Derry Greyhounds: Oliver Canavan lands an Olwinn double at Brandywell

A full programme of greyhound racing at Brandywell and Lifford was back up and running again this week after some postponements in recent weeks.

The eagerly awaited Final of the Shay Rooney Memorial 525 at Lifford was the feature event of the week with the winner earning a fantastic €4,000 prize.

Monday’s action at Brandywell was kicked off with a terrific sprint double for owner Oliver Canavan. First up was Olwinn Sheeran (King Sheeran x Skirk Newbie, Sep ’24) who trapped well from the 6 box and took up the lead approaching the first bend. From there she ran on well to win on her career debut by 1.25 lengths in 17.72 (-.30s).

Oliver Canavan’s quick fire double was completed in Race 2 with Olwinn Winn (Dromana Bucko x Olwinn Me, Aug ’24). Racing from trap 5 and right up with the pace from the lids lifted, she pulled a length clear of her rivals at the first turn. She stayed on stoutly to win by 2.75 lengths in 17.37 (-.30s). This was her first career success on her sixth start.

Early pace was the key to success in Race 3 as Charlie Moss’s Mineolatazmanian (Magical Bale x Minelo Renegade, Jun ’23) took a flyer from trap 5 and was never in any danger of being caught over the 300 yards. He won by 2.75 lengths in 17.48 (-.30s). This brought his tally of successes to 3 from 21 starts.

Brandywell Race 6, was won by BALLYSKEAGH NOVA in 17.63. Pictured with (from left) Mason Thompson, Leigh Thompson & Patrick Gibson.

With Race 4 being declared void, the only 4 bend event we had on Monday was in Race 5 over the 500 yards. It was won by Kealan O’Kane’s Sniperboulavogue (Pestana x Classy But Sassy, Mar ’24) racing from trap 3. He was evenly away from traps and tucked in behind the early leader Away Bono as they field turned the first bend.

He cleverly switched to the inside rail as he turned into the back straight and relentlessly kept up a strong gallop to catch the leader as the finish line approached. He won by 0.75 lengths in 29.13 (-.50s). This was his second career success from only 8 starts.

Track specialist sprinter Ballyskeagh Nova (Ballymac Vic x Avongate Nova, Jun ’23) was having her first start of 2026 in Race 6 and she again showed her liking for the circuit by notching up her sixth win over course and distance after a blistering exit from trap 5.

Owned by Patrick Gibson and Paul O’Neill, she was never in any danger of being caught and won by 1.25 lengths in 17.63 (-.30s).

Aiden Cullen’s Champagne Jet (Pestana x Champagne Star, Jul ’23) showed her brilliant versatility when she followed up on her 2025 Bart Teague Memorial Oaks victory over 500 yards with a comprehensive display of sprinting, in a classy race, to land the finale at Monday’s meeting. She blasted out of trap 6 and despite swinging off wide at the second bend, ran on strongly to win by 5.5 lengths in 17.18 (-.30s) which was the fastest time of the night.

Brandywell Race 3 was won by MINEOLTAZMANIAN in 17.48. Pictured with (from left) Jack Moss, Paul Moss & Charlie Moss.

The €4,000-to-the-winner Shay Rooney Memorial 525 came to a fitting conclusion at Lifford Stadium on Saturday night, with the Michael Taggart-trained Zenith Wizard producing a fine performance to land the feature final.

A strong crowd attended the eight-race card in the Northwest, and the final more than lived up to expectations as Zenith Wizard made every post a winner for owner Birol Nadir. Still only an April ’24 pup, the youngster had shown his promise earlier in the competition when recording a sharp 28.98 (.20s) in the opening round, before finishing second in his semi-final behind local runner Beebees Princess.

A near three-week delay between the semi-finals and the final due to adverse weather was far from ideal, but Zenith Wizard showed no ill-effects as he returned to winning ways in impressive fashion. Well housed in trap three, the powerful white and black broke sharply, posting a sizzling 2.61 sectional to outpace Eimears Lady on the run-up.

Early traffic at the opener impacted several runners, but it played into the paws of the wide-running Hollywell Merlin, who quickly moved into second for owner Alison Coxon. 

A cracking duel developed thereafter and, with his strong-running style, Hollywell Merlin appeared the most likely winner at halfway. Just a length and a half separated the pair passing the 750-yard mark, with Hollywell Merlin edging closer around the bottom bends to set up a thrilling finish. However, trainer Michael Taggart’s charge dug deep when it mattered most.

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After a slight coming together off the final bend, the son of Out Of Range – Droopys Natalie found a second gear up the Lifford hill to pull clear and record a length-and-a-quarter victory in a brisk 28.88.

The Express Food Service A4 525 Final proved a fitting supporting act for Lifford’s main event on Saturday and it went the way of local runner Drumdoit Clover.

Lifford on Saturday Race 6 - EXPRESS FOOD SERVICE A4 525 Final was won by DRUMDOIT CLOVER in 28.98. Pictured with (from left) Dawn Porter, Rebecca Porter & Spencer Saberton.

Carrying a winner’s prize of €1,000, the final appeared wide open on paper but proved anything but, as Drumdoit Clover produced a commanding display for local connections Alan Byrne and Rebecca Porter. #

Doubly represented in the final with two litter brothers, both were bidding to complete hat-tricks in the decider, but it was Clover who made his intentions clear from trap rise, bursting from five. Showcasing his early pace, the August pup posted a rapid 2.63 sectional before steering a middle-to-wide course down the back, which perhaps made the gap appear closer than it actually was.

With three lengths in hand rounding the penultimate bend, the promising fawn son of Dromana Bucko – Drumdoit Pippa powered up the hill to score by three and a half lengths from Smurfing Deele in second. The winning time was a sharp 28.98.