A FAMOUS DOWLING DOUBLE AS KAMALA SHINES BRIGHTEST IN CHAMPION

Ian Fortune

Liam Dowling has been hitting the woodwork in recent months, going close to capturing the English Derby, the Oaks and more but on Saturday night his kennel was in potent form at Shelbourne Park as he recorded a stunning double with Ballymac Kamala emerging a brilliant winner of the BOYLE Sports Champion Stakes and Ballymac Gwennie emerging a tremendous winner of the BOYLE Sports Champion Plate.

Throw in the quarter finals of the TIME Greyhound Nutrition Puppy Derby and some brilliant runs on the undercard and it was a most memorable night at the most famous greyhound racing stadium on the planet.

KAMALA A TRUE CHAMPION

The headlines rightly went to Ballymac Kamala, however. The absence of Bouncing Monarch from five meant that Bockos Diamond started a warm favourite from the outside box, eventually sent off at 5-4, but Ballymac Kamala was right on his heels at 7-4.

Getup the Boy and Glengar Kane were next in at 13-2, while Sober Glory was the 12-1 outsider of the field but still managed to have a say in the outcome.

Importantly, Ballymac Kamala broke fastest, alongside Getup the Boy with Bockos Diamond soon challenging. Ballymac Kamala quickly got the better of Getup The Boy but Bockos Diamond and Sober Barry were soon challenging for the lead.

The race was effectively decided on the opening bend. Bockos Diamond just couldn’t get around the leader and Sober Barry. The latter drifted off the opening turn, hampering Bockos Diamond, not once but twice.

As a result, Ballymac Kamala was left in front and was in total command thereafter. Getup The Boy slipped around in second to sit three lengths behind the leader but he was never going to be able to pick up a bitch of her quality.

Liam Dowling’s daughter of Droopys Sydney and Ballymac Pete maintained her advantage into the third turn before enjoying the run for home. Maintaining a merciless gallop, Ballymac Kamala cruised home to win by five lengths in a stunning, fastest of the year 29.15.

Getup the Boy was second with Bockos Diamond showing big pace to come through for third, some two and a half lengths further back. But the night belonged to Ballymac Kamala. After going so close in the Oaks, she again highlighted her incredible talent by seeing off the dogs in one of the great competitions. It seems safe to say, it’s now all systems go for a Derby challenge.

Damien Lonergan representing BoyleSports sponsors presents the trophy to Daragh Sheehan  after Ballymac Kamala won the 2026 BoyleSports Champion Stakes 550, also included are Richard O'Regan GRI and Racing Manager Dylan Brennan.    Pic: Imelda Grauer

GWENNIE TOO STRONG IN PLATE DECIDER

Liam Dowling also provided the winner of the BOYLE Sports Champion Plate with Ballymac Gwennie justifying some strong support in the ante-post market.

It was somewhat predictable that Newinn Spot would set a strong gallop from trap two but even his most loyal supporters knew their fate from early.

Ballymac Gwennie was sharp from boxes and turned second. Once doing so, it was a case of when she would go to the front rather than if she would come through to score. The powerful daughter of Ballymac Finn and Ballymac Arminta cruised up to the leader to strike the front between the last two bends. She continued to pile on the pressure as they turned for home before emerging a facile four and a half length scorer in 29.23. Newinn Spot was second with Priceless Romeo finishing another half-length back in third.

Damien Lonergan representing BoyleSports sponsors presents the trophy to Anna Barber after Ballymac Gwennie won the 2026 BoyleSports Champion Plate 550, also included are General Manager Shelbourne Park Daragh Geraghty and Barry Caul.             Pic: Imelda Grauer 

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TIME Greyhound Nutrition Puppy Derby

The quarter finals of the TIME Greyhound Nutrition Puppy Derby delivered some fine displays but it was something of a shock to see Grouchos Chief setting the standard given his inexperience.

He was brilliant, however, and is clearly a very bright prospect.

Wi Can Dream was the fastest opening round scorer but he had to work really hard to follow up, while Kapuka Coley and Kilwest Major proved too strong in the remaining heats. Below we run through the four heats.

Heat 1 – JAMES DENIES SANCTUARY IN A THRILLER

There was a desperately tight finish to the opening heat but Wi Can James somehow got up to maintain his unbeaten record in the competition to justify odds-on favouritism.

Slick Sanctuary made a bold bid from the front but was under severe pressure from the start with Wi Can James turning second.

On more than one occasion it seemed as though Wi Can James wanted the same racing line as the leader and that forced him to check his stride off the second turn and into the third turn.

Sticking close to the rail off the final bend, Wi Can James finally got the gap he needed and he powered up the straight to join and head Slick Sanctuary on the line. Trained by Pat Guilfoyle for Lars and Anita Wicander, the son of Ballymac Cashout and Right Nicki got up to win by a short head in 28.31.

Heat 2 – COLEY LEAVES IT LATE

There was also a tight finish to the second heat with Kapuka Coley eventually getting to the long-time leader Villaricos in the final strides.

Callaway Ryder was involved in the shake up to the bend but checked as his kennel companion Villaricos drove the bend, leaving Kapuka Coley in second.

Predictably, Kapuka Coley closed into the third turn but struggled to get past the leader who was digging in for a battle. Despite the best efforts of Villaricos, the Karol Ramsbottom trained Kapuka Coley finally got on terms in the closing yards before nudging on. Matt Dunne’s powerful son of Sober Glory and Assarula Runner got up to win by a neck in 28.45. Razldazl Thelma was third for much of the way and finished just two lengths further adrift. 

Heat 3 –MAJOR TOO STRONG

For the second week running, Kilwest Major emerged a good winner at big odds for Gerry Holian and the Keating Syndicate.

A powerful son of Ballymac Cashout and Goldcash Ice, he was last into the turn but found himself in fourth after avoiding a little traffic on the turn.

Fahrenheit Ace went up fastest but was clipped at the bend from the advancing Anothercupoftea. As a result of this incident, the hot favourite Carrick Becks moved past Fahrenheit Ace to lead the field into the back straight. Anothecupoftea was third at this point but Kilwest Major was advancing after losing zero momentum around the opening two bends.

Things started to happen for Kilwest Major passing halfway. Closing rapidly into the third turn, he found himself just behind Fahrenheit Ace and Carrick Becks, who were locked in battle. Most knew that Kilwest Major was going to finish fast and he certainly didn’t disappoint.

Running right by the front two between the last two bends, he turned for home in front. Carrick Becks attempted to rally in second but it was futile. Kilwest Major was on his way to a fine success. He stayed on well to see of Carrick Becks by two lengths in 28.60, while Fahrenheit Ace took third, another length adrift.

Heat 4 – GROUCHOS SENDS OUT A WARNING

There was much to like about the display of Grouchos Chief on debut in the opening round of the Puppy Derby but his second start was on a different level as he displayed fine pace, power and a willing attitude to clock a standard setting 28.17 in the final heat.

Pat Buckley clearly thinks plenty of the son of Signet Ace and Droopys Lois to put him into the classic without any racing experience but he fully justified his handler’s faith as he left some talented trackers chasing shadows.

Droopys Unreal was fastest into stride, followed by Lennies Jamesmac but Grouchos Chief was soon up their inner to challenge and assert on the corner. Droopys Unreal was headed by Im Here as they hit the back straight but he could never get to Grouchos Chief.

Ken O’Connell’s youngster displayed zero flaws as he emerged a tremendous winner by a length and a half from Im Here. Ballymac Scheff was never a threat after a slow start but ran on strongly to take third, another three lengths adrift.

MAJOR MARCHES TO MAGICAL VICTORY

Magical Major opened up proceedings with a massive run over the 575yd trip, opening his account for 2026 in the process.

One of the stars of 2025, the Derby Plate winner didn’t fly from traps but did pace up really well to lead on the corner.

Once goinmg to the front, he quickly put the race beyond the reach of his rivals. Goodnitekathleen gave chase but Magical Major seemed to relish the test over the extended trip and proceeded to see off Uncle Keith by five and a half lengths in a brilliant 30.78.

PHANTOM WITH A HUGE RUN

There was a huge run in the tenth race on the card with Fahee Phantom coming in as a reserve to post a fastest of the night 28.02.

Incredibly, returned a 20-1 chance, perhaps highlighting the inaccuracies of the industry SP model, the Graham Holland trained star was in front from the opening yards.

Silent Noelle turned second but could never get to the leader. Fahee Phantom, who boasted a 28.01 success around Shelbourne in mid-May, continued to run with purpose out fromt to eventually see off Silent Noelle by three and a half lengths.

JAYKAY FLIES IN FINALE

Racing ended with Jaykay Fly running out a ready winner of the finale for Paul Hennessy and Carol O’Roirdan.

 A finalist in the Kirby Memorial earlier in the year, he made full use of an ideal draw on the fence and a slick exit to come home clear.

Flying into the bend, the son of Serene Ace and Flaming Sahara was left further clear at this point and eventually cruised home eight and a half lengths clear of Coolemount Spy in 29.40.

CASH DOMINATES

Aulton Cash continued his love affair with Shelbourne Park,. Justifying favouritism in the ninth race for Vincent McKenna and owner Patrick Hogan.

A thoroughly likeable son of Ballymac Cashout and Confident Petal, Aulton Cash broke smartly and was in front from the early yards.

Once going to the front, he was always travelling like a winner and emerged a length and a half scorer over the staying on Kilcolgan Eddie in 28.44. 

MAXIMUS DULY OBLIGES

Mutts Maximus was a short price to win the second race and duly obliged as his price suggested he should.

Coming away on terms, the Shaun Conway trained son of Grangeview ten and Glory Razl was soon in front and proceeded to go clear to halfway. owned by Ann and Declan Johson, Mutts Maximus went on to win by seven and a half lengths from Hackney Scout in 28.75.