Diamond sparkles and sets the standard in second round of BoyleSports Irish Greyhound Derby

Diamond sparkles and sets the standard in second round of BoyleSports Irish Greyhound Derby

Defending champion Bockos Diamond shows what he is still capable by setting the fastest time of the night at Shelbourne Park on Friday night

Following his first round defeat, questions were being asked about whether Graham Holland’s defending champion was still capable of producing the electric performances which he produced on the way to victory in last year’s Derby, but he provided the answer in no uncertain terms on Friday night and performances like that could make the 5/1 that was on offer for back-to back Derby's seem huge

Producing a 3.44 sectional from the traps, Bockos Diamond (4/11F) built up a lead heading into the opening bend and simply just drew away from his rivals, with the 4/11F romping to an eight length victory in a fastest of the night 29.40 from kennel-mate Faypoint Harvey, who had no answers back in second, with Happy Jet taking the final qualifying position.

That was part of a double on the night for Graham Holland as Cheap Sandwiches (5/6F) made it two wins from two starts in this year’s Derby when running out an impressive winner of the final heat of the night by five lengths from Brunch Pal and Unanimous Leo in 29.49, which saw the surprise elimination of the well fancied pair of Carrick Scholsey and Epic Ace. 

Only marginally behind on the time set by Bockos Diamond was Magical Mag, with Pat Guilfoyle’s runner holding off a strong challenge from Liam Dowling’s 2024 StarSports English Derby winner De Lahdedah by a head in 29.42. 

Having produced a flying 3.38 sectional, Magical Mag hit the front and was able to make all the running, though De Lahdedah turned in a decent position and looked to be close enough to score rounding the final bends, but the 11/10F battled on well and held off the challenge of De Lahdedah, with Ballyhooly Bruno a further three lengths back in third.

The opening heat of the night went the way of the Kieran Lynch trained Shanahee Bomber (4/1), with the Maiden Derby winner leading rounding the opening bends to record a four length victory from Tarsna Maasai and Lennies Dream back in third, in a time of 29.63. Impressive winner from the first round Droopys Patriot was a surprise casualty having found huge amounts of trouble rounding the opening bends.

One of the races of the night came in heat two, where Michael O’Donovan’s Coosane Pickles (11/4) came from off the pace to pick up the front running Seven Beach and Callaway Five on the run for home, with O’Donovan’s runner getting the better of things by a head in 29.73 from Callaway Five, with Seven Beach a further half length back in third

Heat five went the way of Karol Ramsbottom’s Cheque For Cash (11/8F) as he led round the first bend to make it two wins from two in this year’s Derby to score by a length in 29.64 from Hot Wood and Upper Horgan who were the other two qualifiers. The four dog race was marred by an injury to Robert Gleeson’s Toolmaker Josepe, who sadly did not finish the course.

Pat Buckley’s Sallagh Curly caused the biggest surprise of the evening as the October 23 youngster defeated the odds on favourite Hello Diego in heat six by three lengths, with the 6/1 shot stopping the clock in 29.72, with Lookandlep narrowly taking the third qualifying spot 

One of the other closer finishes of the night came in heat seven, as Liam Dowling’s Solo And Go (3/1) trapped well and made all the running in 29.75, narrowly holding off the strong late challenges of Danzig Rebel by a head, with Oreo Ollie a further neck behind in third. This heat also saw the exit of one of the British challengers, with Ballymac Axel only finishing fourth, though he did stay on well in defeat after stumbling from the traps