Monarch rules in the Irish Derby again but shock exit for Deniro
BOUNCING MONARCH, joint-fastest with Sleight Of Hand in the first round, was again the standard-setter in the opening night of second round action in the the BOYLE Sports Irish Greyhound Derby over 550 yards at Shelbourne Park.
Ian Fortune called them home at Shelbourne Park on Friday
The Michael O’Donovan-trained Kirby Memorial champion broke smartly and cruised clear in tremendous style.
In total command, he galloped on relentlessly to beat a game Ballydoyle Tina by four lengths in a best-of-night 29.11sec, just one spot slower than his opening round effort.
Earlier, Solo And Go and Lennies Dynamic produced another thriller as in round one.
Liam Dowling’s Solo And Go flashed from traps in heat two but Lennies Dynamic also went up fast and the duo were side by side at the opening turn.
Solo And Go edged just ahead along the back straight but Lennies Dynamic looked to have the momentum going into the penultimate bend only for the leader to keep on finding, going on to score by a length and a half in 29.34sec.
The Mark Robinson-trained Getup The Boy took heat four but the big talking point was the elimination of Dowling’s strongly-fancied Ballymac Deniro.
Getup The Boy was a close third going into the first bend and cleverly sidestepped bumping rivals Roaming Shelby and Magical Jet to go clear into the back straight.
The 2025 Juvenile Derby champion was in total command afterwards and powered home five lengths clear of 50/1 chance Magical Jet in 29.28sec with another rank outsider, 100/1 Kevinsfort Fancy, qualifying in third.
Ballymac Deniro was sent off 1/5 favourite but a missed break and slight stumble had him on the back foot before trouble at halfway ended his qualification chances.
Bouncing Monarch's trainer O'Donovan had earlier initiated a double courtesy of Hackney Plan (29.37sec), a feat matched by Pat Buckley thanks to Grouchos Chief (29.44sec) and Ballyea Warrior (29.40sec).
Other heat winners were Karol Ramsbottom's Sober Barry (29.42sec) and Graham Holland's Low Profile (29.37sec).
