2018 Boylesports Irish Greyhound Derby Final

The 2018 BoyleSports Irish Greyhound Derby is the biggest and best greyhound racing event in Ireland with the winner taking home a huge €140,000. Good News landed the top prize last year with an unbelievable roar from the Shelbourne Park stands. Tonight these dogs are just one step from immortality in the eyes of greyhound racing folklore. One of our greyhound tipsters has analysed the race in full:

Our Selection

 Magical Bale – Superb winner of the Towcester Puppy Derby last year and most thought he deserved his place at the top of the market in the English Derby but things just didn’t work out for him there. He has temporarily moved from the Kevin Hutton team and he’s done nothing but impress with his performances throughout this competition. He’s being trained in Ireland by the masterful Patrick Guilfoyle who won this event last year with Good News. Connections are flying out for this one and we think if Bale can reproduce his effort from the semi-final he should have a huge chance from this lovely draw.

Tonight’s Opponents

 Ballyanne Sim – Some would say fortunate to find himself in this star studded field after winning only one round of this competition. He’s got bags of early pace and really seems to be growing into this, if he could hold this inside line it could take a good one to go past. As we seen in the semi-final Slippy Cian had to work hard to go past this dog. We feel that for this dog to truly win this he’s going to need that smash break and a bit of luck in-behind but as we always say early pace is everything.

 Slippy Cian – Third in the 2018 Con and Annie Kirby Memorial behind the fantastic Droopys Davy and like Magical Bale he seems to really improved from his puppy days. Arguably the star turn in this years Irish Derby winning heat after heat in impressive times. His best effort came in the quarter-finals when beating Magical Bale comfortably and if he was to turn in-front of that dog it would be Cian’s final. For us he’s a huge danger to the selection and you’d say there’s a slice of paper between them.

 Clonbrien Hero – Produce, Laurels and Irish St. Leger winner, this dog really has won it all and would be a worth winner of a Derby. One of the most experienced in this field and probably not the dog he once was but truly a competition dog if there ever was one. He always runs his race and he’ll do the same tonight but will he be able to put it up to the main protagonists we’re not too sure.

 Jaytee Taylor –  We would love to see John Turner win another big race, he’s been a great servant to the sort for many years. He landed the Easter Cup and English Derby back in 2016 with Jaytee Jet and this dog could be up there with that. Overcome inexperience to really put it up to the big boys, taking the scalp of Droopys Verve in the second round. He ran a great race in the semi-final to be beaten by Magical Bale and he shouldn’t have got that close after a poor start. He can’t afford to miss it tonight and if he wants to get involved he’ll need a flyer. Chance

 Clona Blaze – The local dog that just doesn’t know how to lose around here. He won four rounds on the spin before being beaten in the semi-final and that local knowledge has really excelled him through this competition. He could be getting overlooked in this final with a price of around 5/1. For us we think this dog has an outstanding chance albeit he’ll need to be right on the bunny from the box. If there was to be trouble inside he would get a lovely toes round. Don’t overlook this dog.

It would be the fairy-tale end to an up and down year for the Kevin Hutton team. After having their kennels broken into and the greyhound community really coming together to return the stolen dogs. Winning the English Derby with Dorotas Wildcat and then Towcester closing I’m sure few would begrudge them this big night. They have a fantastic greyhound in Magical Bale and he’s grown through this competition. We think his best days are still to come but tonight he can put in a performance to land the prize for his owners. Good luck to all of the connections and most importantly a safe run race.

We’ll have our full set of greyhound tips online this evening too, covering the best racing in the UK.

Today’s preview comes from one of our syndicate managers, David Mitchell.