BOYLE Sports Irish Greyhound Derby Round 1 Heats 1-12

The BOYLE Sports  Irish Greyhound Derby begins this Friday, August 7th, with 72 dogs beginning their journey to fight it out to win one of the sport's biggest prizes.

Here we preview each heat from Round 1 Heats 1-11

Heat 1

Heat 1:

(1)   Roarin Ogara -  11/2

(2)   Magical Jet – 7/2

(3)   Lennies Dream – 7/4

(4)   Certificate – 10/1

(5)   Kevinsfort Fancy – 16/1

(6)   Ballyhooly Cliff – 7/4

The first heat of the 2026 BOYLE Sports Irish Greyhound Derby looks to be a competitive affair with plenty promising young hounds with merit to their name.

But, it’s the sole Bitch and oldest, Lennie's Dream, who I’d fancy to do the business for Paul Hennessy.

Heat 2

Heat 2:

(1)   Downtothewire -  4/1

(2)   Firstpastthepost – 4/1

(3)   Brayview Lad– 12/1

(4)   Grouchos Frank – 2/1

(5)   Ello Ello – 7/4

(6)   Foulkscourt Cody– 12/1

The Matthews family have been remarkably unlucky to have Trap 1, Trap 2 and Trap 5 in this race.

Grouchos Frank looks to be the value play in the ring for Pat Buckley; the October 2024 whelp has already clocked 29.39 and should have plenty of improvement in him.

Heat 3

Heat 3:

(1)   Faypoint Harvey -  7/4

(2)   Frisky Ruby – 33/1

(3)   Aulton Crash– 7/4

(4)   Galloping Jack– 12/1

(5)   Timmys Bucks– 4/1

(6)   Kilcolgan Norman– 5/1

There’s a nice blend of both progressive youngsters and veteran campaigners in this race, and the battle to get around the first bend could be the biggest determining factor to who qualifies from this heat.

In-form Aulton Cash, who is trained by Vincent McKenna, is my pick for this race and will be looking to make it four consecutive wins on track.

Heat 4

Heat 4:

(1)   Ballymac Ralf -  13/8

(2)   Silent Noelle – 5/2

(3)   Razldazl Thelma– 6/1

(4)   Droopys Monk– 3/1

(5)   Coolemount Spy– 20/1

(6)   Uncle Keith– 8/1

Though all scheduled to start this race are 2024 whelps, all with plenty of gears to go through and improve on.

Ballymac Ralf is the standout for me in this race, and if he can trap well and get the better of Silent Noelle on the inside early days, then he should land the heat win for trainer Garry Dempsey.

Heat 5

Heat 5:

(1)   Solo And Go -  9/4

(2)   Roaming Shelby – 5/1

(3)   Ballymac Jetaway – 33/1

(4)   Croydon Avenger– 6/1

(5)   Fun Inthe Dar– 33/1

(6)   Lennies Dynamic– 4/5

For me, this is one of the hardest heats to predict on Night 1. Solo And Go is a prolific campaigner, Lennies Dynamic looks to be one of the quickest young dogs in training and in and around them there’s plenty of strong running sorts to make things difficult.

Take your pick from the market leaders, but Ifor eachway value I like Croydon Avenger.

Heat 6

Heat 6:

(1)   Barntick Bucko -  16/1

(2)   Blastoff Heffo – 8/1

(3)   Ballymac Kamala – 1/4

(4)   Hackney Randox – 10/1

(5)   Callaway Fia– 12/1

(6)   Paulstown Cash –  12/1

Ballymac Kamala looks to be in a class of her own in this race for Liam Dowling (hence the price); I’d be looking for the each-way value for this one again.

Blastoff Heffo for Philip Buckley has serious claims for that come Friday.

Heat 7

Heat 7:

(1)   Vivaro Warrior -  8/1

(2)   Kerryroad Al–  25/1

(3)   Ballycowen Frank –  4/9

(4)   Hackney Plan – 4/1

(5)   Oriental King–  8/1

(6)   Mydras Opinion –  10/1

Ballycowen Frank, trained by Michael J Donovan, may be comfortably the market leader for this one.

But I still think there's value in punting on him for this one, looks a class above his competition.

Heat 8

Heat 8:

(1)   Swords Style -  5/4

(2)   Glengar Kane - 5/4

(3)   Jackstavern Bull –  4/1

(4)   Highview Excel – 20/1

(5)   Ballyea Warrior – 10/1

(6)   Kuma Abdu–  50/1

The battle on the inside looks to be the place to watch for in this heat, with the likely leader set to go very close to success.

We’ve yet to see the best of Glengar Kane at Shelbourne Park, but I think that time may come on Friday.

Heat 9

Heat 9:

(1)   Low Profile- 3/1

(2)   Fleeting Moment  –  12/1

(3)   Mona Lee Monbeg – 33/1

(4)   Music Inthe Air –  5/1

(5)   Lennies Jamesmac  –  5/1

(6)   Im Here – 4/5

Im Here unsurprisingly takes the bulk of attention in this heat following his sensational 27:94 win butI think on current odds there’s still value in punting on him to win.

Heat 10

Heat 10:

(1)   Getup The Boy -  9/2

(2)   Harlequin Gee Up  –  25/1

(3)   Slick Sanctuary–  6/1

(4)   Bockos Gold  – 13/8

(5)   Bockos Diamond –  13/8

(6)   Glengar Silent –  10/1

Former winner Bockos Diamond may not look the unbeatable force he once was, but from 29 starts he still has 22 wins and has only been outside the money positions once. He remains a major contender for the earlier rounds at a minimum

. Elsewhere, I do like the look of Glengar Silent for Pat Buckley, who has huge pace for a dog in double-digit figures.

Heat 11

Heat 11:

(1)   Clonfert Teddy -  33/1

(2)   Cheque For Cash –  10/1

(3)   Gaytime Teco –  8/1

(4)   Ballydoyle Tina – 8/13

(5)   Droopys Faithful–  7/2

(6)   Bombay Special – 6/1

Ballydoyle Tina heads the market for this one for trainer Graham Holland, who also has Gaytime Teco and Bombay Special in this race.

Claims can be made for every dog ,but I like Droopys Faithful for Daniel O’Rahilly.

Heat 12

Heat 12

(1)   Razldazl Loreal -  9/2

(2)   Gaston –  20/1

(3)   Droopys Porter–  5/2

(4)   Romeo  Alliance – 10/1

(5)   Kilwest Major – 7/1

(6)   Ballymac Gwennie – EVS

Ballymac Gwennie looks to have several lengths to spare over her opposition

At EVS I still see the value in placing your money on her.

*Prices are subject to fluctuation.

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