TRAPRISE - Oh Boy, Explosive Derby is About to heat up

The best night’s racing on the entire calendar for many greyhound purists, the 2021 Boylesports Irish Greyhound Derby is now reduced to a single programme with just 48 aspiring champions remaining to the third round this Saturday at Shelbourne Park.

Eight heats will see the Derby reach the quarter-final stage and amongst a local challenge which remains excitingly strong, outright favourite Explosive Boy (Good News-Delightful Girl) remains at the head of the market following another slick display while dominating his second-round heat on Saturday.

Again, housed in trap 4 for Heat 14, the Pat Guilfoyle star found another smart break and immediately displaying the best early dash, took a near three-length lead to the opening bend over Buttsys Boy. Easing further clear while powering along the back-straight, Explosive Boy led by five lengths around the closing turns and ceding only minor ground thereafter held a commanding three and a half lengths over the running-on No Green Dye in a brilliant 29.40 for the 550-yard trip.

That fastest winning time was recorded on three occasions in the second round and in a heat which brought the elimination of Salmic Sunset, Liam Dowling’s brilliant bitch Ballymac Ariel matched the effort of Explosive Boy, setting up a clash of titans as these big outright fancies face-off in a treacherous Heat 4 this week.

An inside seed, Explosive Boy has been drawn in trap 4 for the third time in the Derby but being on the immediate left of Ballymac Ariel, that berth would look quite appealing if not for the presence of unbeaten Derby runner Jacob Tashadelek, who posted 29.50 for Con Guiney on Saturday, in trap 4.

The pressure will be on for the Guilfoyle favourite and a repeat of his recent smart breaks will be the minimum requirement, however, this intriguing heat houses the lingering Derby hopes of a further local challenger following another game qualifying performance from Karen Murphy’s Trap Joey (Droopys Jet-Mt Heaton Daisy).

The Roscrea challenger will contest from trap 2 and on the evidence of his latest runner-up display, he can hold realistic claims to advance if commanding the rails position to the opening bend, just as he did on Saturday.

From the same trap 2, Trap Joey tracked winner Deadly Destroyer to the first bend before all rivals became embroiled in bumping behind the leader. Settled in single file to halfway, the Murphy charge raced in third place to the closing bends but impressed greatly on the home stretch when advancing past Rural Star for a strong staying second, ten lengths adrift of Deadly Destroyer in 29.56. A most brave effort, clearer passage this week can see Trap Joey complicate his hot third round heat for more lauded rivals.

It had been suggested here that William Rigney & Richard Brown’s All About Ted (Kinloch Brae-Enable) could progress markedly for his return to action when second in the opening round of the Derby and claiming victory in Heat 8 on Friday, the Peter Cronin trained star announced his realistic designs on the classic.

Quicker to stride from trap 6 this time, the Rathcabbin speedster took a one-length lead to the opening bend when pursued by Irish St Leger winner Epic Hero. The duo would dominate the heat throughout when serving up a high-class buckle but always in command, All About Ted ably defended that same one length margin to the line while posting a fast 29.61.

A wide seed, All About Ted has again been drawn in trap 6 for this week’s Heat 5 and holds every chance of a repeat victory, despite the presence of second round scorers Deadly Destroyer and Singalong Sally. However, the heat houses yet another local Derby survivor with Gunboat Showman in trap 5!

Sean Kenny’s Gunboat Showman (Laughil Blake-Dynamic Trend) was eye-catching when battling his way to a qualifying third on opening night and was even more so on Friday when filling third once again, behind two of the sports most prolific elite performers.

Again, a touch unbalanced upon exiting trap 5, the Borrisoleigh charge quickly recovered full stride to challenge on the outside of Scooby Princess approaching the bend. Checked when turning, Gunboat Showman was eased wide while surrendering second to Ballymac Wild on the run to the back-straight. That trio raced in single file to the closing bends with the Kenny powerhouse displaying all the pace of the leading duo and Gunboat Showman would retain his third place to the line despite being forced wide into the straight when beaten four and a half lengths to Scooby Princess in the fastest time of 29.40.

There is little doubt that he faces a stiff task in Heat 5 this week as he will duel with All About Ted for command of the outside but a 200-1 quote from the sponsors is almost as generous as it is disrespectful following his latest performance, and Gunboat Showman retains realistic claims to advance, especially if exiting traps on a more balanced stride.

Completing our list of local survivors is another from the Moneygalll kennels of Pat Guilfoyle as Michael Hogan’s inexperienced Grangeview Mac (Balymac Best-Portumna West) produced a stunning effort in defeat when filling third in a bumpy Heat 7 on Friday.

Slower to stride from trap 2 this week, the Michael Hogan prospect disputed last place around the opening bends when significantly bumped and appeared set for elimination when fifth to the back-straight. However, his latent raw speed saw the October 2019 pup pass a brace of rivals before reaching the home stretch and huge encouragement can be drawn from his eleven length third to sizzler in 30.01. Drawn in trap 2 for Saturday’s concluding Heat 8, he remains an unexposed fly in the Derby ointment and is selected to advance in more forward fashion this time.

Mary is quite simply, scary!

Never surprising to see future stars from the kennels of Pat Guilfoyle return stunning debut performances, the opening act of Saturday’s meeting at Limerick saw a young March 2020 bitch pup send shockwaves through the sport as news of an incredulous 28.10 for 525 yards spread throughout the tracks of Ireland following the first career start of Magical Mary (Droopys Jet-Mystical Moll).

A first runner from the second litter of Eoin Troy’s brilliant Mystical Moll, Magical Mary made a somewhat ponderous start from trap 1 and was made to battle for a narrow first bend lead when bravely defending her rails pitch. Edging to the front while turning however, what followed was scarcely believable!

Bounding clear with a most pleasing and smooth galloping gait, the Pat Guilfoyle owned, and trained starlet stretched clear of hapless rivals throughout a fourteen-length victory in the ON2 525 and left all in attendance at Limerick utterly astounded when the clock flashed up 28.10!

The track at Limerick stands just two lengths faster at 27.95 and that’s with many of the sport’s most prolific all-agers contesting on the Dock Road over the past decade. As rare as she is clearly gifted, Magical Mary, may have the racing world at her paws!