BUCKLEY DOUBLE AS MOANA QUICKEST IN CHAMPION BITCH OPENER

Peter Farrell

Saturday morning saw the opening round heats of the 2026 Champion Bitch get underway at Thurles Greyhound Stadium, and of the three heats on offer, it was Brickhill Moana who went marginally fastest as she continued her recent purple patch for Vincent McKenna.

While there were just three first-round heats, it was very much a case of quality over quantity, and recent Sean O’Connor Memorial winner at Limerick, Brickhill Moana, set the standard with another polished performance. Jointly owned by Albert Long and John Collins, ‘Moana’ had been flawless around Limerick where she posted a sensational 28.24 in the final, and she was available at a generous 3/1 in the market. Drawn in four, the daughter of Ballymac Bolger and Twentylittletoes wasted no time asserting, pinging from her middle berth and posting a 1.70 sectional in the process. In control by two lengths from Tassie Tomboy in second, Droopys Bundle was showing plenty of pace down the back; however, she met trouble at the penultimate bend. Forced to check as a result, Droopys Bundle came back for more in the closing stages, but Brickhill Moana held firm to cross the line with a half-length to spare. The time was a brisk 28.94 on a track rated 40 slow.

QUICK-FIRE DOUBLE FOR PAT BUCKLEY

Elsewhere in the heats, Pat Buckley completed a quick-fire double as Glengar Blitz and Singalong Cherry both impressed.

The faster of the pair was Singalong Cherry, as Gilbert Anderson’s bitch returned to winning ways following a third-place finish in the recent Puppy Oaks at Shelbourne. A winner in 28.15 one week prior to the final, ‘Cherry’ looked a leading player coming into the event and did little to dispel that view with a thoroughly impressive display. Drawn in four, ‘Cherry’ was quickest into stride, though her move toward the rail allowed Magical Hope to sweep around the outside and take the lead. That advantage proved short-lived. Showing excellent pace down the far side, Singalong Cherry quickly closed the gap to power up the inside of ‘Hope’, and the daughter of Ballymac Cashout and Singalong Sally made no mistake thereafter. Staying on strongly, the 4/6 favourite crossed the line three lengths clear of Magical Hope in second, clocking 28.96 (40 slow).

In the curtain-raiser, Glengar Blitz justified 4/7 favouritism with a decisive victory for owner Bradley Canty. Just a head shy of winning the recent Puppy Oaks at Shelbourne, she arrived at Thurles with strong support and duly delivered. Breaking smartly from six, she quickly outpaced her rivals on the run-up. Holding a four-length advantage into the back over Sundance Shirly and Swift Frantik, Borna Lassie showed good pace in behind to move into second. The result, however, was never in doubt, as Glengar Blitz maintained a strong gallop to cross the line four lengths clear, with Borna Lassie a credible second in a time of 29.23 (40 slow).