Razldazl double puts Dolores in pole position
Dolores Ruth: has a fantastic hand in Saturday's Derby semi-finals
PICTURE: STEVE NASHSaturday’s semi-finals
1st semi
1 Razldazl Rioga
2 Coolavanny Bert
3 Farloe Ironman
4 Judicial Ruling (m)
5 Bubbly Phoenix (w)
6 Razldazl Jayfkay (w)
2nd semi
1 Taylors Sky
2 Westmead Adonis
3 Razldazl Bugatti
4 Droopys Jet
5 Droopys Loner
6 Blonde Snapper (m)
Williamhill.com Derby 1st quarter-final
tractor and bowser went round beforehand
1 Razldazl Rioga(trap 2) 4.78 28.48sec two lengths
2 Taylors Sky (trap 1) 4.87 two and a quarter
3 Razldazl Bugatti (trap 4) 4.72
The Razldazl litter brothers set the pace here, with Bugatti leading up to half-way, where Rioga, the Cork Laurels champ, took over for a convincing win. Taylors Sky, crowded early by Rioga and again at the third as Bugatti weakened, kept on for second. The Derby champion isn't trapping the way he can, but is still there. The others were all slow away and a first bend pile up left Longwood Hawk on the floor - a disappointing end for all three sets of connections.
2nd quarter-final
1 Coolavanny Bert (trap 1) 4.80 28.48sec two lengths
2 Farloe Ironman (trap 3) 4.87 short head
3 Judicial Ruling (trap 5) 4.86
Coolavanny Bert put these to the sword with an impressive burst of pace, and he is staying better with every run as he gets all the sharper. This is a top class dog with scope - and is giving his owner trainer John Gardner a fantastic Derby. Farloe Ironman again trapped and despite being run off his feet by the leader, never gave up and is a credit to Matt Dartnall. Ireland's Judicial Ruling, after again failing to lead, also kept on well although moved off at half-way before coming to dispute second again with the Ironman, the pair crowding on the run in. The remainder never got into the race , with Young Sid walking out. Shelbourne Geoff was outpaced early but plugged on gamely from a long way behind, taking fourth.
(tractor went round before third quarter-final)
3rd quarter-final
1 Razldazl Jayfkay (trap 6) 4.77 28.41sec five and a quarter lengths
2 Droopys Loner (trap 1) 4.81 threequarters
3 Bubbly Phoenix (trap 5) 4.92
Stock in team Ruth is riding high, all three Razldazls are through to Saturday's semi-finals , with JFK back to his imperious best, flying out and making all in a night's fastest 28.41sec. DroopysLoner continues to fly the flag for the fair sex, she has been brilliant throughout and although never able to get to the leader, fully merits her place in the elite and, with a break, can make anything go. The only issue after trap rise was whether Bubbly Phoenix, who made a hopeless start, would catch Mill Maximus for the vital third qualifying place. He did, at the third bend. There had been another first bend pile up, this time Longwood Days and Boher Paddy colliding badly, Mill Maximus gottangled up as did Bubbly Phoenix, but it was really the trouble that allowed The Phoenix the chance to recover - he took that well.
4th quarter-final
1 Droopys Jet (trap 4) 4.89 28.52sec length and a half
2 Blonde Snapper (trap 6) 4.80 head
3 Westmead Adonis (trap 5) 4.93
This made it Ireland 3-1 on the night, with Droopys Jet scoring for FraserBlack and confirming the good impression he made last Saturday, overcoming what had appeared a poor draw with aplomb, going up fast and running the track even better to take command out of the second. Blonde Snapper had led up. Westmead Adonis, third up,plugged on to challenge for second on the run in. Not much excitement for the connections of those behind, again the back three never got into contention on the slowing track, there had been some crowding on the second turn.
Jim Cremin's blog will follow early Wednesday morning
Robbie Savage made the draw for Saturday’s semi-finals
Derby weights news (movements of 0.3 or more):
Trewmount Snap up 0.3
Tinas Nova down 0.3
Shelbourne Geoff up 0.8
Westmead Adonis down 0.4
Track wet after previous rain; no further changes, as earlier announced Nastasi did not run in the 7.40pm
Trials before racing:
687m solo Ballyard Buddy (Stuart Mason) 42.11
480m
Longwood Fantasy (Colin Callow) beat
Get On Paris (Seamus Cahill) and
Guinness Dusty (Cahill)
Five lengths and a half length 28.63sec
Farloe Warhawk (Barrie Draper) beat
Soviet Military (Tony Gifkins) and
Blonde Kimber (Mark Wallis)
Four and a half and three and a quarter, 28.75sec
