POLLY A BRILLIANT CORN CUCHULAINN WINNER

Ian Fortune

Singalong Polly lit up a packed Shelbourne Park on Saturday night, showing four-bend pace and six-bend stamina to emerge a brilliant winner of the 2026 Donal Beatty Memorial Corn Cuchulainn.

Lennies Desire went to traps the odds-on favourite from trap two but it wasn’t meant to be. Instead, his kennel companion Priceless On Ice broke fastest from the inside box only to be headed after just a handful of strides by Singalong Polly.

Despite a short run to the bend over the 750yd trip, Singalong Polly had the opportunity to show her wonderful speed, quickening into a two length advantage by the time they started to turn.

Priceless On Ice was a little outpaced on the inside of the track and Highview Air briefly moved second only to be headed by Lennies Desire with Ballymac Chantry and Glengar Silent looking for racing room on their outside. 

Singalong Polly was on a charge, however. Passing the stands with almost four lengths in hand, she increased her advantage into the third turn. By this point Glengar Silent had worked his way to the inside of the track and challenged for second on the inside of Lennies Desire.

The pair bumped, ending the hopes of Glengar Silent. In truth, this was little more than a procession for Singalong Polly. Gilbert Anderson’s daughter of Grangeview Ten and Mystical Luna was rampant.

Increasing her lead to the fifth turn over Lennies Desire, the result was never in doubt. Ballymac Chantry came through from the fifth turn to go second with Highview Air running on well to take third but Singalong Polly emerged one of the easiest classic winners imaginable.

Maintaining a powerful gallop to the line, she claimed a fourth success for Pat Buckley in the classic, hitting the line eight lengths to the good in a quick 41.23. it was a brilliant run from a bitch in superb form. She is now likely to step back in trip but where ever she turns up she could be a force to be reckoned with. 

Sponsor Arlene Beatty presents the trophy to Gilbert Anderson after Singalong Polly won the 2026 Donal Beatty Memorial Corn Cuchulainn, also included are Emma Buckley - daughter of trainer Pat Buckley, Louise McKenna GRI and The Beatty and Anderson families.                   Pic: Imelda Grauer

PACMAN DASHES TO BIG RACE GLORY

Bev Lochead’s Ballymac Pacman proved once again that early speed is the most potent weapon a young greyhound can possess when the well-bred son of Ballymac Cooper and Ballymac Art captured the final of the Celtic Cooling Refrigeration & Air Conditioning Open Unraced.

The hot favourite for the valuable prize was Ballymac Hitman but a fluffed start quickly ended his hopes. Instead, it was his litter brother Anothercupoftea that went up fastest along the fence but the Graham Holland trained Ballymac Pacman also got racing to sit a close second into the bend.

Running a tremendous first and second bend, Ballymac Pacman shot past Anothercupoftea, who almost seemed too close to the fence. It would prove to be a decisive maneouvre. Entering the back straight with over three lengths in hand on Anothercupoftea, who in turn had a big lead over the chasing pack, the race was suddenly a two-dog affair.

Neither Ballymac Pacman or Anothercupoftea are stout stayers but nothing else could get involved. Despite tiring a fraction, Ballymac Pacman went on to beat Anothercupoftea by three and a half lengths in 28.68. Freeway Bruce recovered from opening bend traffic to take third, some four lengths adrift.

Leuis Byrne presents the trophy to Rachel Holland after Ballymac Pacman won The Celtic Cooling Refrigeration & Air Conditioning ON1 525, also included is Louise McKenna GRI, Conor Matthews Racing Manager and Lorcan O'Reilly.     Pic: Imelda Grauer

BECKS TAKES VALUABLE PRIZE

Carrick Becks again highlighted his abundant talent and promise when landing the hugely valuable Dromana Bucko @ Stud Open Puppy 525.

The contest was worth a whopping €5,000 to the winner and it was clear from early that Carrick Becks was going to take the world of beating for Thomas Glynn and Robert Gleeson.

Breaking smartly, the son of Doolin Duke and Droopys Beaufort displayed immediate acceleration to enter the turn with a couple of lengths in hand. Razldazl Loreal motored into the bend to move past Ballymac Charbel but Carrick Becks remained in charge.

Razldazl Loreal was less than two lengths back into the back straight but Carrick Becks quickened into the third turn to increase his lead. Ballymac Charbel arrived with a rush into the third turn but was forced to check as Razldazl Loreal closed the door and this left Carrick Becks to run out a brilliant length and a half scorer in 28.12. Ballymac Charbel flew home to take second, again entering the notebook, with Razldazl Loreal just three parts of a length away in third.

BULL ON A CHARGE

Revolut Bull produced a superb display to win the A1 second race on the card, showing some very promising rivals a clean pair of heels throughout.

Indeed, Revolut Bull had shown plenty of promise himself in previous outings but this was a big step forward.

Peter Divilly’s extremely well bred son of Ballymac Best and Crafty Kokoro was simply outstanding, showing fine early from five to assert into the bend. It was all very straightforward for Revolut Bull thereafter. Maintaining a merciless gallop throughout, he eventually saw off Slippery Felix by five and a half lengths in 28.21.

NOELLE WINS A THRILLER

Silent Noelle and Rapido Ivy, two of the best bitches in training, served up a thriller in the ninth race, the Droopys Stud Open Bitch 525.

The pair were quickly to the fore but Silent Noelle always seemed to have the advantage after a flying start from four.

Rapido Ivy pressed her throughout but Silent Noelle was never going to give up her inside line and maintained a powerful gallop throughout. Owned by the Nolan, Mullins, Ahern Syndicate, the daughter of Newin Taylor and Terezas Mendoza pulled away in the latter stages to win by a length and a half from Rapido Ivy in a very fast 28.29.

APOLLO SPRINTS CLEAR

Droopys Apollo was having his first outing since capturing the Supersprint at Curraheen Park when he lined up in the red jacket in the open sprint, although it was scarcely evident as he produced a fine run to emerge on top.

The Other Aari was a hot favourite and was prominent from the start after a slick exit, alongside Sogna Ancora but Droopys Apollo made the most of the golden highway up the fence to join the leaders and move on at the corner.

Trained by Johnny Linehan for the Crossborder Six Syndicate, the son of Droopys Flytline and Droopys Meteor emerged a two length winner over The Other Aari in 18.70.

GUNBOAT GOING PLACES

Marie Gilbert and David Hanley can start planning an ambitious campaign with Group Gunboat after he again displayed real ability when landing the seventh race on the card, the Tullamore Steel & Gas Limited mini-open 525.

Despite a moderate start, the son of Ballymac Bolger and Expert Group found himself in front by the turn after showing fine early speed. Droopys Unreal turned second from a wide draw but nothing could get close to the leader. Group Gunboat raced to an impressive four length victory stopping the clock in 28.42. Droopys Unreal was second.  

SCHEFF TOO STRONG FOR RIVALS

Liam Dowling’s Ballymac Scheff claimed a first four-bend success in the fifth race on the card, the Orchestrate @ Stud AA0 Puppy 525, showing real pace and strength from the second turn to reel in Boltaway Wink.

The latter made the most of an inside draw to hold Fahrenheit Ace into the bend before quickening into a clear lead. The writing was on the wall, however, when Ballymac Scheff moved second as they hit the back straight.

Closing fast into the third turn, the son of Ballymac Kingdom and Ballymac Pete had to make his move on the outside of the leader as they turned for home. Cutting across when seeing daylight, Boltaway Wink clipped heels and took a tumble, leaving Ballymac Scheff to win by six lengths in 28.43. Fahrenheit Ace was second. 

CASH IMPRESSES

Aulton Cash claimed another fine success in Dublin when coming through to win the penultimate race on the card, the Monbeg Stables A0 525 for Vincent McKenna and Patrick Hogan.

Old Chicago went up fastest to dictate from the inside draw but Aulton Cash was too close in second. Moving with purpose down the back straight, the son of Ballymac Cashout and Confident Petal took charge into the third turn before coasting home to win by three and a half lengths in 28.65.

WEAVER WINS FINALE

Racing ended with Droopys Weaver coming out on top for Ian Reilly and Michael Dunphy. Chickys Sally went up well on the inside of the track but moved off the fence on the second turn allowing Droopys Weaver to slip up his inner. 

The son of Droopys Got It and Droopys Gong took his opportunity with little fuss. Moving on up front, Droopys Weaver went on to see off Biorra Prince by three lengths in 28.71.

WIZARD WITH SOME MAGIC IN THE OPENER

Zenith Wizard was in a league of his own in the A2 opener over the 575yd trip, saying goodbye to graded company with a facile trap to line success.

Representing Birol Nadir and Michael Taggart, the son of Out Of Range and Droopys Natalia was in front from the opening strides and proceeded to race into a commanding lead to halfway.

Coasting home, the April ’24 whelp emerged an easy eight length winner over Old Road Villain in a rapid 31.05.