54 IRISH IN ENGLISH DERBY DRAW
Ian Fortune
With this year’s Boylesports Irish Derby pushed back to a much later slot due to on-going refurbishments at Shelbourne Park, it was always likely the Irish would mount a strong challenge for the Star Sports/ TRC English Derby at Towcester.
That seems a bit of an understatement following the closure of entries for the classic yesterday evening with a grand total of 54 Irish trained runners amongst the full entry of 192.
In fact, so sizeable is the Irish entry that Pat Buckley and Graham Holland are the trainers with most entries with a total of 25 between them. After skipping the event last year, Buckley is back searching or a second English Derby crown with a whopping 13 strong team which includes Boylesports Derby third Bens Teddy, 2023 Shelbourne Open 600 winner Ballinabola Ed and this year’s Cesarewitch champ Singalong Dolly amongst others.
Graham Holland is represented by a talented dozen which includes the defending champion Gaytime Nemo and the reigning Irish Derby champion The Other Kobe. Add in last year’s beaten favourite Swords Rex, Boylesports Derby runner-up Bockos Crystal, Laurels winner High Trend and three-time classic winner Clonbrien Treaty and it’s clear Holland is eyeing up a third English Derby victory in a row.
Liam Dowling also sends over a big team consisting of some of the fastest trackers in training. Ballymac Danica is a surprise entry after missing the Limerick Oaks decider last weekend, while she will be joined by the stunningly fast De Lahdedah, Juvenile Classic winner Ballymac Patriot, 2022 Irish Derby runner-up Ballymac Finn and the very exciting Ballymac Gizmo amongst others. It is being reported that Dowling is set to trial his team on Wednesday.
Paul Hennessy will be hunting a third English Derby victory with a team of five. His team captain is undoubtedly the easter Cup finalist Boylesports Bob. Peter Cronin also returns to Towcester with a team of four which includes 2022 runner-up Mr Chelm and last year’s Champion Stakes winner Trinity Junior.
Brendan Matthews has a select team of three, each of which have the talent to go deep. Kirby Memorial runner-up Merits Inclusion is the sole dog with flying females Rushy Meadows and Undulation completing the team.
Ginger McGee is also sends a three-strong team headed by Hawkfield Blue. Michael O’Donovan sends Penys Lynx and Ryhope Beach, while Brendan Maunsell and John Byrne are making a surprise raid also. Maunsell will send his recent Tralee 525yd record breaker In Good Time and Jim By Two with John Byrne confirming earlier in the week that he would be sending over his exciting tracker Grouchos Duke, who he reports in great order ahead of his English Derby tilt. He is to be trialled on Sunday.
IRISH TRAINERS RUNNER- FULL LIST
Pat Buckley
Antigua Forky
Antigua Hawk
Ballinabola Bill
Ballinabola Ed
Ballinabola Jim
Bens Teddy
Coolavanny Otto
Glengar Martha
Hopes Hurricane
Ower Cracker
Road Exile
Singalong Dolly
Superfast Gorden
Graham Holland
Bockos Crystal
Clonbrien Treaty
Faypoint Harvey
Faypoint Sean
Faypoint Susie
Gaytime Nemo
High Trend
Newinn Port
Riverside Pingu
Romeo Steel
Swords Rex
The Other Kobe
Liam Dowling
Ballymac Danica
Ballymac Dapper
Ballymac Finn
Ballymac Gizmo
Ballymac Sargie
Ballymac Senan
Ballymac Slick
Ballymac Patriot
De Lahdedah
Paul Hennessy
Barefoot Awesome
Boylesports Bob
Jaytee Craze
Jaytee Etienne
Mcneill
Peter Cronin
Azurite
Mr Chelm
Rapido Bob
Trinity Junior
Brendan Matthews
Merits Inclusion
Rushy Meadows
Undulation
John McGee
Da Bold Falcon
Hawkfield Blue
Hawkfield Abbie
Michael O’Donovan
Pennys Lynx
Ryhope Beach
Brendan Maunsell
In Good Time
Jim By Two
John Byrne
Grouchos Duke