Ballyhooly Bruno stars in 600 as Irish finals take centre stage
A monthly video record of the major SIS UK and Irish races run during 2025 with accompanying reporting.
03/05 - Shelbourne Park: Open 600 final - Ballyhooly Bruno
BALLYHOOLY BRUNO toughed it out from the front to land the €15,000 Shelbourne Open 600 final for trainer Tom O'Neill and owners The Ashgrove Trio Syndicate.
Hot favourite Callaway Knegare had shown in front from traps but was immediately swamped on both sides and ultimately had to ride crowding to turn in fourth.
By that stage, Ballyhooly Bruno had paced up to hit the front pursued by Singalong Molly and Ballinabola Jim with the first-named looming up menacingly at the third bend.
For a few strides, it looked as though she would go past but Ballyhooly Bruno had other ideas and knuckled down admirably on the long run-in to prevail by three-parts of a length in 32.28sec with Callaway Knegare, who was short of his brilliant best, staying on late to claim third.
It was a second success in the famous competition for trainer O'Neill, brother of horse racing's Jonjo, as he had previously landed it in 2016 with Ballyhooly Henry.
16/05 - Shelbourne Park: Islandbridge Open 350 final - Sogna Ancora
SOGNA ANCORA, trained by Jack Kennelly for the Swedish House Party Syndicate, made it six wins in six career starts with an unbeaten run through the Islandbridge Open 350 at Shelbourne Park.
Despite boasting a perfect record coming into the decider, the son of Grangeview Ten and Terezas Mendoza was sent off third favorite at 3/1 but broke well from three, held his pitch to the turn then drove the bend to fully assert.
At the line, he was a length and a half to the good of a rallying Stonepark Browne in clocking 18.55sec.
23/05 - Kilkenny: Champion Open Unraced Stake - Unanimous Leo
UNANIMOUS LEO, trained by Pat Buckley for Ciaran O’Sullivan, took early command to claim the €15,000 Champion Open Unraced Stake final over 525 yards at Kilkenny.
Sent off 5/2 joint-second favourite behind hitherto unbeaten Montana Shadow, he stole a march on that rival and always looked the likely winner.
Lookandlep did close in late but could do no better than get within three-parts of a length of the 28.96sec winner with Montana Shadow two lengths back in third.
31/05 - Curraheen Park: Open 750 Stake final - Darbys Dancer
DARBYS DANCER made her stamina tell to claim the Open 750 Stake final at Curraheen Park.
Timmys Bucks led early from Wellstreet Cath with the eventual winner racing in behind that duo before starting to make a big move along the back.
Second at the penultimate turn, she still had a couple of lengths to find but fairly rattled home to collar Timmys Bucks in the shadows of the post to secure the €5,000 first prize by a length in 41.75sec.
A daughter of Malachi and Love Island, the winner is trained by Patrick Devaney Snr for the Devaney Family Syndicate.