The 2007 Irish Greyhound Derby took place during August and September with the final being held at Shelbourne Park in Dublin on 7 September 2007.
The winner Tyrur Rhino won €175,000 and was trained by Paul Hennessy, owned and bred by P.J.Fahy. The race was sponsored by the Paddy Power.
Final result At Shelbourne, 7 September (over 550 yards): PositionWinnerBreedingTrapSectionalSPTimeTrainer1st Tyrur Rhino Tyrur Ted - Tyrur Marita 53.45 10-1 29.73 Paul Hennessy2nd Tyrur Laurel Top Honcho - Tyrur Fiona 63.48 7-2 29.83 Paul Hennessy3rd Express Ego Top Honcho - Airport Express 23.46 9-2 29.90 Owen McKenna4th So Determined Larkhill Jo - Have It On 4 3.59 16-1 30.04 Gerry Holian5th Ardkill Jamie Top Savings - Fast Issue 1 3.47 5-4f 30.11 Paul Hennessy6th Groovy Stan Top Honcho - Garbally Star 3 3.53 4-1 00.00 Malcolm Daniels
Distances 1¼, ¾, 1¾, ¾, dis (lengths)
Competition Report There was a high quality entry for the 2007 Irish Derby that included the 2007 English Greyhound Derby 2nd, 3rd and 5th in Loyal Honcho, Forest Scholes and Ullid Connor respectively. Also lining up were Laurels champion Ardkill Jamie and defending champion Razldazl Billy. Only Forest Scholes could win in the first round and Loyal Honcho could not take his place in round two due to lameness.
Razldazl Billy who had recently won the Champion Stakes won well in round two, as did most of the other leading contenders. The third round saw Razldazl Billy lose out to Ardkill Jamie and in a major shock the defending champion failed to progress along with Bar The Devil. Another major casualty at this stage was Forest Scholes.
In the quarter-finals Farloe Black impressed in 29.70 with Express Ego, Groovy Stan and Ardkill Jamie providing the other heat winners, Shelbourne Aston would go no further in the event. The Paul Hennessy pair of Tyrur Rhino and Tyrur Laurel had progressed through the rounds comfortably and then both won their respective semi-finals. Tyrur Rhino took the first heat from Groovy Stan and So Determined in 30.11 and then Tyrur Laurel defeated Ardkill Jamie and Express Ego in 29.89.
Despite being defeated in the semi-finals Ardkill Jamie was sent off a short 5-4 favourite in the final and broke well from the traps. Express Ego and Tyrur Rhino challenged to the first bend which resulted in Ardkill Jamie being crowded. This left Tyrur Rhino in front and he led all the way fighting of the challenge of Express Ego and the strong finishing Tyrur Laurel. Tyrur Laurel finished second to give owner P.J Fahy the first two home but Groovy Stan broke a hock.
Quarter finals
Heat 1 (Aug 25)PosName SP Time 1st Farloe Black 5-4f 29.702nd Tyrur Rhino 14-1 30.053rd Si Senor 2-1 30.154th Nawhobberthadda 4-1 30.265th Blonde Jeannie 33-1 30.436th Ballymac Flight 12-1 30.47
Heat 2 (Aug 25)PosName SP Time 1st Ardkill Jamie 5-4f 29.902nd Tyrur Laurel 12-1 30.143rd So Determined 12-1 30.424th Graigues Toss 6-1 30.565th Jaxerback 4-1 30.746th Micks Savings 4-1 30.95
Heat 3 (Aug 25)PosName SP Time 1st Express Ego 5-2 30.032nd Lughill Jo 4-1 30.103rd Youllhavetogo 2-1f 30.114th Shelbourne Aston 7-1 30.125th Green Heat 6-1 30.156th Off The Fags 16-1 30.89
Heat 4 (Aug 25)PosName SP Time 1st Groovy Stan 5-2 30.052nd Toosey Blue 8-1 30.083rd Holborn Lodge 33-1 30.144th Ciaras Castle 5-2 30.215th Goldstar Lee 1-1f 30.28N/R Tyrur Gold
Semi finals
First Semi-final (Sep 1)PosName of Greyhound SP Time 1st Tyrur Laurel 6-1 29.912nd Ardkill Jamie 7-4 30.053rd Express Ego 6-1 30.104th Holborn Lodge 33-1 30.145th Farloe Black 5-4f 30.216th Youllhavetogo 10-1 30.35
Second Semi-final (Sep 1)PosName of Greyhound SP Time 1st Tyrur Rhino 10-1 29.792nd Groovy Stan 2-1 29.823rd So Determined 6-1 29.894th Lughill Jo 1-1f 30.175th Toosey Blue 33-1 30.186th Si Senor 12-1 30.32
See also 2007 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year
References