MIXED LUCK FOR IRISH AS DIAMOND BOWS OUT ON RETURN
Ian Fortune
The Irish experienced mixed fortunes at Towcester on Friday night as the Star Sports & Orchestrate English Greyhound Derby got underway.
There were seven Irish trained winners but the middle part of the card saw a number of shocks with the elimination of Bockos Diamond the most notable.
It wasn’t meant to be for the 2024 Derby champion, who despite showing huge pace in parts, found bad traffic at the turn and around the last two bends to end his challenge at the first hurdle.
Of the Irish trained winners, Ballymac Duffle was the standout as he broke the track record in the last of the fourteen heats, completing a quick double for Liam Dowling, as he emerged a comfortable winner in a sizzling 28.37. Ballymac Stud had initiated the Dowling double just minutes earlier when also impressing in 28.70.
Pat Buckley also recorded a fine brace with Glengar Kane running out a tremendous winner of Heat 2 in a second fastest of the session 28.60 before Singalong Polly followed up for Buckley in Heat 4. Paul Hennessy, John Kennedy and Graham Holland were also on the score sheet.
DUFFLE DIFFERENT CLASS
Ballymac Duffle was the undoubted star of proceedings, however.
In what was just his eighth career start, the son of Ballymac Cooper was merciless. Assuming control on the opening turn, he turned the screw with each ground-devouring stride.
Zenith Pasha chased hard throughout but the power of Ballymac Duffle was too much. He would go on to win by over four lengths, taking two spots off the previous track record of Lennies Desire.
STUD INITIATES DOWLING BRACE
Ballymac Stud was also hugely impressive when initiating the Liam Dowling double a few minutes earlier in Heat 13.
Breaking smartly, Ballymac Stud soon asserted and proceeded to make all to win by two and three quarter lengths in 28.70.
KANES IMPRESSES
Glengar Kane making the most of his rails pitch to see off Getup The Boy.
The latter broke fastest but Glengar Kane forced his way through on the fence to assert between the opening bends.
The pair continued to race first and second throughout With Glengar Kane winning by three lengths for Pat Buckley and Richard Colwell in 28.60. Sadly, Ballymac Tibet, despite running on well, finished fourth and became the first irish runners to be elminated in fourth.
POLLY COMPLETES BUCKLEY DOUBLE
A couple of races later, Singalong Polly gave Pat Buckley a double when rallying on the run in to win by three parts of a length to deny long-time leader The Other Kodi.
Singalong Polly was prominent to the turn and was never far off the pace once headed but came home well to win in 29.01. Unassuming also stayed on well to take third just a length behind the runner-up. Grouchos Jack was out of luck, finding bad traffic between the last two bends when attempting to get involved.
ROMEO AND RALF GIVE IRELAND PERFECT START
Priceless Romeo and Ballymac Ralf gave Ireland the perfect start to the classic, finishing first and second, clear of their rivals, in Heat 1.
Silverhill Adanm flashed from boxes to dictate early but had no answer to the pace of the two Irish runners.
Priceless Romeo moved second on the turn and flew down the back to assert into the third bend. Ballymac Ralf was soon in chase and closed right to the line but Priceless Romeo held on to win for Paul Hennessy and Bryan and Kathleen Murphy by a head in 28.79.
STYLISH SWORDS LEADS HOME SAM
There was another Irish first and second in Heat 6 with the Graham Holland duo of Swords Style and Donishall Sam leading the pack.
Swords Style has really taken to Towcester and he produced another professional front-running effort.
Flahing from traps, he made all to win in 28.86. Donishall Sam turned only fourth but flew into the third turn and stayed on well to grab second, just a head behind his kennel mate.
EPIC IS A REAL ACE
Epic Ace gave a reminder of his brute pace in Heat 12 when emerging a tremendous winner for John Kennedy.
Swift Magnison flew from the outside box to dictate early, while Epic Ace was tardy at boxes but he shot up the fence to sit a close second on the turn.
Despite being forced to check at the opening and second turns, Epic Ace was still close enough to strike down the back straight. Moving through the gears, he slipped up the inside of the pace-setter at the third turn. It was a decisive move. He would go on to justify favouritism by almost two lengths from the fast-finishing Kranky Drake in 28.71.
GREEN THROUGH BUT DIAMOND CRASHES OUT
Bockos Diamond made his exit in Heat 8 despite showing plenty of his customary pace.
He broke on terms from a wide draw and soon joined and headed Colouraregreen but the pair clashed on the turn as Bockos Diamond attempted to cut across his rival.
Gav Nificent went to the front, but Bockos Diamond soon recovered and flew down the back to almost join the leader. But then came the moment that would end Bockos Diamond’s challenge. As he challenged the leader he seemed to lose his balance before fading home.
Gav Nificent would go on to win with the Paul Hennessy trained Coloursaregreen qualifying in third. Sadly, Bockos Diamond ran out of steam and luck, eventually falling through the pack to finish fifth.
HARVEY PROGRESSES
Faypoint Harvey was unlucky in Heat 5 but still progressed in second.
He actually led early but was clipped from behind twice, losing his position down the back straight. Ge ran on again to grab second, three lengths behind Slick Skylark.
EDDIE IMPRESSES IN SECOND
Lennies Eddie may have suffered an odds-on defeat in Heat 9 but ran a fine race in defeat.
Recovering from a slow start and traffic to take second behind Salacres Lock Up. Unfortunately, Unanimous Leo, after openig bend traffic failed to make the frame and made his exit.
SILENT SNEAKS THROUGH
Heat 10 was a poor one for the Irish, although Glengar Silent did find a way to qualify in fourth.
His compatriots Ballinabola Joe and Shudacudawouda had less luck, however, finishing fifth and sixth. All three walked from traps and seemed to struggle to get involved with Glengar Silent running on best of the trio.
NO LUCK FOR MALINAS
Ballymac Malinas was always playing catch-up in Heat 11 after mistiming the start.
Untimately, he couldn’t recover despite showing plenty of pace. He found further traffic at halfway which would see him finish fifth behind Slick Sentinel.