James makes rapid in St. Leger

TRAPRISE

A very busy week on the racing scene brought the final opportunity for classic victory in 2026 with the start of the 1XBet Irish St Leger at Limerick and commencing his campaign as a leading outright fancy, the Pat Guilfoyle trained Wi Can James (Ballymac Cashout-Right Nicki) was at his brilliant best for opening round victory.

Last seen when an unlucky fourth the Irish Derby Final, the supremely talented September 2024 whelp was well housed in trap 1 for Saturday’s Heat 9 but despite an adept break, was headed in the early strides by a fast-starting Romeo Alliance. Displaying powerful pace on the run to the opening bend however, the Moneygall star ranged up on the inside of that rival and holding strong as the pair bumped while turning, extended clear to the backstraight. Never likely to be contained once in front, Wi Can James duly completed victory in impressive style, galloping his way to a snug four length victory while posting 29.57 for the 550-yards, the second fastest performance of the round.

Trainer Pat will be double handed for this week’s second round of the St Leger as he also guided the Thomas O’Keefe owned Daleroad Magic (Ballymac Cashout-Magical Mary) to safe qualification from the opening heat.

Showing smart early pace off just a moderate break from trap 6, the September 2024 whelp entered the opening bend with a tight one length lead on the outside. Extending to two lengths in the backstraight, he would find the strong staying Ballyhooly Bruno too close when on his tail around the closing turns and headed close home, ceded a three-quarter length victory to that 29.94 winner within a solid start to his event campaign.

Highly progressive over recent months, Michael Hogan’s Grangeview Rocko (Grangeview Ten-Grangeview Nifty) could hardly have been more impressive in his start to the St Leger when dominating a hot Heat 7 in early paced style.

Having scored his first victory at elite level in Shelbourne Park last month, the August 2024 whelp overcame a tricky draw in trap four when displaying the best dash once reaching full gallop following a level start for all. With a strong length in hand at the corner, the Lorrha speedster skipped readily clear while tuning and scarcely sighting a rival, ably kept Hackney Plan at bay thereafter for a five-length victory while registering a very smart 29.74.

Billy and Gem find Fair qualification

Second round heats in the 2026 Pat Doran Memorial Fair Warrior 400 Yard Stake presented a nightmare draw for all three of our local challengers as the Vincent McKenna trained duo of Gem Friendly and Tubber Ace were housed in the same heat as Christopher Delaney’s Rallying Billy.

With just three to advance, Saturday’s assignment at Mullingar was further complicated by the presence of leading outright fancy Callaway Danny for Owen McKenna, however, there was a qualifier for each kennel behind the latter heat winner following a thrilling contest.

It was Callaway Danny who showed in front from trap 3 and retained a lead to the opening bend as the McKenna duo of Tubber Ace and Gem Friendly (Droopys Sydney-Susie Sapphire) did each other no favours while rubbing shoulders on the outside of the field to that point. However, Gem Friendly managed to round her bumped kennelmate for a challenging second exiting the second turn. Further inwards, Rallying Billy (Ballymac Cashout-Rallying Saidso) had tracked the early pace on the rails and somehow finding a passage through bumping, advanced to third place entering the backstraight with just a length to recover. The local duo set sights on Callaway Danny upon straightening for the run to the line and in a hugely game runner-up performance, Rallying Billy reduced his margin of defeat to just a shorthead in a bump affected 21.77 (-20), with Gem Friendly just a length further adrift.

The pair have avoided Callaway Danny in this week’s semi-final, but not each other, and Rallying Billy is pitched on the outside of hot favourite Stonepark Browne in trap 2. Gem Friendly has her ideal draw in trap 6 and the defending champion has every opportunity to advance, as does the brilliant competition racer Rallying Billy if he can again negotiate his way to a challenging position off the second turn.

Nifty start to Lifford Oaks

Friday action brought the commencement of the 2026 BOYLE Sports Lifford Oaks and commencing her campaign with victory was Donal & Pat Guilfoyle’s Magical Be Nifty (Droopys Jet-Magical Poppy).

Breaking smartly from trap 4, the June 2024 whelp displayed much the best early pace to immediately lead on the run to the opening bend and extending to her four-length winning margin by halfway, led home Drveen Lass in 28.77 (-20) for the 525-yards.

Joining her kennelmate in the second round, Magical Fiona (Ballymac Cashout-Right Nicki) was made to settle for runner-up spot in her heat, but with a game passage that will have pleased all connected.

Also drawn in trap 4, the September 2024 whelp dominated the early exchanges before overhauled in the dying strides of the fastest qualifier, going down by three parts of a length in 28.51(-20) and both Guilfoyle challengers remain big players ahead of semi-final action this weekend.

Also on Friday, first round heats in the Timmy Ward Memorial A1 525 Stake saw victories for Alice Guilfoyle’s Boylesports Paul in 28.53 (+10) and Sally Mounsey’s Patterdale Timmy in a highly impressive 28.39 (+10). We will detail expected progress for both following this weekend’s second round in the Kingdom.