Joe goes fastest as Heiress crashes out

Dramatic first night of the Derby second round

Pat Buckley will be the man with the biggest smile on his face this morning after another foot perfect display from Ballinabola Joe. The runner-up in Tralee's Juvenile Classic, he has taken well to Towcester, backing up his 28.62 opening gambit with a 28.80 (-20) run last night. Just the eighth start of his career, he is a serious contender if he continues to trap like he has. De Lahdedah chased him home, producing another smart run in the defence of his title.

March On Freddie was the shortest-priced winner on the card, working hard to run down Salacres Senan to give David Mullins a winner. Freddie was the only one of the three odds on shots on the card to be successful.

The biggest loss to the competition was Proper Heiress. He trapped better last night but he couldn't clear Patrick Janssens' Romeo Tomcat on his inside and exited the Derby by a head. It was a messy contest but that's the luck that is required to go deep in a Derby and it wasn't with the Mark Wallis-trained dog. The winner was runner-up in the Bresbet Gymcrack and where he is drawn will be a key component for the third round.

Three of the 2024 finalists were in action last night with all of them safely though. Churchfield Syd added to his opening round win with another for Richard Rees, his early gears getting him away and gone in a race where Droopys Plunge was the 2/7 favourite but only managed third. We await Boylesports Bob on Saturday to try and get a clean sweep of all four returning finalists into the third round..

It was a heart in the mouth moment in the opening heat of the night. Tiffield Tarquin had to work hard to get the job done for Roy Peckham but a lot of eyes would have been in behind to see Barntick Bear just do enough to make the draw. Having the track record holder in round three is a clear plus for the competition as a whole.

Paul Hennessy enjoyed an exceptional first round with all of his seven entries making it into the second. Dynamic Force added a win last night although Lennies Desire who had looked to put himself in with a chance in his opening round win found trouble and exited along with Boylesports Blue.

Another to make it two for two was Faypoint Susie for Graham Holland. It's her third crack at the Derby and she has been visually as impressive as she has ever been in her pair of successes. 

The other heat winner last night was Droopys Bookem for Tom Heilbron. He had looked a likely type to make it through a few rounds when he won on Juvenile afternoon. A strong runner-up to Jaytee Craze last week, he stayed on powerfully to claim Droopys Aladdin in the last few strides. 

Heat 1 - 1st Tiffield Tarquin (t5) - 2nd Sunnyside Broxi (t4) - 2rd Barntick Bear (t1)

Heat 2 - 1st Ballinabola Joe (t6) - 2nd De Lahdedah (t2) - 3rd Teddie (t1) 

Heat 3 - 1st Dynamic Force (t5) - 2nd Thats It Jack (t4) - 3rd Hello Diego (t6) 

Heat 4 - 1st March On Freddie (t6) - 2nd Salacres Senan (t1) - 3rd Slick Sentinel (t5)

Heat 5 - Droopys Bookem (t1) - 2nd Droopys Aladdin (t2) - 3rd Flashing Fender (t5) 

Heat 6 - 1st Romeo Tomcat (t1) - 2nd Arthur Job (t2) - 3rd Ballymac Tibet (t6) 

Heat 7 - 1st Churchfield Syd (t6) - 2nd Vhagar (t5) -3rd Droopys Plunge (t2) 

Heat 8 - 1st Faypoint Suzie (t1) - 2nd Fabulous Sonique (t2) - 3rd Deliverooo (t6)