Diamond beaten but Proper Heiress off to a flyer in Irish Derby

Proper Heiress up and running

Proper Heiress got his BoyleSports Irish Derby challenge off to a flying start at Shelbourne Park on Friday evening.

All eyes were on the British raider in heat seven and the 13/8 chance duly delivered, breaking smartly before pacing up into an early lead and kicking clear down the back straight.

The Mark Wallis-trained Sussex Cup hero kept on strongly to the line and came home four lengths clear of Phoenix Memphis for an impressive 29.45 success, with even-money favourite Ballinabola Joe back in third.

Diamond fails to shine

The big shock of the night was defending champion Bockos Diamond being turned over at 2/5, although he did qualify in second behind Epic Ace.

The Graham Holland-trained favourite broke well but Epic Ace showed smart pace to get up inside last year’s winner at the bend and they had a terrific battle thereafter.

It was Pat Guilfoyle’s 4/1 shot who took it up from the third bend and stayed on strongly to score by a length in 29.38.

Treble for Holland

Holland had better luck elsewhere with a treble on the card, including the fastest of the night in Bombay Pat.

A semi-finalist 12 months ago, the son of Pestana roared into an early lead and raced a long way clear on his way to a three-length victory from the staying-on Hello Diego in a hot 29.27.

Holland book-ended the card with winners, as last year’s runner-up Cheap Sandwiches (30/100fav) dominated the opener in 29.53, while kennelmate Swords Style (8/11fav) caught the eye with a wide-margin 29.56 success in the finale.

Gleeson and Ramsbottom at the double

There was a quick-fire double for Robert Gleeson, whose Toolmaker Josepe (6/5fav) overcame all sorts of trouble to claim a last-gasp victory in 29.95, before Irish Sprint Cup runner-up Droopys Patriot blazed a trail to strike at 10/11 favourite in a smart 29.30.

Karol Ramsbottom also had two winners courtesy of all-the-way victor Cheque For Cash (11/10fav) in 29.75 and the gusty Lookandlep (5/1) in 29.82.

De Lahdedah calls the tune

2024 English Greyhound Derby champion De Lahdedah got his campaign off to a successful start as Liam Dowling’s star powered home to deny Oreo Ollie by half a length and justify 6/5 favouritism in 29.53.

The Jennifer O Donnell-trained Seven Beach ran out an easy winner at 4/9 in 29.72, while Hackney Corner prevailed in a cracking race when denying fellow 6/4 joint-favourite Ballymac Tibet by a head in 29.43.