JFK sets sectional and track records in romp
Razldazl Jayfkay: one of the all time great Derby performances
PICTURE: STEVE NASHSaturday's Williamhill.com Derby Round two - heats 9-16 (heats 1-8 were Friday)
Heat 9 1 Skywalker Gold (2-1) 4.90 28.84sec by two lengths
2 Shelbourne Abi 4.89 two lengths
3 Doonane Lad
Skywalker Gold broke marginally behind Shelbourne Gold, he moved in from five, she moved wide from two, so Big Step and Share The Spoils were both pinched back. Shelbourne Abi just led half, where Skywalker Gold kicked on. Doonane Lad was always third. Deanridge Viking was slow away, baulked first. Share The Spoils ran on late and missed out by threequarters.
(tractor had gone round before this heat)
Heat 10
1 Longwood Hawk (9-4) 4.88 28.67sec threequarters
2 Trewmount Snap 4.77 two and a half
3 Mark My Words 5.00
Trewmount Snap flew out here and led to the run in, where he was picked up by Longwood Hawk. Mark My Words battled on for third, getting up in a bunched finish - it was a cracking run after a slow start and appearing out of the event. He just held off Bombolini by a short-head. Bombolini had been crowded at the first before getting a nice run on the rails. Leos Options and Romeo Patriot were both slow away and kept wide.
tractor went round; bowser went round
Heat 11
1 Judicial Ruling (4-5F) 4.68 28.19sec four and threequarters lenghts
2 Young Sid 4.86 five and a half
3 Kirkland Black 4.91
Judicial Ruling blasted out to a fastest of the Derby so far 28.19sec, aided by the tractor and bowser having gone round beforehand. Michael O'Donovan's dog was two spots outside Taylors Sky's 28.17sec track record. It was a procession. Young Sid was always second; and Kirkland Black always third, although only just held that at the line, with Fernhill Fury just a head fourth, with Cloheena Cash, a finalist last year, a short head last. The latter pair were run off their feet and held each other up at the third bend.
Hills cut the winner to 7/1 for the Derby.
Heat 12
1 Bowtime Sykes (3-1) 4.91 28.57sec length and three quarters
2 Droopys Loner 4.81 four and a half
3 Graigues Orchard 4.84
A thiller that had the crowd shouting the loudest so far with Bowtime Sykes getting into overdrive up the run in, and picking up Droopys Loner who looked to have put the race to bed. Diesel Malc has cut in sharply from five, bunching the field inside, but Droopys Loner squeezed clear on the rails and it seemed race over. There was general scrimmaging behind, but Bowtime Sykes, after going very wide at the turn, took second at the third bend and suddenly it was race on. More Derby heats like this please! It was also exciting for third. Graigues Orchard somehow got there, by a short head, affter being crowded no fewer than five times in running - it was a cracking recovery.
tractor went round
Heat 13
1 Razldazl Jayfkay (2-5F) 4.63 28.08sec TkRc by thirteen and a half lengths
2 Droopys Jet 4.82
3 Hollycross Prince 4.94
JFK is 3/1 favourite with Hills after a stunning romp - winning almost the length of the straight in a new track record 28.08sec, plus a sectional record too!
He pinged the lids, trapping as fast as anything ever seen - and proved two spots inside Fifis Rocket's 4.65 sectional best. He was awesome, showing balance and power, running middle. His winning distance was aided by trouble behind, second placed Droopys Jet being clipped from behind at the turn, and then the field bunched again at the second. But Dolores Ruth's star would have won a long way regardless, and it capped a tremendous round for the Irish trainer - all three of her team winning.
Heat 14
1 Malbay Phanter (7-1) 4.83 28.68sec two and a quarter
2 Barefoot Allstar 4.87 length and a quarter
3 Westmead Maldini 5.03
Bunching on the inside at the start allowed Malbay Phanter to secure an early lead and he then kicked clear at bend where there was even more trouble. Scottish Derby hero Barefoot Allstar ran well given he collided at the boxes with Droopys Bach, showing good pace up before getting chopped off by the leader. Droopys Vito was also clobbered there. It was really whether Barefoot Allstar might run out of puff, but he kept going, with Westmead Maldini running on for third as it was Droopys Vito who weakened.
tractor went round
Heat 15
1 Boher Paddy (7-4) 4.90 28.62sec length and a quarter
2 Blonde Snapper 4.83 two lengths
3 King Jaffa 4.93
This was a tremendous buckle between Blonde Snapper (who showed excellent pace to assert) and Boher Paddy (who came to challenge at half-way). The pair then disputed it, crowding each other at the third, ignore the time, they are serious players in this Derby. Boher Paddy kicked on out of the last. King Jaffa kept on for third after a first bend collision put Silverview Perky in the rear. Whatsupjack, after a slow start, was also knocked back. Kingsmill Lotus weakened after showing pace.
Heat 16
1 Jaytee Pedro (4-1) 4.80 28.52sec length and threequarters
2 Bubbly Phoenix 4.88 five and a quarter
3 Mill Bling Bling 4.86
Bubbly Phoenix broke here, but became unbalanced and lost his momentum completely, this allowed Jaytree Pedro to race clear for a useful win in a decent time given it was the last heat. Bubbly Phoenix was a shade fortunate to escape general first bend bunching that then left him clear second, but a measure of the quality of the front two was the distance they were ahead of top notch Mill Bling Bling, who safely qualified in third.
seeding changes -
Tyrur Justin will be seeded wide in the third round draw (from middle)
Scottish Derby hero Barefoot Allstar has been switched to middle (from rails) -
the draw will take place after racing tonight and be carried on a separate file. It will be published here at or around 11pm
*Fawkham Rocky was withdrawn at kennelling, 6pm tonight, weight variation (up in weight). trap three was vacant in heat 12
Open race trials before racing
687m: Tyrur Pudsy (Charlie Lister) always led 42.56sec to beat Killishin Velvet (Chris Lyme) every chance by a length and a quarter
480m: Ceroc Shaneboy (John Mullins) led third, rails to mid 28.64sec beat Fridays Daryl (JulieBateson) led to third, middle, faded, by seven and a hal.
Jordansoilutions (Charlie Lister) always led 28.85sec to beat Dorcas Lane (Jim Reynolds) by five lengths
