The 2004 Irish Greyhound Derby took place during August and September with the final being held at Shelbourne Park in Dublin on 18 September 2004.

The winner Like A Shot won €150,000 and was trained by Owen McKenna, owned by Michael Kelly and bred by Patrick 'Paddy' Sinnott. The race was sponsored by the Paddy Power.

Final result At Shelbourne, 18 September (over 550 yards): PositionWinnerBreedingTrapSPTimeTrainer1st Like A Shot Larkhill Jo - Black Stone Lace 5 10-1 29.87 Owen McKenna2nd Droopys Maldini Droopys Kewell - Little Diamond UK 2 2-1f 29.94 Fraser Black3rd Disguised Larkhill Jo - Newbridge Girl 3 7-2 29.99 Reggie Roberts4th Droopys Marco Droopys Kewell - Little Diamond UK 4 12-1 30.06 Fraser Black5th Geldrops Touch Droopys Vieri - Sporting Cleo 6 5-2 30.24 Owen McKenna6th World Class Come On Ranger - Queen Survivor 1 6-1 30.26 Pat Buckley

Distances ¾, ½, ¾, 2¼, head (lengths)

Competition Report 162 greyhounds lined up for the 2004 Paddy Power Irish Derby including the 2004 English Greyhound Derby champion Droopys Scholes. The increase in entries resulted in the first round being spread over three nights.

Droopys Shearer provided the best time in the opening round, the Ted Soppitt Select Stakes winner recorded 29.54. Persian Ruler won in 29.74 and Droopys Scholes in 29.75. In the second round Persian Ruler won again in 29.55 as did Droopys Shearer in 29.64 but there was a major shock with the elimination of Droopys Scholes, he found trouble and could not recover to qualify for the next round. World Class also returned to form with a 29.82 victory.

In the third round Deerfield Site went fastest in 29.63 and Droopys Maldini crossed the line in 29.74. Droopys Maldini then won again in the quarter finals going even better in a fast 29.52. Deerfield Site won well again as did Mineola Farloe with the remaining heat being won by Disguised. Like A Shot and World Class also qualified for the semi-finals.

Geldrops Touch won the first semi-final from Droopys Marco with World Class making the final holding off Deerfield Site. The second semi-final was a troubled heat that led to the unbeaten Disguised winning it from Like A Shot and Droopys Maldini.

Droopys Marco trapped well in the final to take an early lead from the fast starting Disguised, Marcos litter brother Droopys Maldini became the new leader by halfway, pursued by outsider Like A Shot despite the latter having to check behind Disguised. Like A Shot finished strongly to negotiate a path passed Droopys Maldini and Disguised to claim the title. The McKenna family continued their association with the Irish Derby history, the winning trainer was Owen McKenna son of Ger McKenna.

Quarter finals

Heat 1 (Sep 4)PosName SP Time 1st Droopys Maldini 5-4f 29.522nd Indian Ruler 9-2 30.013rd Tamna Rolo 20-1 30.024th Dundrum Prince 11-4 30.075th Ronans Delight 20-1 30.086th Kilfera King 11-2 30.29

Heat 2 (Sep 4)PosName SP Time 1st Deerfield Site 2-1f 29.612nd Geldrops Touch 5-2 29.683rd Droopys Marco 5-1 29.854th Tyrur Ted 8-1 29.995th Escholido 8-1 30.066th Tomsheaboy 5-1 30.13

Heat 3 (Sep 4)PosName SP Time 1st Disguised 7-2 29.602nd Like A Shot 4-1 29.743rd Make All 11-10f 29.814th Nikita Billie 16-1 29.835th Smiling Man 4-1 30.326th Teds World Cup 33-1 30.37

Heat 4 (Sep 4)PosName SP Time 1st Mineola Farloe 7-2 29.872nd Express Hancho 20-1 29.903rd World Class 9-4 29.914th Persian Ruler 5-4f 29.985th Bricken Jack 20-1 30.096th Balintore Brave 9-1 30.44

Semi finals

First Semi Final (Sep 11)PosName of Greyhound SP Time 1st Geldrops Touch 9-4f 29.712nd Droopys Marco 8-1 29.853rd World Class 5-2 29.924th Deerfield Site 7-2 29.975th Express Hancho 20-1 30.046th Indian Ruler 9-2 30.25

Second Semi Final (Sep 11)PosName of Greyhound SP Time 1st Disguised 3-1 29.852nd Like A Shot 7-1 29.863rd Droopys Maldini 5-4f 30.074th Make All 6-1 30.145th Mineola Farloe 4-1 30.246th Tamna Rolo 10-1 30.31

See also 2004 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year

References