Irish Derby Ante-Post Betting Preview: This Panther can leave you in the pink

Events / Editor / 05 August 2008 / Leave a Comment

Sean Murphy takes a look at the ante-post market for Ireland's most valuable Greyhound race, The Irish Derby, which starts this Wednesday at Shelbourne Park.

The draw was made last Thursday 31st July 2008 for the first round of the Irish Greyhound Derby. A massive 162 names went into the hat for the top Greyhound prize in Ireland. There will be 27 heats in the first round with four to qualify from 15 heats and three to qualify from the remaining 12 heats. This will leave us with 96 dogs for the second round and bring us all the way to the final on 13th September.

The first round gets under way next Wednesday 6th August with eight heats being run, followed by nine heats on Thursday 7th August with the remaining ten heats of the first round been run off on Saturday 9th August.

Killahan Panther is trading at around the [16.0] mark and that makes him the marginal outright favourite in a quality packed field. Despite the large entry there are some fascinating first round heats notably English Derby winner Loyal Honcho who is now seeded inside and has drawn the red jacket in Heat 21 with sensational Champion Stakes winner Shelbourne Aston in Trap 5 and the back to form Nawhobberthadda in the outside box. There are four qualifiers in this heat and thus all three should come safely through.

Reigning Derby holder Tyrur Rhino goes from 4 in heat 16 on Thursday night and should have no difficulty qualifying although Droopys Wells in Trap 6 will test him all the way.

Heat 4 is interesting in that there are three previous Derby finalists in the line up with Bar the Devil drawn in 1, English Derby finalist Kryptonite in Trap 2 and last year's early-paced finalist Express Ego in Trap 4. With only three to qualify from this heat we could have our first major casualty of the classic.

There is plenty of early pace in Heat 10 with An Tochar Blue, Tomokee Flash, Melodys Pat, Gas Magee and Slip the Lark all noted for their early pace. Something will have to give and expect the fast finishing Droopys Arsene to be flying at the finish in this heat.

Killahan Panther looks a formality to come through from Heat 12 on Thursday night and Heat 22 on Saturday night sees two of last years finalists Tyrur Laurel and So Determined renew rivalry.

We are all looking forward to the first round on Wednesday night and it will take pace, stamina, guts and a little luck to make it through to the second Saturday in September. My ante post bets on Skywalker Ace and Tyrur Gold are in the bin already as both are out injured. I am a huge fan of Killahan Panther and he would be my main fancy in the Classic. I also believe that Mid West Blue is coming good at the right time and that College Causeway will keep qualifying. I give a squeak to Tyrur Luke at a big price which is one of seven dogs owned by PJ Fahy with the Tyrur prefix in the line up.

Roll on Wednesday!

Recommended Bets:
3pts win Killahan Panther @ [16.0]
2pts win Mid West Blue @ [17.0]
1pt each-way College Causeway @ [18.0]
0.5pt each-way Tyrur Luke @ [70.0]