Saturday's Tips - Derby 2nd round Heats 9-16

Saturday's Tips 

After the track record equaling run from Epic Ace on Friday night, Saturday's Star Sports & Orchestrate Ltd English Greyhound Derby second round heats have plenty to live up to. 

Heat 9 - 6.38

Texas Jack produced one of the top runs in the opening round last week to pick up Scooby The Lady. He is a strong-running wide, with a couple of Category One final appearances to his credit already, and this might just work out well for him. Strike It Skye couldn't pick the right path when turning behind Hackney Corner in the opening round and she may have the same problem on the inside here with Sole Focus outside of her. She has a superb record in the red jacket though. Lennies Eddie is better than he has shown the last twice here. 

6-1-5

Heat 10 - 6.58

Ballymac Iroko took a while to get on top in the opening round, but once he did, he powered away from his opposition. He can beat his fellow seeded runner Kranky Drake to the punch this evening, but the pair are both more than capable of not only booking their spot in the next round, but also making a deep run into this competition. Ballymac Kobe will need to use his draw to keep Droopys Berries on his outside early on, with that pair fighting it out for the other qualifying spot. 

6-5-3

Heat 11 - 7.18 

Faypoint Harvey is in his third Derby campaign and is a veteran these days but that won't stop him from producing his best in the third heat of the evening. He showed up well to chase home Slick Skylark in the opening round and with the three inside of him drawn the wrong way around, certainly in terms of one and three anyway, he can take advantage of that to go clear early on. Gaytime Clyde might be able to make it a Graham Holland one-two, with Naochra looking nicely enough berthed to fill out the frame. 

4-1-5

Heat 12 - 7.38 

Ballymac Duffle has a very different draw to overcome from out in trap four compared to when he set a new track record from the red jacket of trap one in the opening round. Getup The Boy moved off from trap two last week so although the draw in one in not ideal in that sense, a vacant trap ouside of him can allow him to move to the right in the opening stages. The strong-running Ballymac Axel can get involved late on.

4-1-5

Heat 13 - 7.58 

Hackney Corner produced a smart winning effort last week, holding off the uber smart Strike It Skye in a quick time. There are four railers inside of him which is going to be a plus for him, for all that he is going to have to be on his toes with a slick starter to his right in Swift Magnison. A repeat of last week should be enough. This Approach might not have the best draw right on the rails but he was an impressive winner from that slot on his debut at Limerick. He needs respecting for all that he may well move right early on.

5-1-3

Heat 14 - 8.18 

Scooby The Lady was picked up in her heat last week which was a surprise given her strong-running win in the final of the Arena Racing Company Kent Plate at Central Park in March. To be fair to her, she really dug deep when she was headed and that superb attitude can get her home in front this evening. Carrick Scholsey was not for catching when turning in front last week but he might not be the type to rely on for a smash break week in and week out. Bubbly Hogan can get plenty of room in which to operate which will help him.

2-1-5

Heat 15 - 8.38 

There are few who came into the Derby with such an air of excitement as Glengar Kane. Not seen in race action after setting a new track record at Enniscorthy until last week, he surely is capable of taking a step forward on that in terms of race fitness. The red jacket is perhaps not ideal for Goldcash Warrior but he should have more than enough class to overcome that potential hinderance. Singalong Polly can gain the other spot. 

2-1-5

Heat 16 - 8.58

Slippery Brian has been absolutely foot perfect so far at this track, winning all three of his starts here. He is electric to the third bend and can prove the perfect thorn in the side of Swords Style who might not be able to get on the bunny quite so easily from his inside draw tonight. Priceless Romeo was a solid winner in the opening round and he can fill out the frame in the final heat of the round. 

6-1-5