Seven Beach is just champion

Seven Beach wins the BoyleSports Champion Stakes at Shelbourne

Less than two months ahead of turning veteran, Seven Beach continued his remarkable 2025 with a third big feature win of the year. He has always been a nice type for Jennifer O'Donnell but this year has seen him take off into a sensational tracker, showing the best form of his life.

The Tote Gold Cup at Shelbourne and the Select Stakes at Waterford have already gone his way this year and once Lennies Desire fluffed the start to his outside, it looked like the Champion Stakes would be his for the taking. 

Seven Beach had to work hard for his 29.39 success, however. Ballymac Danica gave him plenty to think about to past halfway and that battle almost softened him up for the late charge from Cheque For Cash who narrowed the gap to three-quarters of a length as the line came. 

It was a third-place finish for Lennies Desire after his poor exit. He has shown everyone what he is capable of with his track record-breaking performance at Towcester but his lack of consistency at the boxes holds him back. He is a 16/1 shot for the upcoming BoyleSports Irish Greyhound Derby with Seven Beach at 20/1 and Cheque For Cash available at 50/1. 

The consolation final went to the powerful Ballymac Tibet who cleared away by two and three-quarter lengths up the straight. His winning time was a single spot slower than Seven Beach with 66/1 still on offer for him for the Irish Derby.

Dead Heat at the end of a sparkling unraced comp

The Celtic Cooling Refrigeration & Air Conditioning looks like a competition that will work out well in time. Ballymac Stud and Magical Major couldn't be split at the line, the pair crossing in 28.23. Liam Dowling and Patrick Guilfoyle will have big plans for this pair with Ballymac Stud leading all the way until he was joined on the line. 

Magical Major has already been the subject of support in the Irish Derby market as part of an exceptional King Sheeran - Magical Mary litter that also contains the unbeaten Magical Luka (7/7) and another finalist in this competition, Coloursaregreen. He is 28/1 this morning with Ballymac Stud at 25s.

The Shelbourne undercard

There was a notable success for Magical Mag in an A0 contest, clocking the third fastest 525y time of the year. The top three times coming into last night had all occurred on April 5, her 28.11 split those up to take the bronze medal position for now.

After a 575y win at Shelbourne in October, Daraghs Sydney went on a losing run of 16. He has ended that in style with a hat-trick of successes including the second fastest 575y time of the year last night.

By far the widest margin winner of the night was Dowling's Ballymac Mint. He put 17 lengths between himself and his A1 rivals in 28.18, aided in expanding that distance by having the early boot to get himself clear of first bend trouble.