Irish Greyhound Derby Betting Preview: Round 2 heats 1-8

Irish Greyhounds / Editor / 13 August 2008 / Leave a Comment

The Irish Greyhound Derby Round 2 heats get underway on Thursday evening. Sean Murphy landed some lovely bets in Rd 1 and is again confident he has winners in store for his readers.

The draw for the second round of the Irish Greyhound Derby took place after racing on Saturday night. Even at this early stage the draw has thrown up some cracking heats and none more so than Heat 13. This features English Derby winner, Loyal Honcho, Ante Post favourite Killahan Phanter, Champion Stakes winner Shelbourne Aston and the much fancied Tryur Bertie. Certainly it's a race to look forward to on Saturday night. There will be 8 heats on Thursday and 8 on Saturday night leaving us with 48 greyhounds for the third round.

Heat 1

None of the dogs in this heat managed to win in the first round so all connections will fancy their chances of progressing further. Pat Buckley has a 10 strong challenge going into the second round including the leading two dogs in the Derby betting and although Droopys Teabag is not one of them I expect him to be favourite here. However, I will side with Lickfinn Legend who is well drawn and can lead up here from Droopys Teabag. Both Casual Conquest and Distant legend ran disappointingly in the first round and I take Coolratty Rodge to hold his line on the rails and take the third qualifying spot.

Selection: T 2 Win, 1 Pt
Trio: 2 - 3 - 1

Heat 2

This is a very competitive heat with Headleys Bridge who really caught the eye on the opening night of the Derby drawn in the red jacket. Nawhobberthadda ran well in defeat against English Derby winner Loyal Honcho and is well-housed in Trap 6. Target Kewell represents the Pat Buckley kennel in Trap 3 and can really shift to the opening corner. Bar the Devil is not the force of old and may bow out in this company. I take Nawhobberthadda to get a clear run on the outside and just shade it from Headley Bridge and Target Kewell who may just hold each other up on the inside.

Selection: T6 Win, 2 Pts
Trio: 6 - 1 - 3

Heat 3

Soul to Soul missed his break on Saturday night and still had the gears to pick up his rivals off the last bend. Even though he has never run from Trap 4 in twenty one races, I believe this draw will suit him better and I take him to make the corner ahead of Cashen Pedro who can motor to the bend and always led on Saturday night. Rockingham is a suspect stayer and The Other Sonic will be finishing best of all and is a must for trio combinations.

Selection: T4 win, 3 Pts
Trio: 4 - 2 - 5


Heat 4

Ballymac Under lost nothing in defeat to College Causeway and can uphold his lofty reputation by taking this heat. Firshill Boy is another who can go up well, stays strongly and is better drawn in the black jacket and he can take second. Wise Thought was a costly odds-on favourite in the first round but is better than that run and is a big danger on the outside.

Selection: T3 Win, 2 pts
Trio: 3 - 4 - 6

Heat 5

Probably the weakest heat of the second round with four dogs qualifying in 4th place from Round 1.Shaneboy Luke ran well in defeat to Forest Master and is nicely housed in Trap 2. Uncle Jer has to be respected. He found loads of trouble in his first round heat and if reproducing his old form he will go close here. Tyrur Liam is from a top-class kennel and although experienced will have learned plenty from last week and can progress at the expense of the badly drawn Compass Smash.

Selection: T2 Win, 1 Pt
Trio: 2 - 3 - 4

Heat 6

Forest Master at last reproduced his early season form in the first round and has got the best of the draw here in Trap 2. Fraser Black has had some great Derby dogs in the last few years and I expect this fellow to go a long way. In a race with five inside seeds he can take this from fastest first round winner, Ballymac Ruso, who as a middle seed is not ideally drawn out wide in Trap 6. Cabra Cool is a real nice puppy but would want to be drawn further in and may struggle to qualify. Coolamber Prunty will give them all a start but will fly home and can take third position.

Selection: T2 Win, 2 pt
Trio: 2 - 6 - 1

Heat 7

Tyrur Laurel got picked up by promising puppy Top Louis last Saturday night but can resume winning ways here. He is not ideally drawn in Trap 6 but is experienced enough to get out in front at the first bend despite the early pace of Ciaras Castle in Trap 2. Dun Jon continued his good form into the Derby and looks booked for third position.

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

Heat 8

Tyrur Kenny resumed winning ways in the first round and can make all here from Trap 5. He loves it around Shelbourne's sweeping bends and is a confident choice to give PJ Fahy a double on the night. If Skywalker Night can avoid Tyrur at the first bend he has the pace to take second place. Machu Picchu may lack a little in stamina but can lead the inside runners and qualify for round 3.

Selection: T5 win, 3 Pts (NAP)
Trio: 5 - 6 - 4