Derry Greyhounds: Galliagh Bolt impresses at Brandywell

The first race meeting of 2025 got underway at Brandywell on Monday 13th January with a competitive eight race programme.

Mertle (Our Surprise x Seeyouindevys, Aug ’22) was first to grace the Brandywell winners podium in 2025. Owned by Odran McBirney, Mertle was well away from trap 5 and had just enough pace to force her way into the lead at the first turn. She tracked the bends well and entered the home straight with a commanding advantage.

Her closest challenger was ‘Karen Who’ but Mertle crossed the finish line 2 lengths to the good. The time was 17.05 for the 300 yards and it gave Mertle her first career success on only her third attempt.

Richard Grahan and Patrick Edgar got their 2025 off to a great start with a novice win for their new recruit Dellser Bolger (Ballymac Bolger x Fair Act, Jul ’23). Bought at the Kilkenny Sales in November, and with youth on his side, Bolger’s sectional time of 4.49 suggested he had some early boot that might suit the Brandywell circuit.

In Race 2, this white and black lad was up with the early pace from trap 2 and cleared the first bend in front. Bolger took full advantage of crowding in behind him to stretch his advantage and he ran out an easy 4 length winner in 17.04.

The Edgar family have been involved with racing at Brandywell for generations and their involvement with this exciting lad should give them plenty to look forward too given this encouraging success on racing debut.

Kevin Canning, Brandywell’s Private Trainer with most wins in 2024 laid down the gauntlet once again in 2025 with a staggering 9 length winner in Race 3 for owner Brendan McLaughlin.

Brandywell on Monday Race 2 was won by DELLSER BOLGER in 17.05. Pictured with (from left) Patrick, Richard & Johnny Edgar and on right is Control Steward Martin McLaughlin

Their ex-Mullingar recruit Comer Hero (Great Blue Shark x Coolavanny Muir, Apr ’22) already had 7 career successes under his collar when he arrived up North in September 2024. Lightly raced since then, the soon to be 3 year old turned the race into a procession from trap 3.

The further he went, the further he drew away from this rivals and he clocked a sizzling 16.69 for the 300 yard trip. It was a welcome return to form for Hero whose last victory was recorded in June 2024.

We switched to 4 bend action for the next 3 races and they were all over the 500 yard trip. In Race 4 the prolific Galliagh Bolt (Droopys Biker x Greenfield Lark, Feb ’22) brought his tally of successes up to double figures. In what was a competitive race, Ciaran McLaughlin’s Bolt made full use of his trap 6 draw to ensure a clear passage to the first turn.

He ran solid bends to enter the back straight about 4 lengths behind the early leader Meenagh Moscow. Bolt made eye-catching progress going into the third bend and was narrowing the deficit with every stride.

Brandywell on Monday; Race 7, was won by DERRYMORE DAN in 16.92. Pictured with Stephen Radcliffe (left) & Martin Healy.

Despite swinging off wide entering the home straight, Bolt dug deep and got up by a head to land the spoils in 27.89. This was a third consecutive win for this super consistent dog who has finished in the first 3 in last 11 races.

Patrick Barrett’s lightly raced, ex-Cork recruit, Coppeen Zeus (Ballymac Best x Drive On Robyn, Nov ’22) got his 2025 campaign off to a flying start with a photo finish verdict over Moto Sandy in Race 5. Zeus relished his rails pitch from trap 1 and bravely held pole position at the first turn.

It was enough to force his rivals on a wider course and despite being put under pressure from Sandy close home, Zeus notched up his second career success on his seventh attempt. The time was a respectable 28.02.

There was a dream result for joint owner Clara Kingshott in Race 6 as Lowerback Beauty (Glencorbry Pat x Spooky Julie, Apr ’23) won on the same day as she celebrated her second birthday. Co-owned with her mum Sinead McGorrey, Beauty was evenly away from trap 3 and had plenty of room on the run to the first bend.

She was in a share of third place at the first turn on the outside of the leaders. She moved into second place entering the back straight with 2 lengths to make up on the leader, but hit the turbo boost button to scorch into the lead at the third turn. It was all over bar the shouting and Beauty added to the birthday celebrations with a 7.5 length win in 28.25, making it 2 wins from 3 starts.

Brandywell on Monday; Race 5 was won by COPPEEN ZEUS on 28.02. Pictured with Patrick Barrett

We reverted back to sprint action for Races 7 and 8. It was Martin Healy’s Derrymore Dan (Ballymac Cashout x Culdaff Lady, Oct ’22) that relinquished his maiden tag on his seventh start. Moderately away from trap 6, Dan showed good pace to be amongst the leaders at the first turn. Keeping wide of his rivals, he ran a great first bend to forge ahead and he held this advantage to the line. The time was 16.92 and he had 3 lengths to spare over Culmore Queen in second.

The finale went the way of Eamonn Curran’s Meet More Often (Magical Bale x Maid Me Country, Aug ’22) who started 2025 in the same terrific vein of form as she left 2024. Benefitting from her preferred trap 1 draw, Meet More Often was fast away from boxes but was challenged throughout by the talented Sniper Orla Wray. As they crossed the line, Meet More Often got the verdict by a short head in 16.86. This was an impressive fourth consecutive win for Eamonn’s ex-Galway hound who is showing her liking for the Brandywell circuit.

Havoc

The weather played havoc for most of the Country in greyhound racing terms last week and as a result, there was just the one meeting at Lifford Stadium on Sunday evening.

Of the nine races on offer, arguably the performance of the night came in the opening race on the card as Urbanesque emerged a very comfortable winner for Willie Mullan of Derry. Owned by James Logue, the daughter of Dorotas Wildcat and Last Lady broke well from four to record a 2.66 sectional and in doing so, quickly asserted her superiority over her rivals.

Lifford on Sunday, Race 1 - WELCOME TO LIFFORD STADIUM A4 525 was won by URBANESQUE in 29.25. Pictured with Tom Mullan.

Opening a healthy lead down the back straight, Urbanesque was never under threat as she drew clear of her rivals to win by an extending five and a quarter lengths over Monroes Kiss in second. The time was a decent 29.25. 

There was another smart display in race two as Tartan Priority followed in the footsteps of her litter sister, Tartan Grace, as she recorded an impressive trap-to-line performance. Installed as the 6/4 favourite, Neil McBride’s black trapped lively from four and in doing so, did the damage early to turn in front. Setting a good gallop down the back, Bosco Lad kept the leader honest throughout, however, ‘Tartan’ crossed the line with two lengths in hand. The time was 29.36. 

It was back-to-back wins in race three for No More Rolos as James Anderson’s charge ran out a good winner for the second consecutive week. Sent to traps as the 13/8 favourite, the daughter of Ballymac Anton and Innfield Dancer took advantage of early traffic to shoot into a huge lead down the back and in doing so, she had enough in reserve to see off the fast finish of Ardnasool Lady in second. Just one and a quarter lengths between the duo, the time was 29.79.

Lifford on Sunday, Race 2 - OLD DALYS A4/A5 525 was won by TARTAN PRIORITY 29.36. Pictured with the Mc Bride family. From left; Rhianna, Reece, Rhylie & their dad Neil. Photo by John Killen.

Indeed, James Anderson secured his double later in the card with Italian Lady in race eight. A wide-open event saw her sent off as a generous 7/1 chance and she flew from trap five to lead comfortably to the opening bend. Thereafter, the daughter of Burgess Bucks and Cannobio ran to a virtual solo in coming home just shy of nine lengths clear of Jacquelinesrabbo in second. The time was 29.92.