Massive Tipperary interest in the BoyleSports Irish Greyhound Derby

Shelbourne Park is the venue for the big race

The final of the 2023 BoyleSports Irish Greyhound Derby is just days away and the Jennifer O’Donnell trained The Other Kobe is the 2/1 from 8/1 favourite to win the €125,000 prize at Shelbourne Park. 

The son of Ballymac Best – Mountaylor Queen showed his early dash yet again when winning his semi-final heat in 29.58. It’s no surprise to see him chalked up as the favourite following a quarter final display in which he clocked 29.15 with sectionals of 3.38 and 16.88, the fastest of the competition so far.

His trainer Jennifer O’Donnell is attempting to make history on Saturday night as The Other Kobe is a full brother to last year’s winner Born Warrior and should he follow in his brother’s pawprints, it will go down as one of the best training performances we have ever seen at the Ringsend track. 

Cappawhite based Pat Buckley trained Bens Teddy which qualified in second, just ¾ of a length behind The Other Kobe. He finished strong as BoyleSports made him 7/2 from 10/1 and he looks like great value.

Golden based Graham Holland trained Bockos Crystal which was another length back in third with her outright chances hammered into 5/1 from 16/1 despite a tricky draw in trap five on Saturday night. 

The opening semi-final went to the Patrick Guilfoyle trained Music Glideaway who ran out a comfortable winner in 29.32. This greyhound has surprised many by reaching the final and his odds have been cut into 4/1 from 33/1, one of the biggest movers. 

This son of Newinn Taylor – Glideaway Magic won by four lengths, with the John Jones owned and trained Well Met finishing second. He ran a super race with trap one to suit him in the final.

His odds have been chopped into 4/1 from 14/1 and what a story it would be if he wins as John reached the final a few years ago with a dog called Our Surprise, only to have to withdraw him before the big night. 

A bitch called Threesixfive grabbed third place for young trainer Scott Phelan, who is enjoying every moment of reaching his first derby final. This lady has been incredible for her owners which is a fascinating story.

They bought the bitch after backing the Paul Hennessy trained Heaven Help Us to win at Cheltenham at 33/1. They used the winnings wisely and are now in the BoyleSports Irish Greyhound Derby final with the 33/1 underdog, and she was only a last-minute entry into the competition!

Beepers Lariat is the 11/8 favourite to win the €7,500 Michael Fortune Memorial Derby Plate final for trainer Jack Kennelly with the Pat Buckley trained Ballinabola Una 2/1 from 10/1 following her awesome semi-final victory.

 You can watch the action live on the BoyleSports app, Virgin Media Three and Sporty Stuff TV (RPGTV – Sky channel 427)