Bookies expect Peregrine Falcon to swoop

Round two of the Boylesports Irish Greyhound Derby provided some relief for bookmakers, after a predictably favourable opening session for punters. However, most of the big names have survived the cull, and remain leading hopes for outright honours.

“We got a few quid back, after the wipe-out of the previous week,” admitted sponsors’ representative Damien Lonergan. “All the accumulators were anchored around Ballymac Matt, Farloe Blitz and Amazing Dude, which all won, but there were plenty of results which scuppered the roll-ups.”

Looking to the third round, all eight heats of which are on Saturday night, he added: “The heats are much more competitive this time, and there aren’t too many very short ones.