Irish Performance of the Week - 3 February 2026

Yorkie Ollie makes flying start to 2026

Graham Holland won the Rural Kennel Unraced with Gaytime Clyde on Sunday night at Clonmel but it was the 2026 debut of Yorkie Ollie that really stole the show. The son of Magical Bale had signed off just after Christmas with a Cork win, returning with a time just seven spots off the Clonmel clock for 575y. 

Shelbourne saw a massive crowd on Saturday night after their quick thinking allowed those with a Leopardstown ticket in for free after the horse racing was abandoned. Those in attendance saw some smart runs, the pick of which came from  Droichead Nua. He produced a career-best run and a fourth win in his last seven starts.

Another to produce a career-best effort last week was Tapa Tilly at Waterford. She stopped the clock at 28.33, a level that was only bettered on five occasions during 2025 and the best of the early part of this year by 38 spots. She is a litter sister to Romford Puppy Cup finalist March On Luna.  

Princess Roșie got off the mark at the fifth time of asking in her career, doing so in style in a sprint at Cork. She had gone just a single spot slower when beaten on her debut, with the drop from SS0 to S1 helping her to get her head in front. She is part of an exceptional litter that contains Juvenile Derby winner Getup The Boy, National Puppy runner-up Ballycowan Frank and Empress Stakes third Strike It Skye.

There was also a solid sprint time for the time of year from Shadow Oftherock at Drumbo. The June puppy was making just the second start of his career, stepping up considerably on the clock from his winning debut back in December.