DENIRO SHINES FOR TEAM BALLYMAC IN JUVENILE CLASSIC DECIDER
Barry Drake
BALLYMAC DENIRO (Ballymac Finn-Ballymac Arminta) clocked a sensational 27.97 to win the €10,000 to the winner T Nolan C.V.R.T Centre Juvenile Classic at the Kingdom Greyhound Stadium.
In truth, it was game over after a couple of strides. The 5-2 winner had produced a flying start, and favourite Blackstone Lexus was behind early. Flying around the opening corners and powering down the back straight, Ballymac Deniro always looked in total control; however, both Silent Noelle and Blackstone Lexus were showing plenty of pace in behind.
Liam Dowling's May puppy is strong over this trip, and he galloped well to the line. Silent Noelle ran a cracker in second, two and a half lengths back with Blackstone Lexus just half a length back in third place.
A couple of races earlier, in the fifth, an AA0, Ballymac Gwennie, a litter sister to Deniro, delivered a top-class 28.17 to win for team Dowling. The 7-4 market leader displayed massive all round speed, and she just got the better of Daleroad Devon, by a short head.
Tom Nolan making the winning presentation to Liam Dowling following Ballymac Deniro's win in the 2026 T Nolan CVRT Centre Juvenile Classic Final with members of the Nolan family, the Ballymac Kennels team, Kieran Casey & Heather Hartley KGS and GRI Board Member Richie Regan.
In the fourth, an A0, Ballymac Ralf (Ballymac Cooper-Ballymac Wisdom) pulled out all the stops to run down Trionas Tribe. The well-backed 5-4 favourite had to work hard for this victory. After a moderate start, he looked in trouble early. Flying down the back straight, he dug deep up the home straight to win, by three-quarters of a length, in 28.45, for the Dowling kennels.
In the €1,200 to the winner A5 Steve Kennedy Memorial Final, it was Purmac Bethanna (Jacob Tashadelek-Droopys Lagoon) who came out in front for trainer James O'Rourke and owner Brendan Purcell. The May puppy is all about early speed, and this was another fine winning display. A 29.03 winning display, five lengths clear of A Bulls Notion.
In the second, an SS0, Stonepark Browne (Malchi-Coolavanny Ella) drove a great opening corner before pulling right away for a comfortable victory. Trained by Michael O'Donovan for Michael Sean O'Dwyer, the 4-5 favourite came home four lengths clear of Kilmoyley Sonny, in 17.46.
Elsewhere on the card, Magical Jet (Droopys Jet-Magical Poppy) impressed in the closing race, clocking 28.43 for Patrick and Donal Guilfoyle. The 5-4 second favourite came home with plenty to spare and will surely start as favourite in next week's RCETS Traceability App Stakes Unraced Final.
In the opening semi-final, Pretend Time (Grangeview Ten-Peculiar Ways) scored for Brendan Begley. After an eye-catching performance in defeat last time out, the July puppy got off the mark here, winning in 28.74.