Callaway Pro Am Can Stroke Irish Greyhound Derby Rivals
The 2022 BoyleSports Irish Greyhound Derby has reached its quarter-final stage. 24 greyhounds remain in contention for the €125,000 winner’s prize. They will contest four heats next Saturday at Dublin’s Shelbourne Park Stadium.
Thrilling action is assured at Shelbourne Park on Saturday when four Irish Greyhound Derby quarter-finals are on the card. ©SteveNash
Just one greyhound, Callaway Pro Am, remains unbeaten in the competition. Trained by Owen McKenna – responsible for last year’s Irish Derby winner, Susie Sapphire – this two-year-old tenaciously claimed the scalp of ante-post favorite Coolavanny Hoffa in a third-round heat last weekend.
His reward has been an assignment in Saturday’s fourth quarter-final and a trap-3 allocation. No task is easy at this level, and the 2021 Dog of the Year, Explosive Boy, will be a worthy opponent. But, with a slow starting greyhound on his inside, Callaway Pro Am can quickly seize the advantage and win this showdown in make-all fashion.
Out of Love With Romeo
English Greyhound Derby winner, Romeo Magico, is still in the competition and goes in a red-hot opening quarter-final. Third-round winners Tullig Raven and Bockos Budsit are in opposition. But, wearing the red jacket, Ballymac Finn is better drawn than when giving second best to Romeo Magico a week ago. In a fascinating contest, the preciously young Ballymac Finn is predicted to utilize his draw on the rails and build an unassailable lead from the opening bend.
High Wide and Handsome Hoffa
Coolavanny Hoffa is trading as the Irish Greyhound Derby favorite with sponsoring online bookmaker, BoyleSports. Recording an impressive 3.38-seconds sectional and stopping the clock at a blistering 29.13-seconds in the second round, he has a seemingly straightforward task in Saturday’s third semi-final.
A rain-soaked track conspired against him last weekend. But, under normal circumstances, the wide-runner is capable of winning from the front or from off the pace. On Saturday, a clear passage throughout looks assured, and he will be difficult to beat in what appears the weakest of the four quarter-finals.
Warrior Can Fight to the Line
The ultra-consistent Born Warrior – a ten-time winner never out of the first three in all his career starts – is the obvious selection in the 9.12 pm contest. greyhound betting sites have the Jennifer O’Donnell-trained wide-running greyhound listed as the third favorite in the ante-post betting.
Trademark early-pace should see the trap-5 runner quickly establish a long lead. And while there are several fast finishers in the field, our selection is expected to keep all rivals at bay on the run to the 550-yard winning line.
How Can I Watch the Greyhound Derby?
The remainder of the 2022 Irish Greyhound Derby competition is televised in its entirety on Racing Post Greyhound TV. Races can also be viewed at the best live streaming betting sites . All remaining Derby rounds will take place on Saturday evenings. The grand final is scheduled for September 24th.
Saturday’s Shelbourne Park Selections
Ballymac Finn 8.42 pm
Coolavanny Hoffa 8.57 pm
Born Warrior 9.12 pm
Callaway Pro Am 9.27 pm
