Derry Greyhounds: Do It Jella’s Brandywell Gold Cup Glory

PICTURED ABOVE: Brandywell Gold Cup Final 2025 was won by DO IT JELLA in 28.13. Pictured with the Friel family; Paddy & Annalaise & their children. Parker Friel (behind dog’s head) is Jella’s biggest fan. Pieper Friel is wearing the lucky pink jacket. Owner Andrew White is holding the dog.

Great weather and a great crowd provided the perfect setting for the inaugural running of the Brandywell Gold Cup Final which was generously sponsored by Michael Young, Greg White and Martin Hagan in conjunction with the Brandywell Greyhound Supporters Group. The magnificent coveted Gold Cup Trophy itself was hand delivered before racing by its sponsor who flew over from England with it that morning.

First of the winners on the 8 race programme was Colm Sweeney’s homebred Mulroy Torpedo (Ballymac Bolger x Skirk Illusion, Nov ’22). It was his 8th career start and with the benefit of that experience under his collar he got a fast start from trap 3 and was in control of the race. He was challenged by Creevaghs Roc on his inside at the first bend but Torpedo ran a terrific bend to open up an unassailable lead and relinquished his maiden tag convincingly by 3 lengths in 17.20 for the 300 yards.

With Race 2 being declared void due to a mechanical fault, we switched to 4 bend action for the next 5 races. In Race 3, the Dermot Coney owned Shrewd Stories (Dorotas Wildcat x Shrewd Clover, Sep ’21) made it back to back wins with an impressive trap to line performance.

Ideally drawn in 6, Dermot’s hound made it an 11th career success when clocking 28.10 for the 500 yards and had 2.25 lengths to spare over the staying on Cals Range.

The eagerly awaited Gold Cup Final over 500 yards was up next and the early paced battle was led by Gabriels Dream who was drawn in his preferred trap 1. With the benefit of his rails pitch he scooted around the first turn to build a commanding advantage down the back straight and it looked like the writing was on the wall for his rivals. But the Andrew White owned and Ray White trained Do It Jella (Broadstrand Bono x Coolatee Molly, Mar ’22) is a girl for the big occasion and despite being only moderately away from trap 5, she unleashed her trademark early pace and set off in hot pursuit of Gabriels Dream rounding the first two bends.

Race 5 , Brandywell on Monday The Brandywell Gold Cup Consolation Final was won by MEENAGH MILAN in 27.95. Pictured with (from left) Jon White, sponsor Michael Young, sponsor Greg White who made the trophy presentation to John McGorrey, winning owner Michael Corr & sponsor Martin Hagan.

Jella was steadily narrowing the leader’s advantage and ran a superb third bend to give herself a glimmer of hope. Not known for her stamina, Jella was however not going to be denied and she dug deep, rallying up the home straight to courageously claim Gold Cup glory in an absolutely thrilling finish for all her connections and in particular her number one fan, Parker Friel. Do It Jella won in 28.13 by a neck from Gabriels Dream in second with the slow starting Inniskeen Mandy coming home with a wet sail to claim third spot just 0.75 lengths away in third.

Jella adds this prestigious title to her 2024 Bart Teague Memorial Oaks crown.

Race 5 was the Consolation Gold Cup Final and the well bred Meenagh Milan (Broadstrand Bono x Meenagh Miracle, Jun ’23) lined up in trap 2 as the favourite for Michael Corr after appearing somewhat unlucky when encountering traffic in his semi-final heat.

He made no mistakes this time with a smart exit from boxes and although edging middle, had enough pace to lead around the first bend. From there he ran on to win in 27.95 by 1.5 lengths from Mineola Peerless in second place. It was a great effort from this pup who only turns 2 next month.

There was a thrilling finish to Race 6 over the 500 yards when John McQuillan’s Gamble Frank (Malachi x Princess Pizza, Nov ’22) came from last to first to land the spoils. Slowly away from trap 5, Frank entered the back straight at the rear of the field but had moved into third place at the third bend. He kept a middle to wide course and came up the home straight to clinch victory by 0.75 lengths in 28.46. This was a fifth career success for Frank from 17 starts.

Early pace was the key to success in Race 7 over the 500 yards. Kirsty Harpur’s Ballyquin Tilly (King Elvis x Townsend Beauty, Oct ’23) got off to a flying start from trap 2 and was never in any danger of being caught. She crossed the line 4 lengths ahead of her nearest rival in 28.64 and notched up her second career success.

Brandywell on Monday Race 3 was won by SHREWD STORIES in 28.10. Pictured with Father & Daughter team Dermot Coney and Ella.

The finale to a fantastic night’s racing was a return to sprint action. Shesanicelady made a return to the Brandywell since last June and she bolted from trap 2 to build up a healthy lead. Charlie Baxter’s Generous Who (Ballymac Cooper x Overtwoher, Mar ’22) in trap 1 was making stead headway in behind and ran a strong first bend to get herself into contention. She ran on well to take up the lead passing the 500 yards traps. The winning time for Generous Who was 17.07 and it brings her career tally to an impressive 10 wins from 22 starts.

Action from Lifford Greyhound Stadium

Nine races went down for decision at Lifford Stadium on Saturday night and the performance of the night came in the concluding contest as All Electric took full advantage of his drop in grade.

A greyhound that has kept top-class company in the past, Bridge Campbell’s strapping fawn had lost his way in recent months, however, the drop in class served its purpose in this A3 event. Drawn in four, ‘Electric’ was sent to traps as the 7/4 second favourite behind Ardagh Bejing and, as expected, the latter broke in front to set a blistering gallop into the opening bend.

Brandywell on Monday; Race 7 was won by BALLYQUIN TILLY in 28.64. Pictured with father & daughter team; Stuart & Kirsty Harpur.

At this point, All Electric sat several lengths adrift, however, given his strong running style he was never out of the contest as the greyhound sailed past the halfway mark. Turning the screw rounding the bottom two bends, the son of Ballymac Anton and Cobham Lady ramped it up on the approach to the hill and ‘Beijing’ was found wanting as the powerful All Electric stormed past his rival to seal victory. One and a quarter lengths better off, the time was a fastest of the night 29.28.

It was a familiar tale on Sunday’s SIS card as Charles Coyle continued his purple patch with another treble, following on from a four-timer one-week prior. The first of his hat-trick came in race two as Roanna Due finally gave back to her loyal supporters. This lady has been well punted in several of her last starts and she went to traps as the 13/8 favourite to finally deliver.

Running from trap one, the daughter of Broadstrand Bono and Bombay Savanna took her usual slow start at traprise, however, she was never too far off-the-pace as Be Flashy headed affairs. Shifting it up a gear at the third bend, ‘Roanna’ got her head in front in the closing stages to cross the line a half-length clear Strive For Gold in second. The time was 29.65. The double came in race four as Tobergal Beauty as she too justified 7/4 favouritism. Another that left it late, the daughter of Magical Bale reeled in Country Curly to win by a neck in 29.71.

The treble was completed as Mineola Redeem also came from off-the-pace to score for a sixth career time. 5/2 at the off, ‘Redeem’ sat in midfield early on after a slow start but was showing all the pace down the back straight to get into contention. In doing so, the son of Magical Bale motored around the outside to hold off Smurfing Legacy by a half-length. The time was 29.42.

Lifford on Sunday; Race 2 - OLD DALYS A6 525 was won by Roanna Due in 29.65. Pictured with ladies from the Ballybofey & Stranorlar Woman’s Group along with (front left) Nathan & Shane Coyle. Nicole Stewart second from left on back row.

Another kennel that enjoyed a treble on the night was Jimmy Anderson and he lit the touch paper in the curtain raiser as Italian Lady won for the third time. Out with the washing early on, she proved a class above her rivals as she recovered brilliantly to take control at the penultimate bend. In doing so, the daughter of Burgess Bucks – Cannobia ran out a four and a half-length winner in 29.83.

Berties Jill added to her smart reputation as she got back to winning ways for owner Gary Mawhinney. A previous winner in 29.18, the daughter of Coolavanny Hoffa was headed early on by Brora, however, the writing was on the wall at the midway point. Showing the superior stamina in the closing stages, Berties Jill stormed up the hill to win by an extending four lengths.

The time was 29.23. The treble was completed in race seven as Coldwater Rolo ran out a wide-margin winner of her A6 contest. A 4/1 chance at the off, ‘Rolo’ rocketed from trap six and this proved decisive as she built up a commanding lead, before cantering to a five and a quarter length victory. The time was 29.65.