Doubling up and wide-margins the order of Derby third round

IT was doubles all round at Shelbourne Park on Saturday as three handlers each sent out a brace of winners in the BOYLE Sports Irish Greyhound Derby third round.

Other headlines were a trio of hopefuls maintaining their unbeaten records in the Classic including some emphatic victories but the Derby journey of 2024 champion Bockos Diamond came to an end.

Fastest-of-night honours went to Pat Guilfoyle's Wi Can James who took heat five by eight lengths in 29.10sec, equalling the competition best for the 550 yards and also initiating a double for the handler whose Waitingforastar subsequently landed heat seven by fully 10 and a half lengths in 29.13sec to go three from three in the event.

Michael O'Donovan's outright favourite Bouncing Monarch also remains unbeaten after taking heat four in 29.13sec hot on the feels of kennelmate Hackney Dancer's 29.35sec heat three success as he also registered a third straight win.

Graham Holland landed the first two heats of the evening courtesy of Bombay Special (29.47sec) and Bockos Gold (29.56sec), the last-named taking something of a thriller although kennelmate Bockos Diamond paid for a slow start despite getting in to a challenging position as he tired late on and was eliminated in fifth.

Other heat winners were Paul Hennessy's Coloursaregreen (29.47sec) and Shaun Conway's Harvard Square (29.62sec).