VIC WILL BE A DERBY SEMI-FINAL RUNNER

Liam Dowling yesterday confirmed that Ballymac Vic will be a runner in the second semi-final of the ETS Irish Derby at Shelbourne Park tomorrow night.

The Ballymacelligott based Dowling said: “He is improving all the time and is in a much better place than he was a week ago. He is in good form in himself but it is a tough heat and I feel he will need to lead Paddy Collins’ bitch (Melodys Diamond) to the bend if he is to qualify”.



MELODYS IN TUNE

On the subject of Melodys Diamond, her handler Declan Byrne is also very happy with her condition in advance of the semis.

Speaking yesterday, Declan said that Melodys is “in great form. She is jumping out of her skin but she’s as tough as nails. It is a tough heat but I would be happy with the draw and maybe she can get a tow behind Ballymac Vic. I feel there could be trouble on the bend with Cabra Buck swinging in on the corner. Melodys is a big long striding bitch and she needs room so hopefully she can avoid the trouble”.



A REAL GEM

Positioned on the outside of Ballymac Vic and Melodys Diamond in traps will be another bitch, Borna Gem and Ruairi Dwan also gives a very positive report of her.

She had a little problem after last week’s run when the bitch was spiked on the outer front and hind paws. “I don’t know how it happened but it was okay in a few days and she is in great form. I was delighted with her run last week as trap five has always been a problem for her. She’s a very good bitch and it would be great to see her getting to a Derby final”.



GORT HOPES

The third bitch still in the classic is Carrowgarriff which carries big Gort hopes. She is owned by Eleanor Mullins and Eimear Curtin, daughters of Sean Mullins and Ollie Curtin who train the bitch. She is a daughter of Wicked Marita which they received as a present from PJ Fahy.

Keeping a knowledgeable eye over proceedings is legendary Gort trainer Noel Mullins, uncle of Sean, and he reported yesterday that all is fine with Carrowgarriff which was having her first look at Shelbourne in the first round. “She has a tough task and will need to lead if she is to get through. She has been a great servant”.



GARY’S BOY

Gary Silcock is really enjoying the Derby experience with his home bred star Isabels Boy.

“Everything is going well with him and, while it’s a tough heat, I am not worried about the draw as he goes up straight. Hopefully he will again get off to a fast start and then hopefully he can drive on to qualify for the final.

“The thing is that we’re in the semi-finals and I am treating it like every other week. It would be great to get to the final, particularly for owners Michael Magennis and his daughter Trisha. They have turned down big offers for the dog and have left him with me. I’m grateful for that and it would be great if they could get to a Derby final”.

Yes Woody i am well aware Ballymac Vic moves off from 1, he has raced from 1 five times around Shelbourne and moved off each time and he has won each time. The dog breaks better from the inside in my opinion and when Ballymac Vic comes away those drawn outside him are not going to clear him so i like his draw. Melodys Diamond should be no problem outside of him and i don't think Borna Gem will be either and drawn inside Kereight King i would rather be on Vic, Kereight King also has to try and get across, he tunred into Glenanore Dancer last week from 3 bumping him b4 getting on top to the corner.

Don't know how you can make Slippery Robert favourite? Yes, he has the draw in his favour but he'll need luck in-running to win this semi and no dog should be made favourite on that basis.
And given that Ballymac Vic isn't 100% and Kereight King has everything in his favour, I'm surprise you have Vic fav to beat him. But then again, it wouldn't be the first time you were right & I was wrong!

TX p.f.   i glad to see you have melodys at 7/1 ..P.P have him at 10/1 i had a good bet on him for both the s/final and out/right... the more i think of it Vic should be fav in his simi , should be interesting to see what price the bookies have him at h/q tomorrow... i need K.K. to exit tomoorrow tx again m8.

zzzzzz you are too funny

where find out tonight !

if VIC gets though he's some dog
I will cos he was a good winner for me till kennel gate happened!!!

wonder when jaxx dog go odds on surly tonight!! can't see it beat

On semi s hoping gem goes though the bars ! as too
Hoping sugar ray boxs clever

Ray going to need one or two in final
And no king or VIC so 5.4 on here value
don't take to much working out!!

Isabels and Borna my only winners now both recent additions to portfolio, chasing Madison and Simples losses ,

TSR break even but that will change by next week should he qualify. The Glenamaddy bus will be polished up and local allegiance will no doubt harm the wallet. Can't see the point of backing ante-post when you don't even know if the dog is going to be entered for the competition.  I mean if a trainer tells you "That's my derby dog" fair enough, its from the horses mouth, but guessing its going to enter and then getting it to the final is more luck than judgement, let alone when the dog has been injured on that very track a week or so before the derby started. Can't believe how well TSR has progressed, great dog !

but guessing its going to enter and then getting it to the final is more luck than judgement


you do talk some absolute sh|te - well where do you think they are going to aim the best 4 bend dogs in Ireland?? hold them back for the Fair Warrior? it's hardly guessing, it's common fkin sense that the best 4 bend dogs in the country will be aimed at the Derby

Believe the doors will be opening 3.30pm. Any bands on this year? Hope it's dry. A few English raiders last year. Think i'll wear my England cap for a change!

The Derby is a scandal this year PF.

Graded races on semi final night and the main races on in the middle of the card.

The staging of the semi finals obviously done to accommodate bookmakers but is the graded races while the shops are open also done to assist as they are much more likely to get a result?

It is the worst Derby that I can recall and I have not went down once this year (after pretty much not missing a night's action for about 10 years), although I have been down midweek. Looking forward to the Puppy Derby this year instead.

Eske was injured - everyone knew that
Maestro is crippled - everyone knew that
Priceless Sky broke his hock in a pre Derby trial - plain bad luck]
Sawpit Sensation got injured too - again bad luck
Christys Bolt broke his hock prior to the ECC Timber Final
Razldazl Rioga struggles to get the trip
Homeless Boy looked wrong in the Cox Cup

anybody who backed them after these happenings only has themselves to blame, anybody betting them before was plain unlucky - you said but guessing its going to enter rather than hoping it's going to stay fit

by your theory why bet dogs at all outright even during the competition?? they could get injured in the next round


i guess i have just been plain lucky to end up with big prices about Slippery Robert, Slippery Sooty, Isabels Boy and 20s and 22 Tyrur Sugar Ray [2 rounds back]


and as for no weetabix, no it's just i don't like people who sl@g others off constantly yet talk a load of ballrocks themselves

.... and you don't ?

Are you the only person in the world that hasn't had the dogs make a fool of you ?

FFS the bookies were guessing that lot were going to enter when they put up those prices , its not earth shattering is it to say  "guessing its going to enter and then getting it to the final is more luck than judgement" is it ?

Six rounds over five weeks, fecking well done to you getting 4 thru .... how many did you back alltogether ?

.... and you don't ?

Are you the only person in the world that hasn't had the dogs make a fool of you ?

FFS the bookies were guessing that lot were going to enter when they put up those prices , its not earth shattering is it to say  "guessing its going to enter and then getting it to the final is more luck than judgement" is it ?

Six rounds over five weeks, fecking well done to you getting 4 thru .... how many did you back alltogether ?

sorry, dunno wot da feck happened there !

hope he doesn't mind me posting this


From nineteen points on Aug 6, 06:22PM:
many thanks pf.fingers crossed now for a couple to go far.i hope all goes well for you and you have plenty interest on final night.win lose or draw i will be there.we have a table booked this year,so hopefully all goes well.thanks again.

From p_r_e_m_i_e_r__f_a_n_t_a_s_y on Aug 6, 11:35AM:
to be honest i've not done much at all on it this year. i've got Slippery Robert, Slippery Sooty, Universal Dream, Isabels Boy, Melodys Gamble and Holdem Spy running for me all at big prices. i think an awful lot of the prices are utterly pathetic this year as they didn't bother pricing up early.

From nineteen points on Aug 5, 06:00PM:
hello,i hope you dont mind if i ask a favour of you? i go to ireland every year for the derby and this year i want to have some ante post wagers on about 3 dogs with the hope of still having one going on final night.would it be possible to give me a couple to look at in the 20s onwards range.ardfort thunder,hot pursuit and north bound were 3 we came up with.could you add anything else? i would be most grateful if possible.
cheers.

should add yes they do make fools of me and i do get it wrong but when others do i don't jump on them hammering it down their throats

Well Mate before you start telling people they are clueless fools ... talk sh!te etc etc ... no I wont go there PF

FFS well done on getting 4 out of 7, clearly a judge imho !

If I had to read that in a newspaper everyday I would stop buying the paper.

O K he is "creating an interest" , but people love a ruck and that in itself creates twice as much interest

I've bet Slippery Robert @ 7/2 and Ballymac Vic @ 5/2 - made them 5/2 and 2/1 to 100% - love both their draws


think the 10/1 Melodys Diamond is overpriced as well, made her a 7/1 shot