DUFFLE LEADS THE CHARGE AS TEAM IRELAND IMPRESS AT TOWCESTER

Ian Fortune

Ireland continued their impressive progress through the Star Sports & Orchestrate English Derby at Towcester on Saturday night, winning five of the eight heats while Ballymac Duffle again stole the headlines with a stunning track record breaking run.

Liam Dowling’s Ballymac Duffle was again flawless. The brilliantly fast son of Ballymac Cooper raced as though he had the intention of silencing those who doubted his credentials as Derby favourite.

Flashing from four, he was in charge from the opening strides. Getup The Boy did all he could to stay close but Ballymac Duffle was effectively certain of victory from the bend. Relentless throughout, Ballymac Duffle ran right to the line to win by seven and a quarter lengths in 28.31, taking a full six spots off the track record he set a week earlier and had been matched by Epic Ace on Friday.

Getup The Boy safely progressed in second with Garfiney Warrior ensuring a one-two-three for Ireland in third, a length and three parts further adrift.

KANE MAKES IT LOOK EFFORTLESS

Much like his opening round success, Glengar Kane was hugely impressive in Heat 15 where he was simply too hot to handle, completing a double on the night for Pat Buckley.

Breaking smartly, the impressive son of Grangeview Ten marched into a good lead by the turn.

Ballymac Blanco gave chase throughout but Glengar Kane was simply too good, winning by almost three lengths in 28.59. His kennel companion Singalong Polly finished at the ail of the field after bad traffic at the second turn.

CORNER SHOWS HIS CLASS

Hackey Corner justified odds-on favouritism in Heat 13 but that only tells half the story as the Pat Buckley trained star found himself in serious bother in the early yards after walking from boxes.

A bad fifth in the early yards, he had to stay wide of the pack at the bend but ran a supreme corner to move second as they hit the back straight.

Once doing so, he quickly set his sights on Swift Magnison. Making his move between the last two bends, he forcing his way up the inside of the leader on the final turn to go to the front. Romeo Empire did run on strongly to close but Hackney Corner held on by three parts of a length in 28.99.

STYLISH END TO THE ROUND

For the second night running the Irish ended proceedings on a high, sending out the first two home in the final heat of the round with Swords Style leading throughout to see off Priceless Romeo.

Swords Style would edge off the fence after a fast start but never saw a rival as he came home three and a half length clear of Priceless Romeo in 28.96. Sadly, Slippery Brian, who had been in such good form, finished fifth after finding plenty of traffic congestion.

HARVEY LEADS HOME CLYDE

There was a Graham Holland 1-2 in Heat 11 with Faypoint Harvey casting aside his veteran status to win in 29.16.

Producing a typically professional effort, Harvey was in front from the outset. His task became somewhat easier when his kennel companion and hot favourite Gaytime Clyde ran off the turn when attempting to challenge, leaving the early leader further clear. Gaytime Clyde did come at him in the second half of the contest but Faypoint Harvey held on by three parts of a length in 29.16.

IROKO SAFELY THROUGH

Ballymac Iroko progressed in second behind Kranky Drake in Heat 10.

Off the pace early, Ballymac Iroko flew down the back straight to challenge into the third turn only for Kranky Drake to get first run to win in 28.99. Ballymac Iroko stayed on well to finish just two lengths back.

NO LUCK FOR DESIRE AND OLLIE

Lennies Desire and Yorkie Ollie carried no luck in the first of the eight heats on the night, making their exit in Heat 9.

Strike It Skye came through to win this heat in 28.57 but Lennies Desire couldn’t recover from opening bend traffic to finish fourth, while sadly Yorkie Ollie seemed to lose his action into the turn and was never involved in last.