Statistically speaking - looking at round one of the Irish Derby

THE opening round of the BOYLE Sports Irish Greyhound Derby, staged over Friday and Saturday night at Shelbourne Park last weekend, produced an average winning time of 29.60sec for the 550 yards Classic course.

Quickest was Graham Holland's Bombay Pat with a 29.27sec effort on the opening night which came off the back of a 16.96sec third bend sectional bettered only by Irish Sprint Cup runner-up Droopys Patriot (16.93sec).

Bombay Pat was one of three first round winners for Holland, an achievement emulated by Pat Buckley, Robert Gleeson and Pat Guilfoyle.