Monarch sets Friday second round standard of the BOYLE Sports Irish Greyhound Derby

Picture from Shelbourne Park X feed

Bouncing Monarch the one to beat again

Bouncing Monarch set the standard on the opening night of the second round of the BOYLE Sports Irish Greyhound Derby for Michael O'Donovan, clocking a 29.11 to add to his 29.10 from the opening heats. The Kirby winner has scored in seven of his last 10 starts, and looks in all-conquering mood at present. 

Hackney Plan had kicked things off for O'Donovan with a 29.37 victory. He went four spots quicker than last week despite dropping back three on the sectional, so there is the promise of a touch more to come when he can put it all together. He has shown that he is more than capable, a level he will need as the competition moves on.

There was also a double on the night for Pat Buckley, with Ballyea Warrior just the quicker of his two winners. It was an identical 29.40 to the one that he produced in his opening round win, with his sectional a single spot different. He has the early boot to get himself out in front and keep qualifying if he can maintain the sub 3.40 splits.

Grouchos Chief started the double for Buckley, just four spots slower than his kennelmate. Just a November 24 whelp, this was the sixth start of his career, so he is still a relatively blank page. Having not made his debut until early July, it is going to be fascinating to see how he reacts to going deeper into this competition. 

There are few owners as passionate about their dogs as the Getup Gang, with Getup The Boy landing his heat in fine style, by five lengths for Mark Robinson. Racing fans can't say they weren't told, connections last week tweeted that he was a crazy price at 15/2 when the heat was first priced up. They also said that he's going all the way. With performances like this, it would take a brave man to argue!

There was a blow for Liam Dowling as Ballymac Deniro exited in the heat won by Getup The Boy but. there was another smart win from Solo And Go for Dowling to add to his success in the opening round. He has shown himself to he a superb competition dog to this point in his career, and he is another who will have plans on going deep. 

Graham Holland got in the win column with Low Profile, another backing up a first round win with a second. It was a nice step in the right direction in terms of finish time, and he is in the right hands to be another who can grow as the competition continues. 

The other heat winner on the night was Sober Barry for Karol Ramsbottom. He was another who made almost all of the running on a night where it was difficult to peg back those who went around in front. He is a dog with a remarkable career record, the winner of 14 of his 21 starts.

Two for Soppitt at Sunderland

Ted Soppitt landed two of the five opens at Sunderland last night, led by his reliable sprinter Sunnyside Jayden. The black jacket has been a strong starting position for him in his career, especially at this track, only beaten once in a sprint when he has been on his back, and that day he led up before getting badly hampered at the bend. 

Ballymac Buddy was a very short price to go in for Soppitt, obliging in the quickest 450m time on the evening. A smart performer, he arrived on a losing run of two months but he is a very classy sort on his day, and he justified his 1/4 odds comfortably after going around in front. 

There was a first four-bend open race win for Brickhill Tamika to add to his smart sprinting efforts. He was stretched by 480m when trained in Ireland but 450m here looks to be more in his wheelhouse, fending off the persistent challenge from Tom Heilbron's Links Jester.

Heilbron was on target with Droopys Link who swept around the outside of his field at the third bend to claim victory. A recent finalist in the Time Northern Flat, he didn't make it out of the fist round of the Ladbrokes Gold Cup at Monmore but showed his classy side once more here. 

Elegant Shadow took the open to kick off proceedings for Jimmy Fenwick. She made all of the running to comfortably back up her sprinting win last week at the track, stepped up to 450m on this occasion. Just 11 starts into her career, there should be more to come from her.