Definate Opinion primed for Derby success
It is a very unusual Derby in many regards. When did we previously have a Derby with 20-1 the field available on the day of the first round? In recent years we had dogs as low as 6-1 and 8-1 favourite at this stage.
The dog that carries my money is Definate Opinion. He has been very patiently handled by Pat Guilfoyle with a planned schedule that has seen him lightly raced and his record in 2010 is absolutely impeccable. He has raced just nine times and won eight, including victories in the Gain Cesarewitch at Mullingar and the Boylesports International at Dundalk. His solitary defeat came in the final of the Cox Cup at Newbridge and, amazingly, the dog that beat him there, Tyrur Bucko, will be a rival in tomorrow’s Heat 13.
Others I expect to give big runs are Tyrur Big Mike, Barefoot Bullet and Farloe Turbo and this completes the four against the field. For anybody looking for a few dark ones, then 100-1 chance Local Dee Jay and 150-1 Jim Said So are two dogs with the potential to improve considerably.
There would appear to be a few real bankers in the first eight heats. Champion Stakes winner Makeshift should win Heat 2 where the brilliant bitch Skywalker Queen looks the chief danger. And Champion runner-up Tyrur Big Mike looks an even hotter proposition for Heat 5 with Ballymac Mitsy and Kinda Ready to chase him home.
There will be some opposition in the ring to Fatboyz Tyson in the opening heat but from a trap five draw he should win and there is a quote out there of 11-10. Local Dee Jay and the big finishing Movealong Tony are also in this race but if Tyson gets away well then he should deliver the knock out punch.
Race of the night could be the final one between the Paul Hennessy trained duo of Colorful Champ and Barefoot Bullet. Both are in the top bracket in the outright betting but Barefoot Bullet has the box to make full use of his awesome pace.
There has been one notified non runner from tonight's heats with the Limerick dog Croom Star withdrawn from Heat 4. He will be replaced by He Told Ted unless another vacancy occurs in one of the opening three heats.
The Derby action will be shown via Inter Track at all the tracks racing on the night. Tralee will be opening the doors this evening to allow people view the Derby action and there will be Tote and Bar facilities available.
While on the subject of the Derby first round, the weekend will culminate with a Sunday evening meeting at Harold's Cross (6 pm) which will feature the final of the Ladbrokes.com Puppy Derby. This also promises to be a tremendous contest with Graham Holland's Calling Spice bidding to get the better of the Michael Mulleady trained siblings Jimney Cricket and Rince Maeve.
There will also be an auction of two greyhound pups during the meeting with proceeds going to Crumlin Children's Hospital, on whose behalf the fundraiser is being run. The first pup is 14 weeks old out of Droopys Dakota while the second is a 12 week old pup by Home Town Boy out of Tyrur Audrey.
One of the big talking points recently has been the fantastic performances produced in the first round of the Supporters Club Unraced at Clonmel on Monday. The star was the Mossie O’Connor trained Deerfield Music (Ace Hi Rumble/ Droopys Bolero) as he won by eight lengths in a sensational 28.35. His ability had been well flagged and he is another star in the making for Bryan Dalton who was present on the night.
Other huge runs in the stake were the 28.71 from Graham Holland's Hovex Fantasy (Premier Fantasy/Farloe Mirror), the 28.59 from Owen McKenna's Bling Bling Buzz (Bombastic Shiraz/Respect For Lee) and the 28.83 from Mary Jo Dalton's Express Louis (Hondo Black/Express Wish).
There has been some marvellous racing at Tralee in recent weeks and the tempo will be maintained tomorrow with a card that includes the semi-finals of the Paddy Byrne Memorial and the Con Murphy Memorial.
There have been some great times recorded in the first two rounds of the Byrne event with Brian and Peter Divilly's Crafty Fandango best in the second round with a 28.72 run in beating Melodys Royal.
He has drawn one in the second semi and that should see him win again. It will pave the way for a serious night's racing on Friday week.
Saturday night's card at the venue will include the final of the Hickson Family Lispole A2 Novice 750.
