Risky flies at Peterboro: Jet takes off in Ireland
Mark Wallis: His Lil Risky is the one to beat in Peterboro Derby final
PICTURE: STEVE NASHTOP action in the UK on Wednesday night were the John Smith's Peterborough Derby semi-finals for which Lil Risky will go into Saturday's £10,000 decider as the fastest qualifier and clearly the one to beat.
The first semi produced a thrilling finish when Ray Pleasants' Pennys Pong (4-1) made all of the running and held the fast finishing Bakari by a short-head in 25.27sec.
Pleasants' other runner, the more fancied Pennys Midas, was a further 1 1/2L back in third.
The second eliminator saw Mark Wallis's Lil Risky (Evs F) at his supreme best.
Breaking well and benefiting from a little crowding behind, the Ballymac Maeve whelp surged clear to beat David Pruhs' pairing of Frisby Barney and Isheforreal by over four lengths in a sparkling 25.08sec.
Draw for the final: (all railers). 1 Isheforreal, 2 Pennys Midas, 3 Bakari, 4 Frisby Barney, 5 Lil Risky, 6 Pennys Pong.
Shelbourne Park staged the first six Ladbrokes Irish Greyhound Derby heats on Wednesday and fastest qualifier on the night was Droopys Jet.
Fraser Black's Febraury 10 son of Slip The Lark pinged the lids and turned heat five into an exhibition round - coming home seven lengths clear of Allen Master in a flying 29.52sec.
Tyrur Monica (5-2cf3) had earlier set the bar at 30.12sec when taking the opening heat for team Fahy.
Owen McKenna then got on the scoresheet when his well-supported Camas (5-4F) showed good all-round form to take heat two in 29.86sec.
The Fahy's were back in the winner's enclosure when Tyrur Justin (2-1) held on by a neck to beat the fast finishing Sawdust Terry (T5 in as reserve for Smooth Daddy) in 30.14sec.
Climb A Tree (4-1), who came in as reserve for Lady Blackpool (T1) won heat four in a modest 30.22sec. Dolores Ruth's Robbiesgoneagain held every chance but was beaten over three lengths by the winner. Heat six went to Camas Crash who was equally impressive in beating Droopys Cain by seven lengths in another speedy 29.56sec.
**There are a further eight first round heats taking place on Thursday and again on Saturday.
