Irish Dominate Second Round Of Star Sports Derby

THE Irish were once again in flying form for the second round of the Star Sports Greyhound Derby at Nottingham on Saturday night.

THE Irish were once again in flying form for the second round of the Star Sports Greyhound Derby at Nottingham on Saturday night.

Knocknaboul Syd won heat one for Irish trainer Pat Buckley in 29.29 on the back of a very fast 4.87 first sectional.

The July 2018, 35 kilo dog has been well supported in betting to clock the fastest sectional of the competition and for those who are on, it looks a good bet.

Leading is proving to be a huge asset in this years derby so it's no surprise that Knocknaboul Syd is now a 7/1 joint ante post favorite.

In the same heat, Newinn Session, the former ante post favourite, went out in fourth after taking a bump at the first bend.

Syd shares ante post favourite honours with kennel companion Deerjet Sydney, who won heat four in a fastest-of-the-night 29.15.

The night continued in style for Pat Buckley as he also won heat seven with Glengar Bale, also in a fast 29.35.

Pat now has the first three in betting going into next weekend's quarter-finals, a remarkable achievement for the man bidding to become only the third ever trainer to land the Scottish, Irish and English greyhound Derby's.

His dogs look to be in terrific form. And they will need to be. Unfortunately for Pat, all three of his charges have been drawn in the same quarter-final next week.

Other Irish winners included Ballydoyle Valor for Graham and Nicky Holland, Swanley Chick for John McGee Snr and Coolavanny Chick for Noel Hehir.

The latter bitch looks a real force to be reckoned with. Connections think very highly of her and, weighing in at 31.5kg, she is giving the boys a run for their money.

There are still English hopes, perhaps the best of them being Southwood Jet, who is now in to 10/1 ante post with Star Sports after winning heat three of the second round, never looking in danger.

Trainer Richard Rees is from a family steeped in greyhound Derby history – his father won it in 1985 and his grandfather before him in 1976. This now looks to be Richard's best ever chance of a winner himself.

Southwood Jet is a stunning, blue dog whose early pace is a real weapon. He's a June 2018 whelp who has only had five races in England, winning all of them, but connections are still a little unsure how good he really is. That said, he looks the complete package of early and middle pace and staying prowess as well. He is a very exciting prospect.

Jet does however, have a test in the quarter-finals on Saturday. In a race with five railers and one wide seed, he has drawn trap five. If he gets it right at the boxes, it's a heat he should be qualifying from against another English runner, Blue Tick George, who has drawn his ideal trap one and is thriving on the gallops of Nottingham.

Rockmount Ozzy was also flying the flag for the English contingent when winning heat six at a massive 40/1. It's fair to say the expectations for the April 2017 dog had been greater last year, but now, at three and a half, he is in the form of his life.

Trainer John Mullins has had a difficult time off the track of late so it's great to see his dogs running so well for him. He also had his Swift Lettuce battle hard to qualify in a tough heat earlier in the night.

So it's the quarter-finals up next on Saturday. As the country faces more strict lockdown measures due to a rapid rise in Covid, the Star Sports Derby is helping to give us all something to feel excited about.

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