Saturday 21:07 – Irish Derby Semi-Final 1 – Trinity Junior (nap) (Trap 4)
Saturday 21:24 – Irish Derby Semi-Final 2 – De Lahdedah (nb) (Trap 1)
Saturday 21:38 – Irish Plate Semi-Final 1 – Annagh Bailey (Trap 5)
Saturday 21:52 – Irish Plate Semi-Final 2 – Beepers Lariat (Trap 1)
Irish Greyhound Derby Semi-Final – 1 21:07
Trinity Junior (nap) is the Champions Stakes winner who I was hoping would get the easier semi-final as one of our ante-post picks when he was 25/1. If we can get him through in one of the first three, we will get a payout at least on the place part – of course we want more, but we’ll take that!
It’s surprising looking at his profile that he hasn’t managed to win since his first heat. I don’t have any issue with that though. He’s been very consistent, his best runs have come in the last two rounds. Back in Trap 4 is a big plus for him, I have to make him the selection.
Conrue City is three from four in the Derby but this is a much stiffer test. He’s in trap 5.
Trinity Junior is more consistent though.
Well Met is a big danger, he’s got the trap 1 draw, he’s done very little wrong in the competition. He’s got to be considered.
Irish Greyhound Derby Semi-Final 2 – 21:24
There’ll be a lot of connections pulling their hair out with this draw, wondering how they’ll get through?
De Lahdedah (NB) though is now the Derby favorite and rightly so.
We’ve been very fortunate in terms of having De Lahdedah as one of our two ante-post picks also when he too was 25/1 at the start.
He’s still a puppy and while I had my doubts about the middle draw last week – it proved no barrier as he won easily. Come Saturday night, he’s back in Trap 1 and that’s his box. He’s three from three over course and distance from that draw in Shelbourne Park. He clocked 29.50 in one of the earlier rounds and I think he’ll turn the screw again and stay at the head of the market.
Coolavaney Hopper is the danger.
Irish Greyhound Plate Semi Final 1 – 21:38
There have been surprises galore in The Plate so far and no dog comes into the semi-final two from two. We’ve had a 25/1 winner and a 10/1 winner. Annagh Bailey can win again in the re-match with Patdoohra and Ballinabola Una. He out-battled those rivals last time and while Patdoohra did rally late on, that form will be confirmed. These Plate semi-finals are tough but but it’s Annagh Bailey in this one for me.
Irish Greyhound Plate Semi Final 2 – 21:52
It’s hard to know what to do with Beepers Lariot. He left a massive gap going down the far side last weekend and Blastoff Matt was able to take advantage of and pull off a big surprise.
He could get lucky again perhaps, but the time tells us it was an odd race, it was very slow. Beepers Lariot’s form and overall ability is better. He showed that in the first run, an all-the-way win from Trap 1.
*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change.
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