MARQUESS DOWNS DIAMOND IN PRODUCE STAKES SEMIS
Peter Farrell
The semi-finals of the 2026 National Produce Stakes ensured a strong crowd descended on Clonmel on Friday night, where Scooby Marquess produced a sensational display to lower the colours of hot favourite Swords Diamond.
Trained by Graham Holland for Barbara Lowndes, Swords Diamond had set the Classic alight in the opening rounds and the powerful son of Swords Rex was sent off the 8/15 favourite to preserve his unbeaten record. However, Scooby Marquess had other ideas and, despite being turned over by his rival last time out, Steve Noble’s runner produced a blistering display of early pace to reverse the form.
Breaking sharply from trap four, the 3/1 second favourite quickly asserted on the run to the opening bend, edging ahead of Callaway Danny in trap one. Swords Diamond, meanwhile, missed the kick by his usual high standards and, despite showing electric pace into the bend, suffered early crowding that left him entering the back straight some seven lengths adrift of the leader. Having clocked a rapid 2.82 sectional, Scooby Marquess was relentless down the far side as the Jennifer O'Donnell-trained runner produced a stunning burst to the third bend, stopping the sectional clock in a scarcely believable 15.81. While Swords Diamond stayed on strongly in the closing stages, the damage had already been done. Scooby Marquess (Grangeview Ten - Scooby Duchess) maintained a powerful gallop all the way to the line to score by four and a quarter lengths in a brilliant 28.20. Swords Diamond lost little in defeat, while Oriental Prince also booked his place in the final, finishing strongly in third for trainer Denise Ryan.
POST POWERS TO BACK-TO-BACK WINS
Firstpastthepost produced an outstanding performance in last week’s second round and the Paul Matthews-trained runner franked that form with another polished display in the opening semi-final.
Owned by Josie Burns, the Northern raider donned the orange jacket in this contest and, despite landing a brilliant 28.50 success seven days earlier, was freely available at 11/2 in the betting ring. As the lids rose, a level break saw Sawdust Barry just edge in front early in six, but the pace of Firstpastthepost soon proved decisive as he improved to nip around the opening bend clear of Droopys Winsome in second. Traffic in behind allowed the son of Good Cody and Portumna Marina to open up a five-length advantage down the back straight, where he set a scorching gallop to the three-quarter mark. Although Droopys Winsome closed with every stride in the closing stages, the leader always looked in command and held on by a length and three parts at the line. The clock returned a fast 28.54, while Berlin Trilogy also secured a place in the decider after finishing third.
The trap draw for the final of the €20,000-to-the-winner National Produce Stakes was made shortly after and is as follows :
T1 - BERLIN TRILOGY
T2 - FIRSTPASTTHEPOST
T3 - SWORDS DIAMOND
T4 - DROOPYS WINSOME
T5 - SCOOBY MARQUESS
T6 - ORIENTAL PRINCE