DIAMOND TAKES THE HEADLINE
Ian Fortune
The BOYLE Sports Irish Derby kicked off on Friday night at a rather splendid Shelbourne Park. Under bright sunshine, those with Derby aspirations produced some superb performances, although the headlines went to a familiar name.
Liam Dowling did all he could to steal the headlines, sending out no fewer than three winners with Solo And Go and Ballymac Gwennie going fastest and second fastest on the card, but 2024 Derby champion Bockos Diamond ensured himself top billing by emerging a tremendous winner of a red-hot Heat 10, the second leg of a treble for Graham Holland.
As you would expect, there was a great reception for Bockos Diamond. All in all, it was a wonderful night of racing action with plenty catching the eye, both in victory and defeat. Below is a heat-by-heat guide of how proceedings went.
Heat 1 – CLIFF IN CONTROL
Ballyhooly Cliff, owned by the Ashgrove Trio, emerged a comfortable winner of the opening heat, albeit with a little help at the third turn as Roarin Ogara was clipped from behind when still in a strong position on the inside of the track.
Roarin Ogara flew from the inside box to lead early but Ballyhooly Cliff charged into the turn and ran a fine bend to pass Certificate to go second. This set up a wonderful tussle between the front two into the third turn, but Certificate also tried to get involved.
As the last named attempted to challenge up the inside, he clipped the heels of Roarin Ogara, who did remarkably well to maintain his balance, but Ballyhooluy Cliff was gone. Seeing his opportunity, the Tom O’Neill trained son of Orcestrate and Lemon Tilda kicked on before charging up the straight to win by an ever-increasing seven lengths in 29.46. Roarin Ogara was second with Magical Jet just a half length back in third. Kevinsfort Fancy was the fourth qualifier.
Heat 2 – FIRST HOLDS ON AT THE POST
Josie Burns’ Firstpastthepost was an aptly named winner of Heat 2 as he held the flying finish of Grouchos Frank by a rapidly diminishing head. The Paul Matthews trained son of Good Cody and Portumna Marina was electric in the early yards, shooting to the front long before the turn.
He was allowed increase his advantage at this point with a few of the others bumping but Grouchos Frank did manage to slip around second. Firstpasthepost had a big lead to halfway but was always going to tire on the run in.
Thankfully for his supporters, the line came in time for Firstpastthepost as he held off his rival in 29.55. There were eight lengths to Downtothewire in third with Brayview Lad also progressing.
Heat 3 – NORMAN BACK ON THE HORSE
It had been a while since Kilcolgan Norman last won a race in December ’25 but he opened his 2026 account in tremendous fashion, getting to the front early in Heat 3 to win for Neilus O’Connell and Karen Geoghegan.
The son of Dromana Bucko and Razldazl Annie looked sharp as he took charge in the early yards from Faypoint Harvey. The latter stuck with the leader for much of the way but tired off the final turn. Instead, the fast-finishing Timmys Bucks came through for second but there was no stopping Kilcolgan Norman as he went on to win by a length and a half in 29.55. Faypoint Harvey was another length adrift with Galloping Jack fourth.
Heat 4 – SILENT BUT DEADLY
Silent Noelle was a determined winner of Heat 4 when running down Droopys Monk in a tremendous finish. It was actually Silent Noelle that went to the front in the early yards but Droopys Monk displayed awesome peace to challenge and head his rival on the turn.
The pair bumped at this point, losing momentum but managed to stay at the head of affairs. Droopy Monk flew to halfway to increase his advantage to over three lengths but Silent Noelle loomed large in his wingmirrors as they hit the third turn.
As the remainder in behind, got in each other’s way, it was clear the winner was going to come from the front two. Droopys Monk began to tire as they swung for home and Silent Noelle took her opportunity. Staying on well, the Nolan, Mullins, Ahern Syndicate owned daughter of Newinn Taylor and Terezas Mendoza came through to win by three parts of a length in 29.78. Razldazl Thelma finished fast to pick up Droopys Monk for second with the pair separated by a short head. Uncle Keith qualified in fourth.
Heat 5 – SOLO WENT GO
The race to the turn was always going to be vital in Heat 5 and it was Solo And Go that won the battle and the race itself. Lennies Dynamic was a hot favourite in the stripes but produced a moderate start before roaring into the bend.
Solo And Go had the rails pitch, however, and had no intention of allowing his lead slip. Sticking tight to the fence and running a purposeful bend, the speedy son of Ballymac Best and Ballymac Minton maintained his lead into the back straight.
Lennies Dynamic and Roaming Shelby did all they could to close the gap but Solo And Go is more than just an ‘early pacer’. Indeed, the Liam Dowling trained star dug in deep to repel the late challenge of Lennies Dynamic by three parts of a length in 29.27. Roaming Shelby was another two lengths adrift. Croydon Avenger was best of the remainder.
Heat 6 – KAMALA MADE TO WORK HARD
Brilliant Champion Stakes winner Ballymac Kamala may have been one of the hottest favourites of the round at 1-5 in Heat 6 but she was forced to pull out all the stops to get to the front before holding off the late challenge of Barntick Bucko.
Hackney Randox broke smartly from four but was soon challenged by Ballymac Kamala. The pair raced side by side into the back straight with Ballymac Kamala only narrowly avoiding getting clipped on the heels by Barntick Bucko.
She would ease into a narrow lead by halfway but Blastoff Heffo arrived with a rush into the third turn to challenge. He then found a little traffic, allowing room up the inside for Barntick Bucko to take up the pursuit. Ballymac Kamala did stay on well to complete a double for Liam Dowling, although she needed the line as Barntick Bucko was finishing at speed.
The pair were separated by just a half length in 29.58 with Blastoff Heffo three lengths further back in third. Paulstown Cash also progressed.
Heat 7 – ORIENTAL IS KING
Oriental King certainly threw his hat into the Derby ring in Heat 7 showing great pace and strength to come from behind two very fast trackers in Hackney Plan and Ballycowen Frank. Hackney Plan got first run on the field, flashing from four to set a searching gallop.
His kennel companion Ballycowen Frank turned second and looked a serious danger but Oriental King put himself into a perfect position to strike in third for the Organised Chaos Syndicate and handler Denise Ryan.
Ballycowen Frank chose to make his move around the outside at the third turn but it wasn’t meant to be as Hackney Plan repelled his challenge. Meanwhile, Oriental King was close in third and making full use of the space on the inside of the track.
The powerfully built son of Coolavanny Hoffa and Newinn Willow began to close before launching a late and decisive move. Going second on the final turn, he set his sights on Hackney Plan before getting up late to win by half length in 29.38. Hackney Plan was second with Ballycowen Frank a length away in third. Mydras Opinion also finished fast to sit just a half length further back in fourth.
Heat 8 – WARRIOR SHOWS HIS SPEED
Pat Buckey sent out the first two home in Heat 8, although it was the bigger priced of the pair, Ballyea Warrior that emerged on top. This was all about brute early speed from the talented son of Ballymac Kingdom and Wolfofallstreets.
Shooting from five, he was always in front. Glengar Kane overcame a tricky draw inm two to turn second and did close on the run in but Ballyea Warrior was not for catching despite drifting wide on the final turn.
Glengar Kane continued to close to the line but the Hackney Boys Syndicate owned Ballyea Warrior returned after a layoff to win at the first attempt for his new kennel by a half length in 29.40. Highview Excel was three lengths further back in third, followed by Swords Style.
Heat 9 – PROFILE SHOWS THE WAY
The Graham Holland trained Low Profile returned to winning ways in Heat 9, showing all his many qualities to see off recent Puppy Derby champion Im Here. The latter made a poor start from six, sitting last into the bend, and was always playing catch-up.
In contrast, the R, T & C Syndicate owned Low Profile was sharp at traps and led the field from the opeing stride. Lennies Jamesmac arrived with a rush into the turn to challenge but steered a middle path, allowing Low Profile to increase his advantage once again.
It was all one-way traffic thereafter with Low Profile never going to be picked up. Im Here did show outstanding pace into the third turn to go second after his tardy start but Low Profile ran right to the line to win by three lengths in 29.40. Im Here ran a big race in second with another two lengths to Lennies Jamesmac in third. Mona Lee Monbeg flew home to grab fourth in the final strides.
Heat 10 – DIAMOND STILL SHINING BRIGHT
“There is still life in the old dog”. That was the line used after Bockos Diamond came home in front in Heat 10 – the hottest of the round. This was a display that generated the biggest cheer of the night as Bockos Diamond cleared his kennel companion and namesake Bockos Gold on the opening turn to shoot clear.
The sensational 2024 Derby champion was popular in the ring and his many supporters would have been in clover from the early yards. After breaking on terms, the Graham Holland trained superstar soon displayed some of his trademark early speed to get first run on his rivals.
Bockos Gold was within a length to the turn but Bockos Diamond was determined. Driving the bend in the manner of a greyhound with plenty still to give, he shot clear of the field. To loud cheers from the crowd, he moved into a decisive lead by halfway.
Getup The Boy made the most of an inside draw to turn second but was never going to get to the leader. Despite this, he flew to the third turn to close the gap considerably before staying on well in second. Bockos Diamond would take the headlines, however. The brilliant son of Dorotas Wildcat and Seaglass Shadow was the most popular winner of the night as he saw off an eye-catching Getup The Boy by two lengths in 29.40. Harlequin Gee Up and Bockos Gold would dead-heat for third some seven lengths further back.
Heat 11 – SPECIAL RUN FROM BOMBAY
Bombay Special was back to her best in Heat 11, making the most of an ideal draw in the stripes to see off two other talented members of the fairer sex Ballydoyle Tina and Droopys Faithful.
The key to this race was the clear passage Bombay Special received into the turn as Droopys Faithful moved inwards from trap five, squeezing up Ballydoyle Tina in the process. Despite this, the three bitches were first, second and third into the bend.
Droopys Faithful took a stride for herself on the turn, allowing Ballydoyle Tina to slip around in second but Bombay Special was on a mission up front. Droopys Faithful attempted to recover down the back straight, showing great pace into the third turn but she again had to check her stride.
Bombay Special went on to score for Graham Holland and Jack Ryan with the daughter of Dromana Bucko and Tory Aria winning by three lengths in 29.59. Ballydoyle Tina just held the late run of Droopys Faithful by a half-length to take second. Gaytime Teco was the fourth qualifier.
Heat 12 – GWENNIE SIMPLY TOO GOOD
Ballymac Gwennie justified short odds in the final heat to complete a notable treble on the card for Liam Dowling. The Champion Plate winner had a favourable draw in the stripes but a flying start ensured her supporters a stress-free passage.
Once in front after trap rise, the result was never really in doubt. KIlwest Major did threaten briefly at the third turn but Ballymac Gwennie is very strong and she kicked again. The daughter of Ballymac Finn and Ballymac Arminta came home three and a half lengths clear in 29.31. Behind her, Razldazl Loreal ran a big race to take second, while In The Sunset finished like a train in third, just two lengths adrift. Kilwest Major progressed in fourth.