REMARKABLE BINGO BOWS OUT

Ian Fortune

Paul Hennessy confirmed yesterday that one of his great stalwarts Boylesportsbingo has run his last race.

He also reports the talented son of Superior Product and Glenlee as still in great order but said it’s the right time for him to hand up his racing jacket.

During a wonderful career, the September ’17 whelp raced against and very often beat the best in the business. As a young tracker, when known as Glenlara Ace, he displayed plenty of promise, reaching the final of the Texacloth Juvenile Derby at Newbridge where he finished third before going on to challenge for Juvenile Derby honours.

He eventually ran up the Juvenile Derby to Broadstrand Bono. It was after this run that John and Liam Boyle stepped into but the exciting tracker. He had a relatively quiet 2020 but things started to click at the end of the year, finishing second in a valuable graded final at Shelbourne.

Paul Hennessy had seen enough and he was thrown back into hot waters in the Gold Cup. In the opening round he beat some real stars including Ballymac Cashout, Minglers Popeye and Romeo On Fire. A week later he clocked a stunning 28.28 in the second round. He eventually reached the final and finished a close third.

He went straight into the Easter Cup and again reached the final, finishing fifth behind Knocknaboul Syd. A trip to Towcester followed and, after a big run in the opening round he was unlucky eliminated, in the second round.

A new plan was hatched when he came back to Ireland and he won a Novice 750 at Shelbourne Park, further highlighting his incredible versatility. Through the remainder of his career he completed in top company, winning in 28.37 around Shelbourne Park in October 2021 and reaching the semi-finals of the Leger at Limerick the following month.

His latest start came in the second round of the Gold Cup in January but he is now destined for a long healthy retirement. Paul said it best when describing Boylesportsbingo, “He is our superstar. To be still performing as well as he was at five years of age is unreal. He gave Liam and John some sport from Gold Cups over 525 up to 750yds. There was just no end to him and he’s still in great form.”

Happy retirement to a dog that has been challenger in so many top competitions over the past three years.