Irish Greyhound Derby Betting: 3rd round Saturday heats

Irish Greyhounds / Sean Murphy / 21 August 2008 / Leave a Comment

Sean Murphy has been in tremendous form with his Derby advice and reading his third round preview is a must for those taking an interest in Saturday's 8 heats.

The draw for the third round of the Irish Greyhound Derby took place after racing on Saturday night. We are now down to 48 runners and have witnessed just two high profile casualties so far with the exit of this year's English Derby winner, Loyal Honcho, and last year's reigning champion, Tyrur Rhino, who exited in consecutive heats last Saturday night.

The draw has thrown up some interesting heats with the leading fancies kept apart for at least another round. This is the first time that all greyhounds will run on the same night so we will be a lot wiser after these heats.

Pat Buckley has a very strong hand in this Derby with seven survivors including the first three in the betting, College Causeway, Killahan Phanter and Slip the Lark. Last year's winning trainer Paul Hennessy also has a strong hand with five runners remaining including Firshill Boy, Tyrur Laurel, Tyrur Kenny, Tryur Bertie and the exciting Tyrur Luke.

We will take a look at each heat below:

Heat 1

Ballymac Ruso ran with real credit when second to Forest Master from an unfavourable trap 6 draw on Thursday night. Trap 3 will suit much better and he is taken to come out on top from Rocket Ricky, who ran much better on Saturday night than his first round defeat to Forest Patriot. Sublime Rocket led College Causeway for a long way in the second round but may have to give best for third spot to Cabras Boss who finishes well and is from the in-form Pat Buckley kennel. Casual Conquest cannot be discounted from the Michael O Donovan kennel but has been disappointing to date and Blazeaway Apache although a strong finisher looks out of his depth at this level.

Selection: T 3 win, 2 Pts
Trio: 3 - 4 - 1

Heat 2

College Causeway will go off a warm favourite but will need to show all his track guile to negotiate a clear path in this heat. Both Droopys Hamilton in Trap 3, and last years runner up Tyrur Laurel, in Trap 5 can break well between the favourite so he will need a little luck in running. Last years finalist Express Ego is a fast starter and cannot completely be ruled out either while Coolamber Prunty and Seomra George are noted stayers. I take College Causeway who is such a crafty tracker to win this heat, and can be followed into the Quarter finals by the consistent Tyrur Laurel and the flying finisher Coolamber Prunty.

Selection: T4 win, 2 Pts
Trio: 4 - 5 - 1

Heat 3

Five lightning fast breakers and one devastating finisher is a simple summary of this heat. Who will get the bend first is the big question with the split times of the fast starters almost identical. The clock says it will be Target Kewell and he is a very consistent trapper from all boxes and is ideally drawn in Trap 1. Droopys Teabag finally came good in the last round but is not one to put much faith in. Forest Master looks to have re-captured his early season form and was most impressive in an all the way success in the last round. Machu Picchu starts but does not stay this trip, while Melodys Pat has got the worst of the draw in Trap 6 and he was unable to lead from this box last Saturday. This brings us to the revelation of the Derby so far in Tyrur Luke who likes to give them all a start and finish like a train. His back straight pace brings back recent memories of Late Late Show and the brilliant Randy from the eighties. I take Luke to pick them all up with Forest Master and Target Kewell the most likely other qualifiers.

Selection: T5 win, 3 Pts
Trio: 5 - 3 - 1

Heat 4

Advantage Johnny rarely runs a bad race and was only picked up late by Tyrur Luke on Saturday night. Compass Smash will certainly put it up to him on the basis of his fine run in the second Round when winning by 6 lengths in 29:81. Cashen Zig showed some nice early gears in holding on from Tyrur Laurel and is well drawn in trap 2. However, Advantage Johnny is hugely consistent, has his favourite Trap 6 draw and is trainer Owen McKenna's main Derby hope so he gets a confident vote to take this heat from Cashen Zig and Compass Smash.

Selection: T6 win, 3 pts ( NAP)
Trio: 6 - 5 - 2

Heat 5:

Plenty of early pace in this heat which features ante post favourite Killahan Panther in an unfavourable trap 6 draw. Top Louis has been impressive in the Derby to date for a dog with only seven runs on his card. This is another serious examination of his credentials. Both Rockingham and Lickfin Legend can go up well and and the run to the bend will be important as both Royal Treason and Killahan Panther are renowned early pacers. It is hard to look beyond Killahan Phanter even from this draw as he has all round pace which should get him clear of the pack. Ballymac Under is very consistent and can follow him home with the young pretender Top Louis expected to stay on for third spot.

Selection: T6 win, 3 Pts
Trio: 6 - 4 - 2

Heat 6

Probably the toughest heat in the third round with Slip the Lark once again getting his favoured Trap 6 draw in a heat with four wide runners. Tyrur Kenny is a Shelbourne specialist and is still on target for the €50,000 bonus that goes to the dog that wins both the Easter Cup and Derby in the same year. Headleys Bridge has been most impressive to date and is probably the best drawn dog after Slip the Lark. Both Wise Thought and Titan Tyrone caught the eye in the last round which makes this very difficult to work out. I believe that the draw will decide the winner and go for Slip the Lark to win from Headleys Bridge and the excellent Tyrur Kenny.

Selection: T6 win, 2 Pts
Trio: 6 - 2 - 5

Heat 7

In contrast to other heats this one is packed with fast finishers with all six dogs noted stayers. Bar the Devil is not the force of old and had been contesting longer distances prior to the Derby. The 2006 Derby favourite has done well to make it this far but feel this is as far as he will go. Shelbourne Aston is a dog I keep getting wrong. Without doubt he is one of the fastest finishers in training but may not get a clear run from this draw and I would oppose him again here on that basis. Mid West Blue has been very disappointing to date and needed plenty of luck to win in the last round. I will give him one more chance to get trap better this time and make the best of his way home from Shelbourne Aston and the likely race leader Skywalker night.

Selection: T5 win, 1 Pt
Trio: 5 - 2 - 3

Heat 8

Tyrur Bertie was fortunate to survive the most difficult heat of the second round just getting up from Burnpark Duke for the third qualifying spot last Saturday. He can win this from a nice draw in Trap 3. His kennel companion Firshill Boy is also noted for his early pace and could make the early running with Graigues Shadow also a very smart trapper. The Other Sonic is a strong finisher but watch out for the only remaining bitch in the classic , Shaneboy Sophia, rattling home for third and making it a tasty trio.

Selection: T3 win, 1 Pt
Trio: 3 - 4 - 1