Galliagh Voice roars to Brandywell Gold Cup glory on memorable Gala Night

We enjoyed a terrific night’s racing on Monday at Brandywell with an all sponsored tripartite meeting featuring the Brandywell Gold Cup Finals, the Di McLaughlin Memorial 500 and the Keeperlit Gala Night.

Kevin Perisi once again renewed his commitment to the Brandywell by sponsoring and organising sponsorship for the Keeperlit Gala Night which accounted for 5 of the generously sponsored races on the programme.

The first of those was My Sweet Betsys Retirement Sprint which was sponsored by the Sugar Rush Syndicate. Havana Bart led from trap 6 with Complete Unknown in trap 1 also showing good early pace.

The pair were lying first and second throughout until a few strides from the finish line when Complete Unknown (Malachi x Sidarian Fern, Sep ’23) for the Hanson Brothers Syndicate got the upper hand to win by a short head in 17.16. This was a fourth career success for this lad and thoroughly well-deserved as it was his first win since last November.

Race 2, The Keeperlit Retired Greyhound Sprint, was sponsored by Kevin Perisi. It was named after his beloved dog Seanie, aka Keeperlit. This race was all over as the lids lifted. The ever consistent Mexicano (Ballymac Cashout x Skirk Illusion, Oct ’23) for Colm Sweeney flashed out of trap 6 and made every yard of the running to win by 1 length in 17.04 from Sniperslievnamon who ran on strongly to finish second. Mexicano has been placed in his last 9 races and this was his 5th career success.

The Katie O’Flaherty Appreciation 500 was sponsored by Katie O’Flaherty’s Syndicate Owners. Shadowline is a lady for the big occasion with her last win being the Final of the William & Mary Edgar Memorial in September.

Trained by Stephen Radcliffe for Darren Fahy, Shadowline (Dromana Bucko x Easach Toirc, Aug ’24) was fast away from trap 2 and led throughout to win Race 3 by 2.25 lengths in 28.03 from the fast finishing Rebeccas Rolo in second.

Race 7, The Keeperlit Brandywell 500, sponsored by Kevin Perisi was the closest contested race of the night. It was won by Oliver Canavan’s Olwinn Maniac (Dromana Bucko x Endova Spirit, Apr ’25). Moderately away from trap 6, she paced up well on the outside of the pack to the first turn. She got slightly crowded wide but quickly regained her momentum to lead into the back straight.

Despite being under pressure from her rivals throughout, she was gutsy enough to repel every challenge right to the line. She won by a neck from Cavies Jet in 28.68 and recorded her third career success.

The last of the Keeperlit Gala Night races was the finale, The Tip Top Kennels Appreciation Sprint which was sponsored by Kevin Perisi. Beeswing (Ballymac Bolger x Ballymac Meo, May ’24) for David McErlean Jnr got a flyer from trap 6 and was never in any danger of being caught.

She was highly impressive and followed up on her win last week when she was having her first look at the circuit. She recorded the fastest time of the night when winning by 1.75 lengths in 16.75.

The Brandywell Gold Cup Final

This was the second running of this prestigious event and it was co-sponsored by Michael Young and Martin Hagan in conjunction with the Brandywell Greyhound Supporters Group. George And Pop was the odds on favourite after a great win in his semi-final on his first visit to the circuit when coming from behind.

The Final was more of a challenge however with more early paces types in it and it was Rovers Hoffa from trap 1 and Galliagh Voice (Ballymac Bolger x Greenfield Lark, Dec ’23) from 6 that set the early pace with George encountering crowding in behind. Hoffa led to the third bend where Voice made her winning move to lead and she ran on strongly to win by 3.5 lengths in 28.01. A terrific result for Ciaran McLaughlin and his homebred Voice who made it three wins in a row when landing this coveted Final.

The Brandywell Gold Cup Consolation Final was a real thriller with the winner of this also coming from trap 6. Ceallach and Shane Talbot’s Train Whitewash (Good Cody x Lululemon, Jul ’24) paced up to the first bend in third place.

She entered the back straight in fourth place with three lengths to find on the leaders. It was between the last 2 bends that Whitewash showed good acceleration on her rivals outside, to contest the lead. Knockadoo Brigid was doing her best up front, but as the line approached, Whitewash’s stamina proved the stronger and she got up to win by 1 length in 28.19.

The Di McLaughlin Memorial 500

There was a great turnout from the McLaughlin family who very generously sponsored this event in memory of Di’s legacy in greyhound racing at the Brandywell.

The outcome of this race was unusual in that there was a dead heat for both 1st place and 3rd place, but it certainly made it a memorable race. John McQuillan’s Pharis Peak (Coolavanny Hoffa x Native Margo, Aug ’24) showed the best early pace to lead around the first bend from trap 6.

Meanwhile, Anthony and Chloe Taggart’s Meenagh Manila (Broadstrand Bono x Meenagh Miracle, Jun ’23) turned the bend in third place and despite some crowding, gamely held her position entering the back straight. Pharis Peak ran a terrific third bend to hold the advantage but Manila unleashed her late challenge on Peak’s inside and the pair crossed the line together in 28.11.

It was a terrific night’s action and sincere thanks must go to all the sponsors and the Track Management Team who hosted the event. It was one of the most memorable race nights of 2026.

Action from Lifford Greyhound Stadium

The semi finals of both the Boylesports Lifford Oaks and the Northwest Greyhound Supplies A2/A3 brought a good crowd to the track on Saturday and next week’s final looks fairly open.

Berry On Freya was quickest in the Oaks when taking the second semi for trainer Murt Leahy. Magical Be Nifty set the early pace here and looked a winner until the final few yards where the 11/2 Berry took control to win by a half in 28.65.

The opening semi was a good result for the layers with Ballymac Jetaway returned at 10/1 for Rebecca Porter and Alan Byrne. Drveen Lass set the early pace here and was followed around the opening turns by Ballymac.

The later took it up as they met the third bend and she then held off a flying finish by Gealltanas Grace by a neck in 28.84.

Roanna Ranger was best in the A2/A3 stake taking the opening semi-final at his leisure. Roanna owned by Sean Maxwell made the dash to the bend in front, and once clear, he kept up a fierce gallop to win by six lengths in 28.75 at 7/4 second choice.

Green My Granny was the shortest priced winner of the evening at 5/4 when taking the second semi for Brendan Matthews. Green was out the back for most of this contest but when he got into his stride he was always motoring and crossed the line three and a half clear in 29.25.

The final semi went to Getting Typsy who stayed on well for a first career victory for Darren McAleer winning by two and a half lengths in 28.91 with 2/1 the last mark.

The best over two bends came from Sean Melly’s Velvet Samba who took the SS0 ninth at a generous 9/2. Velvet has been competing against the best sprinters in the country and once he led the writing was wall for his rivals. When the line came Velvet was five and a half clear with a very good time of 17.41.

Sunday afternoon’s twelve race all graded card saw a double for the Porter brothers Dylan and Kyle but the best of the session was Peter Gallagher and Pol Moore’s Honey Champ who took the day’s top race, the A2/A3 ninth.

Honey was led early here but the 5/2 chance reeled in the early leader by the home straight and he crossed the lollipop one and a half clear in 29.33.

The first winner for the Porter brothers was Porthall Hannah who just about justified the 8/11 SP when holding on by a half in the A5 fourth, with the winner recording 29.78. Porthall Boatman recorded a fourth career win when taking the A4 eighth by two and a half in 29.38, with 9/4 the last quote.

Willie Mullan’s Weekend Surprise was also notching up a fourth career win in the A4 sixth which the 7/2 chance won by six lengths in 29.51.