cornflake moved into second at that point and began to close. He edged nearer to the leader with every stride with Dromana Dano also rallying but Knockeen Dazzler prevailed by three-quarters of a length and a length in 29.72sec.
Rd 1 Ht 22 - 1st T3 Untold Dollar, winning time 29.55sec
Untold Dollar, winner of the Monmore Puppy Derby earlier in the year when based in the UK, just pipped long-time leader Glengar Martha in a real thriller. It was far from straightforward for him, however, as he was initially forced to check when challenging at the opening bend with the door also shut on him going into to the third. However, Glengar Martha swung wide into the home straight and there was plenty of room for inside-tending Untold Dollar to rally one final time, getting up for a had victory in 29.55sec with Hot Wood third.
Rd 1 Ht 23 - 1st T4 Clonfert Annie, winning time 29.91sec
Clonfert Annie produced a whirlwind finish to shock odds-on Born To Perform who had driven the third bend to regain a lead she had only relinquished at halfway. Clonfert Annie was only fourth at that point but flew up the run-in to shock favourite backers as she prevailed by a neck in 29.91sec, with Bonkersinyonkers, who had led narrowly from halfway to the third bend, another two and a half lengths back.
Rd 1 Ht 24 - 1st T4 In Good Time, winning time 29.63sec
An extraordinary performance from Deadly Choice was only good for second behind In Good Time who produced a fine all-round display. Bartlemy Cop barged In Good Time out of the way to lead round the opening turn but was passed by that rival at halfway and the race was quickly put to bed. However, in behind Deadly Choice was making giant strides having totally walked out of traps to trail the field. Fifth at the second bend, he powered into third by the end of the back straight then second at three-quarters and, although In Good Time proved a bridge too far, his effort in getting within two lengths of the 29.63sec winner should not be underestimated. Early leader Bartlemy Cop was five lengths away in third.
Rd 1 Ht 25 - 1st T4 Is She There, winning time 29.83sec
The gamest of victories for Is She There who first bravely battled to go round the first bend in front then rallied to get back on top having been headed by Quarry Boy along the back straight. The winner was well in command ultimately as she prevailed by a length and a half in clocking 29.83sec with Prince Naseem another length away in third.
Rd 1 Ht 26 - 1st T4 Benalmadena Puma, winning time 30.03sec
The final heat of the first round proved the most eventful of all 26, most notably with Laurels champion Crafty Shivoo crashing out after a major coming together with Cheap Sandwiches with Not A Wink then also getting involved. Ballyhimikin Leo was left in front but Benalmadena Puma closed rapidly into the third bend, went on before the fourth and stayed on strongly to win by three and a half lengths from Cheap Sandwiches, who ran on powerfully after his early travails, in 30.03. Ballyhimikin Leo was third.