Laughil Blake 16/1 Derby favourite after draw

One hundred and forty-four greyhounds will contest the opening round of the Boylesports Irish Greyhound Derby, following the draw, which took place yesterday morning at Shelbourne Park.

The first 12 heats will take place on Thursday night, with the first race at 7.43pm, while the remaining dozen heats will take place on Saturday, beginning at 7.42pm.

Despite some doubts following an injury sustained in winning the trial stake at the track, reigning champ Laughil Blake will take his place, and punters won’t have to wait to see him in action as he contests the very first heat, on Thursday night.

Puppy Oaks and Irish Oaks champion Ballydoyle Honey is also a confirmed runner. She hasn’t been seen in competitive action since June, but her recent trial suggest she’s ready to get her Derby bid underway. She will wear the white sheet in heat 18, which takes place on Saturday night.

Her trainer, Graham Holland, has no fewer than 13 entries, including Sidarian Vega, Gaytime Hawk and Amazing Dude. Paul Hennessy’s six-strong team is headed by Jaytee Jet and Priceless Lassie, while Liam Dowling may have only two runners, but they’re real quality: Vulturi was a finalist in 2014, while Gain 600 winner Ballymac Matt is one of the leading fancies, at just 20-1.

Two greyhounds which caught the eye in recent trials and have attracted support are the Jerry Griffin-trained Morning Music and Tom O’Neill-trained Ballyhooly Henry.

Morning Music, who began his career in Youghal, has struck form recently, and the lightly raced tracker posted 29.44 over the course and distance last week. For that, he’s no bigger than 33-1. Ballyhooly Henry, who started off in Curraheen and boasts a tremendous 30.91 (575) at that track, entered many notebooks following his 28.38 (525) spin last Thursday evening.

One of the most significant market movers of the day was English Derby finalist Farloe Blitz, who has been handed an ideal draw, next to the rails, in the eleventh heat. The Owen McKenna-trained runner is as short as 14-1 to earn compensation for his Wimbledon defeat. Laurels champ Midtown Raffa may not be on the list, but trainer Mossy O’Connor will be represented by rising star Secreto, who was supported into 25-1.

The Derby has a winner’s prize of €125,000 and the final will take place on Saturday, September 19 as part of a 90-minute programme shown live on RTÉ2.

Best prices

: 16 Laughil Blake, 20 Ballydoyle Honey, Ballymac Matt, Farloe Blitz, 25 Sidarian Vega, 33 Morning Musuc, Farloe Rumble, Amazing Dude, Jaytee Jet, Laughil Duke, Tyrur Tommy, Secreto, Paradise Maverik, 40 bar.

Round One Heats:

THURSDAY

Heat One:

1. Boherna Pedro, 2. Mimis Ace, 3. Slippery Fred, 4. Ballybough Mike (w), 5. Kilahagan Impact (w), 6. Laughil Blake (w)

Heat Two:

1. Sidarian Vega, 2. Lemon Elgrand, 3. Hannibal Rising, 4. Jo Jo Fantasy (m), 5. Budgie Bypass (w), 6. Laughil Bolt (w)

Heat Three:

1. Gaytime Hawk, 2. Swords Ace, 3. Aoifes Prinskie, 4. Affane Scolari, 5. Star Ace, 6. Skywalker Farloe (w)

Heat Four:

1. Scooby The Star, 2. Tyrur Mata, 3. Gyp Rosetti, 4. Highview Premier, 5. Black Hawkeye, 6. Faypoint Rush (m)

Heat Five:

1. Hanoi, 2. Karlow Master, 3. Mileheight Mork, 4. Starshineapache, 5. Slippery Snowy (m), 6. Blue Navajo (w)

Heat Six:

1. Glenbuck Bill, 2. Jumeirah Star, 3. Shutthe Backdoor, 4. Creamery Bale, 5. Tyrur Van Gaal, 6. Rural Hawaii (w)

Heat Seven:

1. Kina Girl, 2. Burgess Tadhg, 3. Tynwald Rodney, 4. Dolcino Flyer (m), 5. Skip Glory (m), 6. Blonde Nipper (w)

Heat Eight:

1. Lodgefield Todd, 2. Peregrine Falcon, 3. Droopys Bomber, 4. Priceless Lassie, 5. Burgess Four, 6. Tinnock Fantasy

Heat Nine:

1. Greenwell Hulk, 2. Dromscarra Ruby, 3. Ballymac Matt, 4. Go Dex Go, 5. Jaytee Jet (w), 6. Tyrur Tolan (w)

Heat Ten:

1. Coolavanny Jap, 2. Headman Chris, 3. Ballyhooly Henry, 4. Tain Jack, 5. Triangle Jamie, 6. Tyrur Hagler (w)

Heat Eleven:

1. Farloe Blitz, 2. Good News John, 3. Starshinedelrio, 4. Lenson Walcott, 5. Country Legend, 6. Tyrur Mairead (w)

Heat Twelve:

1. Jaytee Valencia, 2. Skilful Legend, 3. Cunning Barney, 4. Lemon Miley, 5. Knight Bite, 6. House Doctor (w);

SATURDAY

Heat Thirteen:

1. Heathlawn Tiger, 2. Vulturi, 3. Boherash Messiah, 4. Secreto, 5. Leave At Dawn, 6. Maggies Lucy (w)

Heat Fourteen:

1. Knocktoo Garry, 2. Urban Gossip, 3. Sidarian Teejay, 4. Blastoff Mccaw, 5. Cable Bay, 6. Ivy Hill Bart (w)

Heat Fifteen:

1. Ballymac Ricky, 2. Ardrahan Zindi, 3. Paradise Maverik, 4. Blue Cafu, 5. Hondo Messi (m), 6. Jackal Frampton (w)

Heat Sixteen:

1. Fair Taxes, 2. Overcharge, 3. Millridge Crash, 4. Highview Event, 5. Black Tom, 6. Ballyana Foxtrot (m)

Heat Seventeen:

1. Amazing Dude, 2. Extra SparRk, 3. Dark Intentions, 4. Allen Wizard, 5. Tyrur Macdonald (w), 6. Droopys Navas (w)

Heat Eighteen:

1. Padua Supreme, 2. Deanridge Pennys, 3. Ballydoyle Honey, 4. Quinton Abu, 5. Calzaghe Clampet, 6. Hovex Prince

Heat Nineteen:

1. Uncle Paul, 2. Morning Music, 3. Doubtful Venture, 4. Wee Barneys Son, 5. Glanmire Prince, 6. Clares Wonder (w)

Heat Twenty:

1. Samiya, 2. Tyrur Supermac, 3. Native Custom, 4. Laughil Duke, 5. Ballybough Mondo, 6. Save The Don (m)

Heat Twenty-One:

1. Mucho Macho Man, 2. Ravenswood Emily, 3. Rockybay Yank, 4. Knight Invader, 5. Material Man (w), 6. Redwood Mick (w)

Heat Twenty-Two:

1. Cabra Millie, 2. Time To Share, 3. Salacres Francie, 4. Tyrur Tommy, 5. Barefoot Artist, 6. Farloe Rumble

Heat Twenty-Three:

1. Whizzing Archie, 2. Butterbridge Ace, 3. Offshore Bound, 4. Ivy Hill Prince, 5. Fordeflag, 6. Highview Apollo

Heat Twenty-Two:

1. Justice Matters, 2. Lefanta Sky, 3. Boherash Ozzie, 4. Riverside Pat, 5. Borna Sounds, 6. Alien Ticker (w);