WARRIOR’S A WINNER!

Early pace can decide final

Race 1 - Trap 6 Decs Guinness Race 2 – Trap 2 Flashing Willow Race 3 – Trap 6 Hawkfield Ozark Race 4 – Trap 5 Magical Poppy Race 5 – Trap 1 Hanover Phantom Race 6 – Trap 3 Flaminmoneybags Race 7 – Trap 5 Kildare

Race 8 – Trap 5 Born Warrior NAP Race 9 – Trap 4 Coolavanny Hoffa Race 10 – Trap 1 Bockos Crystal Race 11 – Trap 3 Singalong Sally Race 12 – Trap 6 Ballinabola Ed Race 13 – Trap 5 Sentimental Lad

THE final of the 2022 BoyleSports Irish Greyhound Derby takes place at HQ this evening at 9.24 with six fantastic greyhounds chasing the €125,000 prize.

Trainer Owen McKenna will send the 2/1 favourite Callaway Pro Am to traps in a bid to win back-to-back titles having won with the brilliant Susie Sapphire last year.

This son of Skywalker FarloeBottle Of Banter is the only finalist who is unbeaten in the competition with his fastest victory coming in the second round when he clocked 29.33.

Owned by Denis Murphy from Killarney, this September 2020 whelped star was very good in his semi-final heat last week when picking up the front runner Born Warrior to win by a length and a half in 29.64.

He wears the red jacket in the final and he deserves to be favourite but the one for me is Born Warrior.

Finalist

Known as Nelson at home, Born Warrior has been sensational for trainer Jennifer O’Donnell.

This will be her first derby finalist as a trainer, but Jennifer has enjoyed success over the years with her both her parents training winners of this classic.

This son of Ballymac BestMountaylor Queen was the quickest to the third bend last week clocking 17.01 but in fact he is the only finalist who has led to the third bend throughout the entire derby.

His early pace is sensational and his gears down the back straight are a joy to watch.

He does run wide off the last bend which is a crucial part of the race for a dog who will have powerhouses coming at him from behind.

Born Warrior has been my 33/1 ante post pick from the start so I’m going to stick with him to go all the way.

He is the most likely to lead — I just hope he can stay there.

The noise of the crowd is always a major factor in the derby.

It can put some dogs off and it may cause them to miss the start but another finalist who is pretty fast to the third bend is Ballymac Finn.

This Liam Dowling trained puppy has won his last two heats in superior fashion with trap four not that much of a worry. He will need a really fast start.

The Corn Cuchulainn winner Crafty Kokoro races from trap two for Peter Divilly and this is the one that they all fear.

This speedy lady has bundles of stamina with her six-bend form really coming into play in this derby.

She has come from behind is every single heat with her third round success the most impressive as she came from last place to first place in 29.65.

If she is a few lengths off the leader come the last bend, then watch out.

Then we have Ballymac Finn’s full sister Maries Wedding in trap three. A first finalist for trainer Keeley McGee with six wins from 15 starts.

This lady won her quarterfinal heat in 29.44 after chasing down Born Warrior to win by just half a length.

Lady

She is capable of a fast start, but she will be battling for the lead with her brother beside her.

That leaves us with the outsider Droopys Nice One in trap six for trainer Murt Leahy. This lady has ten wins on her card and is just two years old.

She has been exceptional in this derby without winning every round and I think her odds of 25/1 are far too big.

She is well drawn, stays strong and is trained by one of the best.

In recent years you would always have a favourite that everyone was getting behind but this year the support has been well spread out.

It’s Born Warrior for me but like everyone else I’m scared of Crafty Kokoro coming from behind.

Catch the action live on Virgin Media 2 and the best of luck to everyone.