Jack NO to Derby entry

NO LADBROKES DERBY
FOR JACK
Tuesday, June 1st
English Derby final
favourite Toomaline
Jack will not be bidding
for glory in the
Ladbrokes Irish Derby at
Shelbourne Park
according to his trainer
Dolores Ruth.
Speaking from her
Rathangan kennels this
morning, Dolores
confirmed that Toomaline
Jack will be returning to
English in less than three
weeks to contest the
Williamhill.com Grand
National and he will then
be aimed at the
Champion Stakes at
Shelbourne.
But she suggests that
could be end of the line
for the brilliantly fast son
of Hallucinate and
Mercury Queen. “No, he
won’t be running in the
Derby” was her response
when I mentioned the
Shelbourne spectacular,
the richest race in
greyhound sport. “We will
go for Champion Stakes
but we will give the Derby
a miss”.
Dolores says she is very
proud of what she has
achieved with the dog.
”When he came to me
last year you wouldn’t
have dreamed that he
would end up where he
has. He wasn’t tired after
Saturday night’s race. He
could have run on
Monday night, he was
jumping out of his skin.
“We will now give him two
weeks off and have him
nice and fresh for the
Grand National at
Wimbledon. I didn’t come
back until yesterday and
we had the dog checked
all over on Sunday. He is
perfect and will be just
right for the National. He
won’t have a trial
beforehand”.

Should he be even allowed to race mate?

There hasnt been a non fighter rule in the irish derby so far !

It will be very interesting to see what happens if Toomaline Jack skates up in the Champion Stakes, but that is the sensible route to go with Jack, keep him fresh and interested and out of the Derby.
I have some fantastic memories of wimbeldon especially two years ago when we had a runner in the Derby final night, but this year will be remembered for all the wrong reasons. We had the concerns about the track and the facilities, then we had that terrible career ending injury to Eye On the Storm, then we had the fiasco with Diane Henry and Ten Large Down, and then we had the Toomaline Jack's saga. Yes it leaves a very hollow feeling in my stomach.
Looking forward to the Irish Derby still have great memories of last years as if it was only yesterday