SIUN AND STYLE LEAD THE WAY IN GOLD CUP

Ian Fortune

Ballymac Siun and Swords Style secured their place in the final of the 2026 Tote Gold Cup at Shelbourne Park on Saturday night with both impressing in their respective semi-finals.

Ballymac Siun made full use of an inside draw in the opening heat to chase Beautiful Paul into the back straight before making her superior power count.

Beautiful Paul was sharpest in the early yards, flashing from two to dictate into the bend.

Importantly, Ballymac Stud also broke reasonably well but took a step to his right, bumping his kennel companion and favourite Solo And Go. There was also no luck for Clona Comet on their outside, while Lemon Hidalgo missed the kick from six.

Ballymac Stud seemed to be in a decent position into the turn, only to take a bump from Ballymac Siun, causing him to become unbalanced for a few strides. Thie allowed Ballymac Siun to take up the pursuit of the leader.

Solo And Go was now on the fence in fourth but, importantly, he had the inside line on Ballymac Stud who was sitting in third and attempting to regain full momentum.

Beautiful Paul continued to set the pace into the third turn but Ballymac Siun was on a full charge for Liam Dowing. Closing the gap to three lengths on the third turn, the daughter of King Elvis and Ballymac Merkle was right on the heels of the leader as they turned for home.

With Beautiful Paul swinging wide into the straight, Ballymac Siun found herself with the freedom of Shelbourne Park and she duly hit the front before going on to cross the line half a length to the good in 28.69 (rated .30 slow).

Beautiful Paul ran a good race in second, rallying to the line. Behind the front two, Solo And Go had stayed tight to the fence to move third between the last two bends. He would finish three and a half lengths behind Beautiful Paul, securing his place in the decider.

BRAVE STYLE CLAIMS DESERVED SUCCESS

Swords Style gave a clear indication of his many qualities in the second heat, showing tremendous trapping ability and early speed to dictate early before showing great heart and determination to get back to the front on the run in after losing his lead.

Barbara Lowndes’ son of Grangeview Ten and Emers Sally flashed from three and was in front from the opening strides. Coloursaregreen wasn’t as quick from boxes but did show real speed into the turn to go second before launching what seemed a decisive move into the third turn.

Coloursaregreen flew into the third turn to move on from Swords Style but failed to close the door on his rival. A length separated the pair between the last two bends but Swords Style was readying himself for another big push. Meanwhile, Crossfield Matt was drawing closer in third and would also get involved in the finish.

By the time they hit the home turn, the Graham Holland trained Swords Style was pressing again. He bumped Coloursaregreen off the final turn to force his way upsides before outstaying that rival and he still had enough in the tank to contain the advancing Crossfield Matt.

In what was a terrific contest, Swords Style emerged a fully deserving winner by three parts of a length from Crossfield Matt in 28.88 (rated .30 slow). Coloursaregreen tired a little but still held on to take third, just a head further back. 

Tote Gold Cup

Final draw

1 Crossfield Matt

2 Coloursaregreen

3 Ballymac Siun

4 Swords Style

5 Solo And Go

6 Beautiful Paul

 ******

RAZOR-SHARP KATIE

The final of the RCÉ A3 525 was pretty cut up with the withdrawal of three of the original field but it scarcely mattered to Callaway Katie as she never saw a rival.

Predictably, the professional daughter of Ballymac Finn and Ballymac Arminta shot from traps and contained the challenge of Rapido Ivy to halfway.

Once doing so, she was never going to be denied. Trained by Owen McKenna for Denis Murphy, Callaway Katie ran right to the line to claim the €2,000 winner’s purse. Rapido Ivy stuck on well for second spot but was a length and a half down at the line with Callaway Katie stopping the clock in 28.92 (rated .30 slow). Ballymac Kandoo stayed on for third, three parts of a length adrift in third.

SETANTA OH SO SMOOTH

Ballymac Setanta was an unbackable favourite in the penultimate race on the card and duly obliged at odds of 2-9, confirming his standing as one of the best greyhounds on the planet.

A stunning winner over two bends seven days earlier, he again made full use of his early speed to dominate.

Metallic Missile gave chase in the early stages but Button It displayed plenty of pace to move second down the back straight but Ballymac Setanta was operating on a different plane. Relentless out front, Liam Dowling’s sensationally fast son of Ballymac Kingdom and Ballymac Art coasted home five lengths clear in a sizzling 28.37 (rated .30 slow). Button It may have lost his unbeaten status in second but went into many notebooks.    

WARRIOR TOO POWERFUL

Garfiney Warrior made use of the extra space on offer in the opener, an A0 575, to emerge a comfortable winner. A re-run contest from a week earlier, Garfiney Warrior made full use of the do-over.

Breaking on terms, the Graham Holland trained son of Deerjet Sydney and Banter Breeze found a seam up the inside of the traxck and went to the front before the turn. As a greyhound that seems likely to stay further in time, he was never going to be beaten thereafter. Michael Lynch’s powerful tracker eased right away to eventually beat Max Wago by eight and a half lengths in 31.49 (rated .30 slow).

OLLIE COMPLETES A HAT TRICK

After scoring with Garfiney Warrior and Swords Style, Graham Holland ended proceedings in fine style, sending out Yorkie Ollie to complete a hat-trick in the finale over 575yds.

A winner at Cork and Clonmel in his two most recent outings, he quickly moved into pole position on the long run to the turn.

A powerful son of Magical Bale and Outdoor Roller, he was always going to be near-impossible to reel in and so it proved. Boylesports Blue emerged as the main threat but Yorkie Ollie stays every inch of the trip and he crossed the line five lengths clear in 31.50 (rated .30 slow).

DYNAMIC LIVES UP TO HIS NAME

Lennies Dynamic is rapidly developing into a serious operator. A good winner despite tiring late in his previous start over 550yds, he again displayed superb early speed to seize control in the A0 525 fifth race for Paul Hennessy and owners Brendan Cocoman and Lee Craze.

The talented Sawdust Barry did all he could to stay in touch but Lennies Dynamic was in a league of his own, powering into a commanding advantage before coasting home a good winner. The son of Dorotas Wildcat and Pennyes Jetstream hit the line five lengths clear of Sawdust Barry in 28.60 (rated .30 slow).

WIZARD CASTS A SPELL

Zenith Wizard gunned down early pace-setter Duffin Dermy in the second race before easing on to claim a fourth career victory for Birol Nadir and Michael Taggart.

The promising son of out Of Range and Droopys Natalia turned second and quickly set his sights on the leader. Challening at the third turn, he moved on before going on to beat the fast-finishing Goodnitekathleen by four lengths in 28.86 (rated .30 slow).

LAD CHARGES DOWN THE BACK

Joe Byrne’s Ballykilduff Lad emerged a good winner of the eight race on the card, charging into the third turn to assume control from the early leader Surprise Reunion.

It was an impressive move from the son of Ballyhimikin Jet and Galadriel as he came from fourth to take over.

Maintaining a strong gallop to the line he would see off Trionas Tribe by four and a half lengths in 29.16 (rated .30 slow).

SHIV IN A TIGHT FINISH

There was a tight finish to the seventh race on the card with Badminton Shiv getting the nod over Brickhill Sky.

Ballintine Wild shot clear in this contest but ran out of steam, leaving Badminton Shiv to move to the front off the final turn.

Representing David McGrath and Donal Murphy, the daughter of Ballymac Cashout and Badminton Queen wouldn’t be headed but she did have to dig deep to see off the challenging Brickhill Sky by a short head in 29.21(rated .30 slow).