PLATE CHAMPION TIBET SOLD TO UK

Ian Fortune

Ballymac Tibet, a brilliant winner of the 2025 Champion Plate at Shelbourne Park, has been sold to the Gary Armstrong and is set to continue his racing career in the UK.

Armstrong, who enjoyed a few days in Ireland over the past week was at Shelbourne Park on Tuesday evening and confirmed the news.

After a few years out of the game, Gary has come back with a bang, purchasing a few dogs but Ballymac Tibet is undoubtedly the team captain and looks certain to thrive in his new surroundings.

He is to be trained by Kelly Wilton in Nottingham, a track that seems perfectly designed for the powerful son of Ballymac Best and Ballymac Minton. He is also set to be renamed after a great friend of Gary, and Kelly’s late father, Colin Wilton, who himself was a successful trainer at Nottingham before his sad passing late last year.

Indeed, Colin trained Sambar Kian to record a famous success in the 2024 PGR Eclipse at Nottingham and Ballymac Tibet, who will be renamed Fortanach Col, is likely to be aimed at the showpiece if taking to the track. We wish Gary and Kelly the best with their new charge and look forward to seeing him in action in the near future.