GREYHOUND PREVIEW: A huge night of action awaits this Saturday evening at Monmore, where the popular venue hosts two major finals with the Winter Derby and the Golden Jacket both up for decision. BARRY CAUL delivers his Betdaq verdict …..
The ever-popular Mongys Wild faces a stern examination against the classy pair of Vhagar and Droopys Flare, while the Winter Derby looks wide open. Our two ante-post selections, Texas Jack and Toddys Wolf, remain in contention and hopefully one of the duo can land the prize.
Over at Shelbourne Park, it’s semi-final night in the Gold Cup. Let’s take a look at the best of the action.
Winter Derby Final
🟥 Droopys Aladdin
🟦 Bruce Bay
⬜ Gary The Arb
⬛ Bouncing Monarch
🟧 Toddys Wolf
🔲 Texas Jack
Verdict
As the betting suggests, this Winter Derby final looks wide open, with all six runners holding realistic claims.
Droopys Aladdin has secured the ideal draw in red. He should go up strongly and will have no excuses from the inside. He’s strong enough from the front over this trip, but for win purposes he simply must lead. The early battle to the bend between himself and Bruce Bay could prove decisive, it may be game over for whichever of the pair fails to assert early control of the rails.
Bruce Bay was exceptional last week, pinging the lids and making all in a rapid 28.04. When he gets it right at trap rise, he possesses electric early pace and has a major chance if reproducing that effort.
The ultra-consistent Gary The Arb is a real credit to connections and always seems to reach the latter stages of these major competitions. However, this looks a tricky draw. He’ll need an absolute flyer to clear the inside pair and, while strong over the trip, he may struggle if forced to come from too far off the pace.
Bouncing Monarch is another in tremendous form and was an impressive winner last time, but similarly hasn’t been done any favours by the trap draw.
We put up Toddys Wolf at 66/1 ante-post and he rewarded that faith with an impressive all-the-way success last time. He’s blessed with stunning early pace, though can be slightly inconsistent from the traps. If he breaks as he did last week, he has a huge chance. Off a level break, I believe he has the best early speed in the field and still looks value around the 10/1 mark.
The final runner is Texas Jack, our second ante-post selection. Jack hasn’t quite brought his trapping boots to Monmore yet, but he’s capable of much sharper exits. He should secure a relatively trouble-free passage out wide and is sure to be on the premises. If Toddys Wolf edges inwards at the opening bend and Jack can arrive on his shoulder, he could get the perfect run around the outside.
In what looks a truly open renewal, I’ll just side with Texas Jack to get the breaks and come out on top, but hopefully one of our ante-post selections can deliver.
Golden Jacket Final
🟥 Mongys Wild
🟦 Bluejig Outlaw
⬜ Droopys Flare
⬛ Cartoonist
🟧 The Other Winx
🔲 Vhagar
Verdict
There’s a strong argument that the three best stayers in the country line up here in the shape of Mongys Wild, Vhagar and Droopys Flare. The remaining trio are far from back numbers but will require things to fall perfectly to feature.
Mongys Wild is undoubtedly the star attraction, but he may find it tougher to come from behind against this calibre of opposition if he’s not prominent at halfway. His track craft and racing intelligence are second to none — he often has to weave through traffic and somehow makes it look straightforward, but he may need another perfectly-timed run.
Droopys Flare got the better of Vhagar last weekend, but I’m inclined to think the form can be reversed. Vhagar missed the kick and was forced wide at crucial stages, yet was only narrowly denied in a driving finish. She can break much better and rates a serious danger.
Vhagar looks capable of racing prominently and I expect an improved clock this week. If the favourite encounters any traffic at all, she could prove very difficult to reel in.
Bluejig Outlaw and Cartoonist may also play key roles, as both have the early pace to get involved and potentially impact the race.
At around 9/2, Vhagar represents excellent value and I suspect she may be shorter on the night. It promises to be a cracking final and best of luck to all connections.
Gold Cup Semi-Finals – Shelbourne Park (Live on SIS Saturday)
The semi-finals of the 2026 Gold Cup headline another strong Saturday night at Shelbourne Park.
Liam Dowling is well represented in the opening semi with outright favourite Solo And Go, Ballymac Stud and last week’s impressive winner Ballymac Siun. The draw could have been kinder to the Kerry handler, with Solo And Go likely to edge inwards and Siun favouring a middle-to-rails line on the run-up.
Clona Comet deserves a mention. He ran well in the opening round despite not leading and laid down a marker last week with a polished all-the-way success. He’ll need everything to fall right again but is certainly not without a chance.
It’s a tricky heat, but I’ll take a chance that Ballymac Stud can produce one of his better starts. If he clears the field early, he could prove very hard to peg back.
In the second semi, Crossfield Matt remains the one to side with. He may have been slightly below expectations last week, but that was just his second run back from a break and this looks a marginally easier assignment. Callaway Five and Swords Style will test him, but Matt is selected to come out on top.
All the best,
Barry
