GOLDEN DISPLAYS FROM IRELAND’S BEST IN CUP
Ian Fortune
Many of Ireland’s best trackers returned to competitive action at Shelbourne Park on Saturday night in the opening round of the Tote Gold Cup and those that journeyed to the famous Ringsend venue left suitably satisfied as there were numerous superb displays.
Liam Dowling had a tight grip on the market ahead of opening round with Solo And Go and Ballymac Stud topping the betting and both impressed in their respective assignments to cement their lofty position.
STUD SENDS OUT A REMINDER
Ballymac Stud was having his first start since last year’s Derby semi-finals when lining out in Heat 3 but it was quickly evident he was going to send out a reminder of his brilliance.
Although not the fastest into stride from four, he soon moved through the gears to strike the front between the opening two bends.
Clona Comet went up fastest but left a gap on the fence, allowing room for Ballymac Stud to force his way to the front. It was all very straightforward thereafter with the son of Droopys Sydney and Ballymac Pete careering clear to halfway. In his first start in almost five months, Ballymac Stud emerged a comfortable five length winner in 28.33. Clona Comet was second with Kereight Pimple another length and a half back in third. Zenith Gizmo also progressed in fourth.
SOLO WAS READY TO GO
Solo And Go has been busier than his kennel companion in recent weeks, winning at the Winter Racing Festival and landing the Kingdom Derby so it was no surprise to see him look his sharpest self in the last of the six heats.
Unanimous Leo flashed from three to lead early but Solo And Go was in no humour to mess around. Showing his trademark early speed, he nudged his way upsides the early leader on the turn before asserting as they hit the back straight.
Top stayer Born Tio Perform got the better of Unanimous Leo into the third turn but could never get close enough to threaten the leader. Trained by Liam Dowling for the Kingdoms Palace Syndicate, the brilliant son of Ballymac Best and Ballymac Minton comfortably justified odds-on favouritism to see off Born To Perform and Unanimous Leo by two lengths and two and a half lengths in 28.33, an identical time to Ballymac Stud. Lennies Desire lew home behind rivals to qualify in fourth.
MATT WITH A STATEMENT
The standout performer on the clock was Crossfield Matt. In his first outing since finishing a close second to the aforementioned Solo And Go in the Kingdom Derby, Brendan O’Shea’s classy son of Droopys Sydney and Crossfield Linda was imperious in Heat 4.
The 2-1 on offer about the August ’23 whelp certainly looked generous after two strides with Crossfield Matt blitzing from trap two to dictate from the outset. Callaway Five took up the chase but the leader had the bit between his teeth.
Staying on with real purpose, Crossfield Matt hit the line three lengths clear of Callaway Five in a brilliant 28.15. Brideside Bill was best of the remainder, some five and a half lengths further adrift with Boylesports Blue earning his ticket to the second round in fourth.
HOLLAND DOUBLE INITIATED BY APTLY NAMED STYLE
Graham Holland has hit the ground running in 2026 and he added a double to his early season tally with both Swords Style and Bombay Special producing thoroughly professional performances to win their respective heats.
Swords Style was the 7-4 favourite to win the opening heat and supporters of the son of Grangeview Ten and Emers Sally had no reason to worry. Flashing from boxes, he was in front from the opening stride. Coloursaregreen displayed plenty of pace in pursuit but found himself searching for the same racing line as the leader.
Both greyhounds galloped right to the line with Barbaras Lowndes’ Swords Style emerging a comfortable two length winner in 28.33. Coloursaregreen ran a very encouraging race in his first four-bend outing since September, while Grouchos Hoffa also caught the eye in third, a further length and a half adrift. The last qualifying spot went to Droopys Orator.
SPECIAL BOMBAY MEANS BUSINESS
Bombay Special went marginally faster in Heat 5, stopping the clock in 28.31. Much like her kennel companion, she was paw-perfect. Flying from five, the 6-4 favourite had little more than a casual stroll out front.
Maintaining a powerful gallop throughout, Jack Ryan’s rapidly improving daughter of Dromana Bucko and Tory Aria emerged a facile winner. This was her fifth success in her last six starts and, on this evidence, there are more to come. She would go on to see off Crossfield Dean by four and a half lengths. Brickhill Sky was three lengths away in third and This Approach fourth.
DIAMOND SHINES BRIGHT
The penny has certainly dropped with Maireads Diamond. After a stunning debut last year, he went months without adding to his tally but completed a quick hat trick of wins in Heat 2 when making the most of an inside draw to emerge a good winner for Joe Horan and Fraser Black.
Beautiful Paul was sharpest in the early yards and held a narrow lead into the bend but Maireads Diamond was perfectly positioned on the fence just behind the leader. As they turned, Maireads Diamond made the most of his draw to assert.
It was all one-way traffic thereafter. The son of Droopys Sydney and Clona Skye ran right to the line to win by two lengths from the fast-finishing Ballymac Siun in 28.52. Beautiful Paul was three parts of a length away in third with Lemon Hidalgo fourth.
Undercard
DANNY DOMINATES
There was an impressive €2,000 on offer to the winner of the Friday Racing Back in February A2 Dual Distance decider and Daring Danny picked the right night to double his career tally for the Always A Winner Syndicate and trainer Liam O’Rourke.
The son of Explosive Boy and Daring Miggie really appreciated the long run to the turn and forced his way past Paulstown Cash on the turn. This maneouvre left him lengths clear of the chasing pack into the back straight. Drumcrow Mcelroy did stay on well but there was no catching the leader. Daring Danny coasted home a two-length winner in 31.76.
DROOPYS PACKS A PUNCH
Droopys Punch, owned by Punch Drunk Four Syndicate, the made it look easy in the final of the Bet With the Tote A3 525, forcing his way past Old Road Villain on the corner to build a sizeable lead to halfway.
Roscomroe Rocky ran on well in second but Droopys Punch was in a league of his own. After an unlucky defeat in the semis, the Murt Leahy trained son of Droopys Addition and Droopys Alyssa was too good for his rivals as he emerged a facile four length winner in a quick 28.54.
PAYOUT LOOKS A REAL PROSPECT
A couple of very exciting youngsters were in action in the second race over the sprint trip with Early Payout following up on the huge promise shown in his two previous outings to see off an equally exciting Scooby Marequess.
One suspects the pair will meet again over four bends in the future but on this occasion Early payout was simply too sharp. Trained by Paul Hennessy for John Boyle, the son of Ballymac Cashout and Sive To One looked a real pro, trapping fastest before quickening into a decisive lead.
Driving the bend, the March ’24 whelp increased his lead before staying on to see off the fast-finishing Scooby Marquess by two and a half lengths in 18.54. Have no doubt, both the winner and runner-up will go onto bigger and better things in 2026.
DE BONO LAD ADDS TO TALLY
De Bono Lad has been singing a sweet tune for Anton Butler and Brendan Sinnott for the past number of months and he claimed another impressive success in the finale over a less-than-ideal 525yds.
The strong running son of Broadstrand Bono and Town Penny is better suited by further these days but a flying start put him in the perfect position to strike.
He may have been headed on the turn by Jerrivee De Meg but remained close enough in second. Predictably, De Bono Lad drew closer into the third turn before pouncing. Charging up the fence, he got first run on the leader to hit the front before the home turn.
Maireads Prince was also challenging at this point but De Bono Lad drew away to win by two and a half lengths in 28.47.
MAX TOO HOT TO HANDLE
Racing commenced with an A1 575 and Max Wago relished the longer run to the turn as he made all to score for Barry Clancy and Danny Kehoe.
The son of Droopys Sydney and Ballycowen Lucy built a clear advantage to the second turn and never looked under any pressure as he emerged a two length winner from the staying on Blastoff Cooper in 31.32.