DENIRO AND ACE OBLIGE FOR IRISH IN TOWCESTER

Ian Fortune

The Irish has another successful night at Towcester on Saturday night with eight of a possible twelve members of the raiding party successfully earning a place in the semi-finals of the Star Sports & Orchestrate English Greyhound Derby.

Both Epic Ace and Ballymac Deniro were brilliant in victory with the latter setting a strong standard with a superb 28.21, although Epic Ace also impressed. The two remaining heats went to the home team with flying femalesScooby The Lady and Strike It Skye impressing but a few Irish caught the eye in defeat behind them.

DENIRO TOO HOT TO HANDLE

Ballymac Deniro set the standard, however.

The signs were there that he was due a big run and it was soon evident he was going to take some stopping in Heat 3. Making his best start of the classic, the Juvenile Classic champion flew into the turn to quickly better Lennies Eddie.

Lennies Tank turned third but was never going to get to the leader. Ballymac Deniro was relentless out front, maintaining a powerful gallop throughout to eventually see off a persistent Lennies Eddie by a length and a half in a fastest of the night 28.21. Lennies Tank was third, some four and a quarter lengths further adrift. Sadly, Donishall Sam made his exit in fifth.

ACE TOO HOT BUT IROKO RUNS A BLINDER

Epic Ace was sent to traps the even money favourite in the opening heat to maintain his unbeaten record in the classic.

The track record holder faced a tough draw in two with Proper Heiress on his immediate inside and Underground Gold and Droopys Aladdin on his outside.

Ballymac Iroko was drawn on his own in six, with a vacant box on his inner and he would run a huge race but this contest belonged to Epic Ace. Breaking on terms, he quickly showed in front, holding Underground Gold in the early yards.

Proper Heiress drove into the turn in an attempt to slip up the inside but Epic Ace wasn’t having it. He cut the bend, riding a bump to dictate into the back straight. From there he shot clear to hold a three lengths lead at halfway.

Proper Heiress gave chase but had no answer to the leader. Meanwhile, Ballymac Iroko was starting to fly. He was last early but left third between the opening two bends only to run out of room on the second bend, checking wide and losing ground on Proper Heiress.

He quickly recovered, however, and began to really fly. Taking a step wide off the final turn to challenge Proper Heiress, he moved second on the run in. Epic Ace was already home, however.

John Kennedy’s star was brilliant once again, powering through the line to win by four and a half lengths in 28.40. Ballymac Iroko took second with Proper Heiress a length and a quarter back in third.

SCOOBY ON TOP BUT WHAT A RUN FROM DUFFLE

The Irish has less luck in the second heat with Scooby The Lady leading home Sole Focus to provide the UK with a one-two.

Ballymac Duffle was sent off the 5-6 favourite but his many supporters knew their fate early with Liam Dowling’s star finding no room to race early before being badly baulked at the turn.

He seemed certain to be crashing out of the competition when finding himself ten lengths behind the leader off the second turn and some four lengths behind Priceless Romeo in third.

Scooby The Lady proceeded to make all to win by three and three quarter lengths in 28.49 with Sole Focus second but the eye was drawn to the battle for third. Priceless Romeo seemed destined to qualify but Ballymac Duffle performed a minor miracle for the second week running.

Finishing at speed, the flying fawn came through in the closing yards to collar his compatriot Priceless Romeo. Remarkably, he would finish just a neck behind Sole Focus. Priceless Romeo was desperately unlucky to make his exit. Gaytime Clyde also made his exit from the classic after failing to recover from opening bend traffic before finishing fifth.

SKYE WINS BUT RALF AND CORNER PROGRESS

Both Ballymac Ralf and Hackney Corner progressed for Ireland in the final heat but Strike It Skye again came out on top, showing great pace from the second turn to lead on the third turn from early leader Hackney Corner.

Getup The Boy was second to Hackney Corner into the turn but Strike It Skye slipped around on the inside in third and quickly set her sights on the leaders. Just behind the front three, Ballymac Ralf had recovered from an opening bend bump and was poised to make a make his move in the second half of the contest.

Showing great determination and track craft, Strike It Skye got up the inside of Hackney Corner at the third turn to move on. It was a decisive maneouvre and she would emerge a good winner in 28.50 but Ballymac Ralf would push her right to the line.

Finishing at speed, Ballymac Ralf would finish just a neck behind with Hackney Corner also progressing in third, a further two lengths adrift. Unfortunately for Getup The Boy and his connections, he would finish fourth, less than two lengths away.