The Gold Cup is by far the biggest event on the Irish scene at present and there were some decent performances in Saturday night’s opening round. Quickest on the clock was the Bev Lochead owned, Graham Holland trained Bockos Budsit (formerly Matts Rocket) with a 28.36 run. Knight Tornado was only three spots slower with an impressive front running display from Good Cody.
In terms of special performances, there won’t have been anything better than Flashing Willow’s 21.05 run at Dundalk. The Aidan McVeigh trained black isn’t two until May.
| CLONMEL | 28.75 | WARRENSTOWN BOY | (Magical Bale-Road Queen, Apr 20) |
| CURRAHEEN PARK | 28.64 | CHURCHTOWN BUCKS | (Droopys Jet-Churchtown Mimee, Nov 18) |
| DERRY | 27.90 | RUSTY THE RED | (Kahuna Bruce-Kahuna Debbie, Jan 20) |
| DRUMBO PARK | 17.88 | BIG DAN DAN | (Ballymac Vic-Sheelin Dancer, Aug 18) |
| DUNDALK | 21.05 | FLASHING WILLOW | (Laughil Blake-Cabbage, May 20) |
| ENNISCORTHY | NO RACING | ||
| GALWAY | 30.27 | GRANGEVIEW BEST | (Ballymac Best-Portumna West, Oct 19) |
| KILKENNY | 29.48 | DELIRIUM TREMENS | (Ballymac Eske-Knockdrinna Miss, Aug 20) |
| LIMERICK | 28.62 | KYLETAUN BEAUTY | (Ballymac Bolger-Here Comes Pa, Mar 19) |
| MULLINGAR | 29.61 | MISS JUDY | (Droopys Jet-Knockmant Robin, Jun 19) |
| NEWBRIDGE | 17.53 | COOLEMOUNT BOSS | (Iso Octane-Coolemount Bally, Mar 19) |
| SHELBOURNE PARK | 28.36 | BOCKOS BUDSIT | (Laughil Blake-Matts Monica, Oct 19) |
| 28.39 | KNIGHT TORNADO | (Droopys Cain-Royal Highflyer, Sep 18) | |
| THURLES | 29.46 | CHUBBYS WHISPER | (Ballymac Best-Chubbys Sarah, Mar 20) |
| TRALEE | 28.88 | OUTBACK ANNIE | (Laughil Blake-Churchtown Mimee, May 20) |
| WATERFORD | 28.71 | SPARTA FURY | (Spoofer-Brinkleys Stella, Apr 20) |
| YOUGHAL | 28.97 | ARDRATH BENNY | (Droopys Buick-Aghadown Louise, May 20) |
