Will Kobe Inherit His Brother’s Irish Greyhound Derby Crown?
The Other Kobe can justify favouritism when he lines up in Saturday’s €125,000 to the winner Boylesports Irish Greyhound Derby final at Shelbourne Park, Dublin. Following an outstanding performance in the quarter-finals, our selection produced another top-drawer display with an all-the-way victory in last weekend’s semi-finals.
Now chasing a hattrick and his fourth win in the competition, The Other Kobe can quickly seal the deal if he departs the starting boxes with another flying start. Success for the Champion Stakes runner-up would give his trainer, Jennifer O’Donnell, back-to-back wins in the competition. Irish Greyhound Derby betting sites have him priced on 2/1.
The Other Kobe (blue vest) took an early and decisive lead in last weekend’s Irish Greyhound Derby semi-final. ©GRI/DawnQuinn
O’Donnell is one of four trainers with a finalist who have previously won the Derby. Graham Holland – fielding Bockos Crystal – will attempt to land his fourth Derby title. Pat Buckley, who won the race in 2009, is represented by Bens Teddy. Teacher and greyhound trainer Patrick Guilfoyle took the crown in 2017. He will have high hopes that Music Glideaway can land him a second Derby success.
Battle to the Bend Could Prove Decisive
The quick-starting Music Glideaway was the fastest semi-final winner, but he will do well to beat The Other Kobe into the first bend with a level break. Whoever gets the first run could steal a vital length or two advantage by the time they swing into the backstretch.
Trap one runner Well Met is another blessed with smart early pace. His connections will be hopeful that he can hold his position on the rails going into the first bend. If he can match the early speed of The Other Kobe – who has drawn trap two – he would be a big danger. This greyhound rightly warrants plenty of respect.
Two bitches have reached the Boylesports Greyhound Derby decider. Bockos Crystal holds a solid chance on the best of her form, and should she go on to victory on Saturday, she would become just the tenth female to claim the Derby title.
Threesixfive is the other bitch in the line-up. She has done tremendously well to reach the decider by defying double-digit odds in the last three rounds. However, it would be a monster shock if she were to win the final. This time, greyhound betting sites have her quoted on 40/1.
Teddy the Boy for a Big Finish
Bens Teddy completes the Derby field. He will have his supporters following some eye-catching performances throughout the event. He is not the quickest in the early stages, but he looks set to enjoy a smooth passage behind the pacesetters before he begins to go through the gears in the back straight.
He is almost certain to be going better than any as the field swings for home, and connections of the leading dogs will be anxiously looking in behind to see how quickly Bens Teddy is closing them down. This race could produce a nail-biting finish, and, as a suggested forecast link, we believe that Bens Teddy will not be far away at the end.
Irish Derby Draw, Latest Odds and Facts
| Trap | Greyhound | Best Odds |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Well Met | 9/2 |
| 2. | The Other Kobe | 2/1 |
| 3. | Bens Teddy | 4/1 |
| 4. | Threesixfive | 40/1 |
| 5. | Bockos Crystal | 6/1 |
| 6. | Music Glideaway | 4/1 |
- A win for The Other Kobe in the Derby final would be the first time that the Irish Greyhound Derby has been won by greyhounds from the same litter. His brother, Born Warrior, was victorious in last year’s final.
- Threesixfive’s owners, The Pints of Heino Syndicate, bought their greyhound after backing the Paul Hennessy-trained racehorse, Heaven Help Us (33/1), at the 2021 Cheltenham Festival. Hennessy has also trained the winners of both the Irish and English Greyhound Derby. The syndicate backed the horse with bet365 and named their new purchase accordingly.
Beepers and Bobsleigh Can Skate Home
The other big race of the night is the Derby Plate. It is difficult to look beyond Beepers Lariat, who could not have been more impressive when destroying rivals in his semi-final. A similar run will surely suffice.
Elsewhere on a classy supporting card, there is a solid case to be made for Bobsleigh Dream in the 600-yard open race at 7.59 pm. The Pat Buckley-trained female won two rounds of the Derby. On Monday, she produced an excellent performance at Nottingham, England, to capture a quality invitation race.
What Are the Best Derby Night Bets?
Bobsleigh Dream 7.59 pm Shelbourne
Beepers Lariat 9.13 pm Shelbourne
The Other Kobe 9.24 pm Shelbourne
