Patrick Kelly profiles one of UK racing’s most successful and popular Irish imports . . .

SEAMUS CAHILL, the former champion trainer who guided Astute Missile to an emotional victory in the 2017 Greyhound Derby at Towcester, again achieved a top-6 placing in the Greyhound Trainers’ Association (GTA) Standings in 2019 and has high hopes for the current campaign.

Cahill, who took over the reins from his mentor Paddy Milligan at Catford in January, 1997, switched to Wimbledon in 2000 and six years later joined Walthamstow – he was attached to the famous old Chingford Road venue until its closure in 2008 and he then immediately joined Hove.

“I’ve enjoyed unparalleled since switching to Hove just over a decade ago, and I must stress that it has all been a team effort – I must give a lot of credit to my wife Teresa,” said Cahill.

In 2002, Cahill illustrated his affinity with jumps racing by steering Top Jock to Grand National glory at Wimbledon and Shevchenko capped a good season for the kennel with twin victories in the Gold Collar (555m, Catford) and British Bred Stakes (475m, Walthamstow).

Three years later, the mighty Druids Mickey, who landed the Racing Post Festival Maidens Derby at Walthamstow the previous year, dominated hurdles racing when landing the Springbok, Champion Hurdle and Midlands Champion Hurdle.

“I’ve been fortunate to train a host of top-flight jumpers and Druids Mickey Jo was certainly right out of the top drawer,” said Cahill. “It’s great that graded hurdles racing will resume at Hove in the near future – this exciting sphere of the sport is very popular with racegoers.”

In 2008, Cahill’s burgeoning CV was bolstered by the success of Ronaldos Merit in the Coronation Cup (575m, Romford) and, a few weeks later, Hotdog Jack marauded unbeaten through the Springbok (460m hurdles, Wimbledon).

Hotdog Jack, the top hurdler of his generation, continued a golden run for Cahill when capturing the 2009 Grand National (460m, hurdles) at Wimbledon, while sprint sensation Jimmy Lollie capped a fine first season by winning the National Sprint Championship.

It was with Jimmy Lollie, the 2010 Greyhound of the Year and one of the greatest two-bend performers in the history of the sport, that Cahill conquered his highest peaks and the 71-race winner from 125 career starts was key in the Irishman becoming Champion Trainer for the first time the same season.

Jimmy Lollie, also voted Best British-bred greyhound in 2010, enjoyed a landmark moment when he equalled the modern-day record of 37 open-race wins in a calendar year achieved by El Boss when retaining his title in the final of the National Sprint Championship at Nottingham.

During this annus mirabilis, a multitude of big-race winners were housed at Cahill’s Keston base and they included Royal Honcho (Springbok), Droopys Oscar (Caffreys Puppy Classic), Rayvin Black (Rose Bowl, Derby Purse & Champion Stakes), Sparklee Bernie (Kent Derby), Rayvin Giovanni (Puppy Plate, Puppy Derby, Champions Night Puppy Stakes & Romford Puppy Cup) and Droopys Diver (Sussex Puppy Trophy).

Loughteen Blanco, runner-up to Westmead Maldini in the Sussex Cup final, proved the flag-bearer of the kennel in 2012 with big-race victories in the William Hill Classic (450m, Sunderland) and Henlow Derby (460m, Henlow).

2013 provided Cahill with a golden harvest, as major open-race successes arrived courtesy of Mash Mad Snowy (Grand National), Mottos Impact (Ladbrokes Festival 416), Droopys Posh (Coral Ladies Trophy), Loughteen Blanco (Sussex Cup), Droopys Odell (Caffreys Puppy Classic), Droopys Quincy (Scurry Gold Cup) and Droopys Jarrow (Sussex Puppy Trophy).

In 2014, Droopys Odell, joined some illustrious names on the previous list of winners when beating Vanrooney, Redbrick Stuart, Jaytee Lightning, Adageo Bob and Milehouse Alba in the Racing Post Juvenile Championship at Wimbledon, while there were end-of-season wins at Monmore for Ballygibbon King (Lawrence Jones Memorial Dogs) and Southfield Jock (Lawrence Jones Memorial Puppies)..

There were twin big-race successes in 2015 for Ballymac Brogan (Racing Post Juvenile Championship) and Crossfield Caesar (Nottingham Puppy Classic), while timber-topper Ballymac Manix enjoyed a clean sweep in the top jumps races the following year – the Springbok, Champion Hurdle and Grand National -and there were notable triumphs for Ballymac Brogan (Arc), Crossfield Molly (Lowther Stakes) and Banabane (Brighton Belle).

Since 2017, Cahill has continued to farm the premier open-race competitions with the likes of Forest Con (Ladbrokes Puppy Derby), Crossfield Hugo (Golden Crest), Ballymac Manix (Champion Hurdle), Astute Missile (Greyhound Derby), Sporting Dave (Sussex Cup), Caislean Fifi (Grand National), Droopys Gold (Sussex Cup) and Forest Alan (Kent Derby).

“We’re extremely happy to supply greyhounds to run at Hove, the track is world famous and it is the best running track in the country,” said Cahill. “We’re in the market for new stock – everything is set fair for another assault on the sport’s top prizes in 2020.”