Tipperary trained Bockos Diamond backed to shine in BoyleSports Irish Greyhound Derby

Graham Holland’s Bockos Diamond is a red-hot 5/2 favourite with title sponsors, BoyleSports, for this year’s Irish Greyhound Derby after a sensational second round performance on Friday night.

The standout performer of this year’s heats clocked the second fastest time ever over the 550-yard trip at Shelbourne Park, sauntering two-lengths clear in 29.03.

The clock busting performance has seen the winners’ odds cut into 5/2 outright favourite (from 9/2), while second placed Tuono Charlie, whose time would have won the seven other heats on the night, is now 14/1.

British raider March On Freddie continues to hang onto Bockos Diamond’s coattails in the betting at 8/1, with the market leader’s littermate overcoming a difficult midrace position to run out a two-length winner of his heat.

Wexford-owned Ballinabola Jim (14/1) was the most visually impressive winner of the sixteen second round heats, blasting 10-lenths clear of Puppy Derby winner, Callaway Knegare (14/1), while English Derby winner De Lahdedah got back to winning ways in a time of 29.30 and remains a well-fancied 10/1 shot to win the BoyleSports Irish Greyhound Derby.

Brian O’Keeffe, spokesperson for BoyleSports, said: “Bockos Diamond put in another scintillating performance on Friday, clocking the second fastest 550-yard time ever at HQ and it’s no surprise punters are confident that he’s the dog to land the €125,000 prize.”

BoyleSports Irish Greyhound Derby 

5/2        Buckos Diamond

8/1        March On Freddie

10/1      De Lahdedah

10/1      Bombay Pat

14/1      Tuono Charlie

14/1      Ballinabola Jim

14/1      Cheap Sandwiches

14/1      Callaway Knegare

16/1      BoyleSports Bob

16/1      Seven Beach

20/1      Da Bold Falcon

25/1 bar