Irish Performance of the Week - 17 February 2026
There was a particularly smart performance at Shelbourne last week where Ballymac Setanta set the fourth fastest 350y time ever run at the track.
Setanta scorches to Performance of the Week
The win from Ballymac Setanta at Shelbourne over the weekend was a spectacular one. His 18.35 is the fourth fastest 350y time that has ever been recorded at the track behind only Gizmo Cash (18.18), Epic Ace (18.30) and Ardnasool Jet (18.33). He showed. the ability that he has over four bends at the back end of last year, sent off as favourite in the final of the BarOne Racing Irish Laurels after equalling the track record in the quarter-final of that competition. He is a huge player for a Derby this year.
There was a pair of opening round heats in the Limerick Oaks last week that produced the same time and in the quarter-finals this week, there was another pair as Badly Behaving and Youandme Babe both produced 28.50. There is plenty of talent in the field as they head to the semis this week, could we possibly see both of them won in the same time as well?
Microchip produced the run of the night in the second round of the Time Greyhound Nutrition Cork Cup. It was the first time that he has got his head in front since July, producing what is comfortably the best performance of his career in the process. Can he back it up with a similar display is now the question.
A smart sprinting win at Dundalk came from Looking Splendid who clocked the fastest time of 2026 so far by 17 spots. Of course given the time of year it is some way short of the likes of Lennies Tank, Broadstrand Syd, Magical Luka and Droopys Patriot produced in 2025 but for a February run, it was a strong effort.
Drumbo also saw a solid sprinting performance, this time from Lynseys Barney. His was the fifth fastest that has been seen over the 335y distance there in 2026 but he is only a June 24 whelp on his eighth career start. It is easy to think that there is going to be better to come from him at some point.
