Gliondar

Gliondar stayed on really well on his racecourse debut to take second place behind Loughrea in the median auction maiden at The Curragh on Friday evening. Dropped in and settled towards the rear of the field early on by Dylan Browne McMonagle from his outside draw, 13 of 13, he was still only ninth of the 13 runners passing the four-furlong marker. Asked for his effort fully three furlongs out, he stayed on well down the outside, he closed on the leaders all the way to the line, getting to within a half a length of Loughrea by the time he got there. He was in front three strides after passing the winning line.

It was a really encouraging performance by Joseph O'Brien's horse on his racecourse debut. The winner had run twice, once last season as a three-year-old, and he was only just beaten on his debut this season in a maiden at Gowran Park, while the third horse had run five times and the fourth horse had run once. Also, the other three horses who, with Gliondar, filled the first four places, were third, fourth and second respectively passing the five furlong marker. Gliondar was 10th at that point. And, significantly, he was fastest of all through each of the last four furlongs.

A half-brother to Metropolitan, winner of the French 2000 Guineas, he should be winning his maiden soon before stepping up in grade. He obviously gets this mile well, and he could be even better when he steps up to 10 furlongs in time.

The Curragh, 26^th June 2026

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