GROUCHOS CAN BOUNCE BACK IN KILCOLGAN CASTLE CONNACHT DERBY DECIDER

Peter Farrell

There is a major prize up for grabs at Galway Greyhound Stadium later tonight as the final of the €9,000-to-the-winner Kilcolgan Castle Connacht Derby 550 takes centre stage on the card.

Kindly sponsored by Karen Geoghegan, the 2026 renewal has once again proved fiercely competitive, and opinion appears divided ahead of the decider. Despite tasting defeat for the first time in the stake last weekend, Grouchos Gregor is expected to head the market; however, he will need to be at his sharpest with several strong challengers lining up. Trainer Graham Holland is double-handed in the showpiece with Donishall Sam and Slippery Brian, the latter likely to contest favouritism after an emphatic semi-final success. Droopys Map, meanwhile, showed encouraging signs of a return to form for Murt Leahy in his most recent outing. Local hopes rest with the talented pairing of Tiermana Hunter and Hollywell Merlin, two accomplished trackers who have featured prominently throughout the competition to date. Overall, the race has all the ingredients of a high-class finale and is expected to draw a sizeable crowd to Galway Greyhound Stadium.

A LOOK AT THE FINALISTS

T1 – Slippery Brian (Owner: Larry Dunne – Trainer: Graham Holland)

The first of the Golden runners and the ace card for the multiple classic-winning kennel. ‘Brian’ has relished his Connacht surroundings in recent weeks, with his only defeat coming in round two, where traffic played a decisive role. The son of Ballymac Cashout bounced back in exceptional style in the semi-finals, clocking 29.93, and he will be many people’s idea of the likely winner tonight. Drawn perfectly in trap one, inside his main rival, Dunne’s tracker holds a clear edge in terms of early pace. If he can reproduce his sub-4.60 sectionals, he should turn at the head of proceedings. Big claims.

T2 – Grouchos Gregor (Owner: Billy Thomson & Ken O’Connell – Trainer: Pat Buckley)

The youngest and most inexperienced tracker in the line-up, but he has shown no signs of being overawed by his rivals. A standout performer throughout the event, the son of Ballymac Cooper posted the fastest time of the competition when recording 29.78 in the second round, though he tasted defeat for the first time last weekend after suffering an early bump. That said, he recovered well to secure his place in the final and remains the one to beat on earlier evidence. Still very much on an upward trajectory, ‘Gregor’ will need to get first run on Slippery Brian in red; however, he has displayed huge ability throughout the event and is sure to attract strong support for his trainer, who is seeking another major success just six days after landing the Irish Cesarewitch.

T3 – Donishall Sam (Owner: Michael Edward Young – Trainer: Graham Holland)

The second of the Graham Holland runners but certainly not one to be viewed as an also-ran. ‘Sam’ may be without a win in the event, but he is steadily improving, as highlighted by his runner-up finish behind Slippery Brian in the semi-finals. Posting 30.10 on that occasion, the son of Ballymac Bolger would not need to improve much on that effort to land the spoils. While his trapping has been his Achilles’ heel throughout the stake, make no mistake, he will be finishing with real intent and could represent the value option ahead of the decider should any congestion arise up front. Don’t dismiss.

T4 - Tiermana Hunter (Owner: Supping-Away-Syndicate – Trainer: Colm Fitzgerald)

A local favourite who boasts a superb strike rate of ten wins, eleven seconds and six thirds from twenty-nine career starts. That record underlines his consistency, something he has demonstrated throughout the event, breaking sharply to win two of the three rounds contested to this point. Donning the black jacket tonight, the son of Ballyhimikin Jet is likely to have a major say in the early exchanges and, if he can dictate matters into the opening bend, he will undoubtedly prove a tough nut to crack.

T5 – Droopys Map (Owner: Martin Costigan – Trainer: Murt Leahy)

A leading fancy at the outset of the competition, but he has yet to raise a flag in the event so far. However, the well-bred son of Droopys Dancer produced a much-improved performance in the semi-finals and that could be a sign of better to come ahead of the decider. That said, ‘Map’ appears to have drawn the short straw in trap five as an inside runner and will likely need to produce something special to land the spoils. Without a win since October 2025, this is another case of ruling out at your peril as his 28.24 prior effort in HQ suggests he remains a top-class greyhound.

T6 – Hollywell Merlin (Owner: Alison Coxon)

The only owner-trained finalist, Coxon’s tracker is a fan favourite and arrives in pursuit of a third stake victory around his beloved Galway Stadium. A son of Ballymac Bolger, he boasts a fifty-per-cent strike rate and is arguably the best drawn greyhound in the final as the sole wide runner. Expected to receive plenty of racing room, he will be at his strongest from bends two to three; however, he may need to produce a career-best performance to claim the big prize tonight.

VERDICT

Overall, this is a very competitive final where claims can be made for all six finalists. However, the selection is GROUCHOS GREGOR based on what he has shown up to this point. His 29.78 second round effort is superior to any of his rivals and he would have taken plenty from his first defeat at Galway last time out. While he must negotiate the fast-starting Slippery Brian on his immediate inside, the May pup can just edge his rival and if doing so, will surely prove too strong.