Rural Pest Shines Again in Juvenile Derby Semi-Final at Shelbourne
Rural Pest continued his electric form in the Time Juvenile Derby semi-finals at Shelbourne Park, clocking 28.07 to head into Friday’s €25,000 final as the favourite. Ballymac Tibet also impressed in the second semi-final. Meanwhile, Clonbrien Treaty and Hello Diego prepare for a standout showdown in the Irish St Leger, and the Irish Sprint Cup semi-finals take place Saturday at Dundalk.
Pest Flies Again in Juvenile Derby
Rural Pest proved his previous week’s display was no fluke after another dazzling win in the Time Juvenile Derby semi-finals at Shelbourne Park on Friday.
Following his 28.15 run seven days prior, Graham Holland’s promising youngster went even better, making all by 2½ lengths from Droopys Faithful in a sensational 28.07.
The August 2023 son of Pestana and Rural Aloha broke fast with a 2.00 sectional, led from the front, and finished strongly. Unanimous Leo claimed the third qualifying spot.
Ballymac Tibet Takes Second Semi
In the other semi-final, Ballymac Tibet delivered a dominant performance, clocking 28.47 after overcoming a first bend bump from Solo And Go.
The Champion Plate winner stretched away from halfway to win by five lengths over Getup The Boy, with Toolmaker King in third.
The winner will pick up a first prize of €25,000 and the final takes place on Friday.
BoyleSports betting for the final:
7/4 Rural Pest, 9/4 Ballymac Tibet, 9/2 Toolmaker King, Droopys Faithful, 8/1 Unanimous Leo, 12/1 Getup The Boy.
A second major final takes place this Saturday as the Callaway Pro Am @ Stud Irish St Leger reaches its conclusion.
Clonbrien Treaty bids for a third consecutive St Leger title, having won his semi, while Hello Diego went faster in his own semi-final success. The pair face off in a mouthwatering clash.
Clonbrien Treaty
Hello Diego
Also on Saturday, attention turns to Dundalk for the Bar One Racing Irish Sprint Cup semi-finals, as the top sprinters in Irish greyhound racing compete for final spots.
