There is no bigger occasion in world greyhound racing than Boylesports Irish Greyhound Derby final night at Shelbourne Park. The spiritual home of world greyhound racing really comes alive in September and a full house will provide an atmosphere like no other on Saturday night.
It helps that this year’s Derby has been absolutely top class from the very outset. We’ve seen countless brilliant performances, many shocks and some real drama, resulting in a final that would be fitting of any Derby in any era.
Six of Ireland’s very best will go to traps at 9.24pm with the chance of racing into immortality and claiming the €125,000 winner’s purse. For the first time in the near one-hundred-year history of the classic, there will be three bitches in the line-up, while siblings Maries Wedding and Ballymac Finn are both bidding to become the youngest ever winners of the blue riband.
Owen McKenna, who has won the Derby twice in the past, sends out the favourite Callaway Pro Am as he attempts to join his father, the legendary Ger McKenna, on three Derby wins. Remarkably, it’s the third year running McKenna will be responsible for the favourite.
He had the heartache of watching his track record holder Pestana pick up an injury in the 2020 decider, although gained ample consolation last year with the sensational Susie Sapphire racing to one of the most famous Derby successes in history.
Callaway Pro Am has just gone two years of age and really does seem to be on a mission. Blessed with massive pace and an incredible will to win, he is deserving of his lofty position in the betting.
Jennifer O’Donnell is bidding to emulate both her parents by training a Derby champion. Her father Matt won the Derby on three separate occasions, confirming his standing as one of the great of all-time, while her mother Francis won the competition a decade ago with Skywalker Puma.
Jennifer is responsible for Born Warrior in trap five. He has been electrifying in recent weeks, showing stunning early dash to lead to the third turn in each of his five runs through the competition. His tendency to run very wide off the final turn has cost him on occasion but an early advantage in a Derby decider more often than not proves decisive.
Liam Dowling won the Derby in 2015 with the wonderful Ballymac Matt and he sends out the flying puppy Ballymac Finn. The son of Droopys Sydney won both his quarter final and semi-final in fine style and won’t be shy of support. One suspects he needs a flying start but he is more than capable of producing one.
His litter sister races from trap three for owner Tamara Butler and Keeley McGee and she too has very real claims. She was already established as a serious performer ahead of the Derby but has really relished the step up to 550yds and is now a live hope in the decider. If she is to come home in front, she needs another career best effort but, given her career trajectory, that seems possible.
That leaves the two big finishers Droopy Nice One and Crafty Kokoro. The former is a first Derby finalist for Murt Leahy, who has established himself as one of Ireland’s best handlers in recent years. He has tasted classic glory twice in the past year with Droopys Gloss winning the Juvenile Derby last autumn, while Raha Mofo raced to Oaks success earlier this year.
Droopys Nice One may be the rank outsider of the field but that only goes to highlight the quality of the contest. She has only ever raced in the very best company and wasn’t beaten far in either the quarter or semi-finals.
Crafty Kokoro is the biggest finisher of them all, however. In normal circumstances, the Derby finalist that was likely to turn last would be a massive price but, such is the brilliance and swashbuckling nature of Peter Divilly’s star, she could be as short as 7-2 at the off. If within six lengths of the leader at halfway, she will be very difficult to contain should the gaps arrive.
It’ a truly stunning Derby decider but the vote goes to Callaway Pro Am to provide Owen McKenna with a second Derby success in as many years. He first won the classic in 2004 with Like A Shot only to end his drought last year with Susie Sapphire. Without mentioning waiting for buses, it would be extraordinary for another Derby success to come just twelve months later.
Crafty Kokoro is seen as the biggest danger, while Born Warrior is the potential fly in the ointment if he were to slip the field in the opening half of the contest. The action can be viewed live on Virgin Media 2 between 9 and 10pm.
There’s also a wonderful undercard on offer with the feature the final of the Michael Fortune Memorial Derby Plate. Kildare Is set to start favourite but Garryvoe Joe can make the most of an inside draw to emerge triumphant for Graham Holland.
