Irish Performance of the Week - 11 November 2026

Deniro sets new Limerick clock

Without a doubt the top run of the entire week in Ireland was Ballymac Deniro who set a new track record for the 550y distance at Limerick in his second round success in the 1XBet St Leger. It is seven years since Jaytee Taylor set new figures in the opening round of the same competition, his record surpassed by seven spots by the English Derby finalist. Those left also include BOYLE Sports Irish Derby winner Bockos Gold plus Deniro's English Derby conqueror, Lennies Eddie. If the three make it through the final will be one of the races of the year.

The semi-final stage of the Pat Doran Memorial Fair Warrior saw Stonepark Browne pick up the top performance at Mullingar for the second week in  a row. He had produced the quickest time of the year over 400y last week, improving on it this week. He was three spots shy of the new track record, so we wait to see if he can find the necessary in the final. 

Speaking of smart sprinting times, there was an excellent effort from Shotgun Dez at Shelbourne. As always, there were some outstanding times over a variety of trips but the National Puppy winner was dropping back from four bends for the first time sine last August having won that competition last November. This was only his fifth start of 2026, winning four of them and making it 12/17 in his career.

It was the semis of the BOYLE Sports Lifford Oaks last week with Berry On Freya an impressive winner, clocking the fourth fastest 525y time of the year. Velvet Samba produced the third quickest sprint time of the year just doing enough to steal away the prize, though it could easily have gone the other way.

There was a solid win from Sinatra at Tralee. There have only been 21 quicker times at the track over the 525y distance so far this year as he made it three wins from four visits to the track. He is 0/4 anywhere else in his career, so it will be interesting to see if he can find his Tralee form anywhere else in time.