Rolo too sweet for his rivals in Irish Greyhound Derby

Tokyo shines at Shelbourne

Rolo Tokyo went fastest on the second night of first round heats in the BoyleSports Irish Greyhound Derby at Shelbourne Park on Saturday.

The Damian Maginn-trained dog broke well from trap one and quickly paced up into a healthy lead, one which seemed to extend the further he went.

The 9/4 chance crossed the line seven lengths clear of Cushie The Best and stopped the clock at an impressive 29.29. Last year’s third, Callaway Knegare, qualified in fourth.

Lennies Dream (2/1) was next quickest as Paul Hennessy’s dog popped out and made all by six and a half lengths from Highview Plan in 29.37.

Carrick Scholsey confirmed himself as a serious contender for outright glory with a seven-length demolition job, as Robert Gleeson’s charge justified even-money favouritism with ease in a pleasing 29.42..

Double for Buckley

Pat Buckley recorded a double on the night, starting with Hopes Teddy (5/1), who made all in 29.96 in a heat which saw the well-fancied Magical Major crash out of the competition in fifth.

Buckley followed up later in the evening courtesy of 9/1 outsider Unanimous Leo, who touched off Solo And Go by a neck in a thrilling finish to score in 29.75.

Guilfoyle also at the double

There was also a double for Pat Guilfoyle as Magical On Fire (5/2) kept on well to touch off Cagey Billy by a head in 29.67, before Magical Sapphire (3/1) powered home to beat Magical Keith in 29.58 for a kennel one-two.

Now being trained by Murt Leahy, UK raider Ballymax Axel (100/30) impressed when dominating his heat to strike by six lengths in 29.61, while Ballymac Danica (6/5jt-fav) made all from kennelmate Ballymac Stud in taking fashion to stop the clock at 29.52.

Callaway five (11/4) kicked the night off in style for Owen McKenna when landing the opener in 29.86, before Headleys Trump struck at 7/1 for Nick Cotter in a time of 29.82 shortly after.

Brunch Pal got up late to deny Razldazl Kamaria in 29.96 for David Murray in a heat where Boylesports Bob (fourth) was disqualified, meaning the fifth-placed Faypoint Ranger still qualified.

The second rounds heats take place on Friday 29th and Saturday 30th August. Here is the draw:

Heat 1

1 Lennies Dream

2 Droopys Patriot 

3 Harlequin Paul 

4 Shanahee Boomer 

5 Tarsna Maasai (w)

6 Betgoodwin Ben (w)

Heat 2 

1 Callaway Five 

2 Ballymac Danica 

3 Swithins Jim 

4 Fahee Phantom 

5 Seven Beach (w)

6 Coosane Pickles (w)

Heat 3

1 Desert Flower

2 Magical Mag

3 Ballyhooly Bruno 

4 De Lahdedah 

5 In Good Time (w)

6 Ballinabola Jim (w)

Heat 4

1 Faypoint Harvey 

2 Rolo Tokyo 

3 Happy Jet 

4 Ventry Faith 

5 Blackeyed Turbo (m)

6 Bockos Diamond (w)

Heat 5

1 Toolmaker Josepe 

2 Untold Rufiyaa 

3 Cheque For Cash 

4 Da Bold Falcon 

5 Hot Wood (m)

6 Upper Horgan (w)

Heat 6

1 Headleys Trump 

2 Cosmonaut 

3 Sallagh Curly 

4 Lookandlep

5 Razldazl Kamaria (m)

6 Hello Diego (w)

Heat 7

1 Oreo Ollie 

2 Brickhill Moana

3 Solo And Go 

4 Danzig Rebel

5 Blossoms Syd (m)

6 Ballymac Axel (w)

Heat 8

1 Brunch Pal 

2 Bushpark Rodney 

3 Unanimous Leo 

4 Epic Ace 

5 Carrick Scholsey (m)

6 Cheap Sandwiches (w)

Saturday

Heat 9

1 Faypoint Ranger 

2 Sunshine Sioux 

3 Prince Naseem 

4 Slipalong Duke 

5 Ballymac Tibet (m)

6 Bombay Pat (w)

Heat 10

1 Hackney Corner

2 Priceless Romeo 

3 Great Morning  

4 Blastoff Heffo 

5 Cushie The Best (m)

6 The Other Wild (w)

Heat 11

1 Phoenix Memphis 

2 Cagey Billy 

3 Callaway Knegare 

4 Timmys Bucks 

5 Glengar Silent (m)

6 Lennies Madge (w)

Heat 12

1 Proper Heiress 

2 Magical On Fire 

3 Doctor Darcy 

4 Ballymac Stud 

5 Droopys Orator (m)

6 Lemon Joey (w)

Heat 13

1 Maireads Diamond 

2 Harry Houdini 

3 Barefoot On Song 

4 Daraghs Sydney 

5 Town Lucky (m)

6 Ballinabola Joe (w)

Heat 14

1 Hackey Tango

2 De Bono Lad

3 Coloursaregreen 

4 Toolmaker King 

5 Rural Pest (m)

6 Alva Mist (w)

Heat 15

1 Hopes Teddy 

2 Ballymac Lake 

3 Westway Rossa 

4 Triangle Brando 

5 Highview Plan (m)

6 Magical Sapphire (w)

Heat 16 

1 No More Fiftys 

2 Badly Behaving 

3 Swords Style 

4 Magical Keith 

5 Droopys Slick (m)

6 Droopys Deploy (w)