GREGOR SETS A STRONG STANDARD IN CONNACHT DERBY OPENER

Peter Farrell

The opening-round heats of the Kilcolgan Castle Connacht Derby 550 got underway at Galway on Friday night, where Grouchos Gregor set a notably high standard for trainer Pat Buckley.

Confidence behind the runner was evident beforehand, as Ken O’Connell and Billy Thomson’s tracker was sent off the 4/6 favourite. A debut winner at Shelbourne in a slick 28.45 and arriving off an 18.66 trial at Limerick, he signalled his intent from the outset. Drawn in trap three, ‘Gregor’ disputed the early strides with Bowadis Raven in four, but the inside line proved decisive as he rounded the bend clear of his rival. Holding a two-length advantage into the back straight, the margin doubled by halfway and, barring mishap, the son of Ballymac Cooper – Ballymac Wisdom looked firmly on course for a second career success. Maintaining a strong gallop through the closing bends, Grouchos Gregor asserted his superiority, drawing well clear of the staying-on Donishall Sam to win by eight lengths, with Bowadis Raven a further three-quarters of a length back in third. The winning time was 30.32 .30s, which was the fastest of the night.

BRIAN SPEARHEADS A HOLLAND DOUBLE

Next best on the clock was Slippery Brian, the first of two winners on the night for Graham Holland in heat three.

A beaten favourite in last year’s Munster Juvenile Puppy Cup final at Clonmel and still seeking his first victory of the 2026 campaign, Larry Dunne’s charge dominated from the outset. Sent off the 5/4 joint favourite alongside Gallant Captain, ‘Brian’ flew from trap three and immediately excelled into the opening bend. From there it was one-way traffic, the son of Ballymac Cashout – Old Treasure bounding clear of his rivals to record a facile eight-and-a-half-length success. On The Latt filled second, with Hollywell Rhino third, in a time of 30.39 .30s.

BACK-TO-BACK FOR CLYDE

In the concluding heat of the night, Gaytime Clyde maintained his strong run of form with a second successive victory for Graham Holland and Brendan O’Connell.

A recent winner of a valuable sweepstake at Clonmel over the standard trip, the extra yardage again suited the puppy as he came from off the pace to preserve his record of never finishing outside the first three. Drawn in white, ‘Clyde’ was sluggish at traprise and could only manage third early behind the fast-starting Breaghmore Dice in two. However, he made notable progress approaching halfway and, by the three-quarter mark, the son of Droopys Sydney – Gaytime Tilly had closed to striking distance before asserting late on. He finished a half-length clear of Montana Shadow in second, with Coolavanny Shona running on well for third. The time was 30.96 .30s.

FITZGERALD ALSO DOUBLES UP ON NIGHT ONE

In the curtain-raiser, Flyers Minnie made a winning return to Galway, making virtually every yard for Colm Fitzgerald and the Zero-Zero-Syndicate.

After a 28.88 success at Limerick and a deep run in the 2025 Irish St Leger, Flyers Minnie showed signs of returning to peak form in the opening heat. Ideally drawn in trap one, the 2/1 chance broke smartly from the inside and narrowly held Island Bobby at the opening bend. She carried a slender lead into the back straight, but Hollywell Merlin swept around runners on the outer and loomed a major threat approaching the three-quarter mark. Flyers Minnie proved resolute, however. Hugging the rail around the closing bends, the daughter of Ballyhimikin Jet – Liosgarbh Lila found another gear entering the home straight and powered up the Galway hill to win by a length and a half from Island Bobby, with Droopys Map catching the eye in third. The time was 30.66 .30s.

HUNTER SEALS DOUBLE

Tiermana Hunter was last seen at Galway in October 2025 when posting a rapid 28.70, and he too made a winning return to the Connacht venue for Colm Fitzgerald and the Supping-Away-Syndicate.

A notably consistent tracker in search of a ninth career success, Tiermana Hunter went off at 4/1, with Unanimous Leo installed as the warm 4/6 favourite in heat two. At traprise, Lakeside Albert in six set the early pace, but Tiermana Hunter charged up the inside on the long run to the turn to wrestle control. Opening a two-and-a-half-length advantage at that stage, he soon faced a stern challenge as the favourite made rapid inroads down the back and loomed large around the closing bends. It was nip and tuck entering the home straight, Unanimous Leo raising the pressure on the run for the line, but he failed by a neck as Tiermana Hunter held on gamely to score. Lakeside Albert ran a big race at 16/1 to take third in 30.79 .30s.

FOUR STRAIGHT WINS FOR BEBETO

The final of the ON2/ON3 350 provided a fitting undercard feature, and it was Noelles Bebeto who maintained his flawless career record with another come-from-behind victory.

Jointly owned by Noelle and James Divilly, Noelles Bebeto has built a reputation for strong late finishes throughout the competition and employed similar tactics in this €850-to-the-winner decider. This time, however, he briefly looked in trouble as Headford Evie, a 19.31 debut scorer, pinged the lids to lead comfortably from trap five. ‘Bebeto’ quickly closed on his rival and they were level approaching the home turn. From there, there was only going to be one outcome, the son of Dromana Bucko – Noelles Camino powering to the front before striding clear to record a length-and-a-half success over Headford Evie. The time was 19.42 .5s