BONGO SETS STANDARD IN FUTURE CHAMPION

Ian Fortune

The second round of heats in the 2026 Future Champion and Michael Fortune Memorial Open Unraced Stake produced three competitive contests at Enniscorthy on Monday night with Ballyroe Bongo having the honour of going fastest in the final heat.

The opening heat saw Droopys Gallant starting a 4-5 favourite despite suffering defeat seven days earlier, but he clearly read the brief. Trained by Murt Leahy for the Roll-The-Dice Syndicate, he was simply too hot for his rivals in the early exchanges.

Showing tremendous early dash after a fast start from two, theson of Droopys Addition and Droopys Alyssa was in control from the opening bend. Cill Dubh Press, who had gone close to winning the previous week, finished well to take second, some four and a half lengths behind Droopys Gallant, who stopped the clock in 29.46. Third went to Bobsleigh Act a further length adrift.

CHASE CONFIRMS RESTRICTIVE ODDS

Heat Two belonged to Clona Chase, trained by Pat Buckley for Kevin O'Brien.

The son of Deerjet Sydney and Nice Mystery was one of the more impressive opening round scorers and he confirmed odds of 2-5 to double up.

Despite taking a bump in the early yards, he was prominent into the bend at which point he began to assert. Alien Freek maintained a middle to wide path after contesting the early lead to turn second and he remained the nearest rival to Clona Chase throughout.

Alien Freek stayed on in defat but Clona Chase emerged a comfortable length and a half scorer in 29.24. Monbeg Notorious, who had taken a bump soon after trap-rise and at the third turn, stayed on strongly for third, finishing just two lengths behind Alien Freek.

BONGO ON TUNE

Ballyroe Bongo maintained his unbeaten record in the stake in the final heat.

Trained by Patrick Whelan for Colm O'Neill, the son of Orchestrate and Ballyroe Elsie was lightning sharp at traps and was soon in a clear lead.

His main rival for much of the journey was Ballinabola Vol but he ran out of steam. Instead, Monbeg United stayed on well to take second but Ballyroe Bongo was never under any pressure as he emerged a two length winner in 29.17. Monbeg United was second with Ballinabola Vol another three lengths further back.