ALL TO PLAY FOR IN CENTENARY AGRI TIPPERARY CUP FINAL

Peter Farrell

It's one of the biggest nights of the year at Thurles Greyhound Stadium as the final of the 2026 Centenary Agri Tipperary Cup takes centre stage.

As always, this prestigious event attracted a high-class entry and the competition has oozed quality from the outset.

With €7,400 on offer to the winner, the decider looks a wide-open affair, although the likely favourite is the Denis Ryan-trained Oriental King, who has produced a string of impressive displays throughout the stake. The powerful son of Coolavanny Hoffa and Newinn Willow, owned by the Organized-Chaos Syndicate, has won two of his three outings and set the standard in the semi-finals when posting a blistering 28.71 on a track rated 40 slow. Few in the line-up possess his strength from halfway and, with a plum draw in trap one, he has every chance of securing a favourable early position.

TOMMY TO DICTATE EARLY

In terms of the early pace, Bogger Tommy looks the most likely leader. Liam Peacock's runner possesses electric early speed, as evidenced by his 1.63 sectional in the opening round. Stamina remains the question mark for the son of Glengar Bale, however, and his best chance appears to be making every yard while hoping for traffic to develop behind him. That scenario is certainly not beyond the realms of possibility and, given his tremendous consistency and proven winning mentality, expect another bold bid from a greyhound that knows exactly how to get the job done.

IMPROVING BILLS

One greyhound to have really come to the fore in recent weeks is Bills Harbour, with Battie O'Connor's youngster set to command plenty of market support. The son of Grangeview Ten and Rafas Friend, still only a July whelp, has won his last two assignments and produced arguably the performance of the competition in the second round when stopping the clock in 28.64 .40s. Although unable to match that clock in the semi-finals, he still won with authority as he came from off-the-pace to score. Drawn on the outside of Bogger Tommy tonight, however, he will need to be sharp at traprise to avoid conceding valuable ground.

HOLIAN DOUBLE-HANDED

Gerry Holian is always a trainer to fear in major finals and he will be represented by both Indian Mist and Fleeting Moment. Of the pair, Indian Mist appears to hold the stronger claims based on his performances throughout the competition. Owned by Brian O'Donnell, the son of Ballymac Cashout possesses the pace to produce a flying start and should be prominent into the opening bend. The draw has done him few favours, however, and he may need to reproduce something akin to his 28.77 .40ssecond-round success if he is to come out on top. Fleeting Moment, meanwhile, is likely to start as the outsider of the field, though his previous 28.39 clock around Limerick illustrates just how competitive this final is. He has a potentially favourable draw in trap two if securing a clear run to the bend and, like Oriental King, is one of the strongest finishers in the contest.

CASH ONE TO CONSIDER

Last, but certainly not least, is Paulstown Cash, who will wear the striped jacket for Michael Donnelly, Willie Hanlon and Paul Byrne. He caught the eye with an excellent effort in the semi-finals, finishing just two and a half lengths behind Oriental King and recording an estimated 28.48 in the process. He appears to be peaking at exactly the right time and, as the sole wide seed in the field, another bold showing looks firmly on the cards.