Qualification for the 100th National Coursing Meeting was completed today and we know our Top 8 and four reserves for both the Callaway Kennels Kevin Smith Champion Stakes and the Classics Club Grace & Matt Bruton Champion Bitch Stakes. Return To Racing and Banoffee Pie were the big jumpers for the Champion Dog Stakes with Mango also earning himself a place in the Reserves by winning at Sevenhouses. Successess at Clonakilty & Ballymena respectively have guaranteed a Clonmel ticket for Aran View and Nottonight in the Champion Bitch Stakes. We understand that Callaway Red was recently mated so this is good news for connections of Eulogy and it also brings last year’s Champion Bitch Stake winner Metal Queen into the Reserves. Connections of all 24 greyhounds will now be invited to declare their availability by Tuesday 20th January.
The weekend saw very little change in the Sporting Press Fantasy Coursing competitions so we are now set for a grandstand finish at the National Meeting and Irish Cup.
Champion Stakes Points System 2025/26 Season
| 8 ALL AGE | PRIZEMONEY | WINNER | RUNNER -UP | SEMI-FINALIST |
| €750 – €999 | 2 | 0 | 0 | |
| €1,000-€1,249 | 2.5 | 0 | 0 | |
| €1,250 – €1499 | 3 | 0 | 0 | |
| €1500-€1999 | 3.5 | 0.5 | 0 | |
| €2000 or > | 4 | 1 | 0 | |
| 16 ALL AGE | PRIZEMONEY | WINNER | RUNNER -UP | SEMI-FINALIST |
| €1,000-€1,499 | 4 | 2 | 0 | |
| €1,500-€1,999 | 5 | 2.5 | 0 | |
| €2,000 – €2499 | 6 | 3 | 1 | |
| €2500 – €2999 | 7 | 3.5 | 1.5 | |
| €3000 or > | 8 | 4 | 2 | |
| 32 ALL AGE | PRIZEMONEY | WINNER | RUNNER -UP | SEMI-FINALIST |
| €2,000-€2,999 | 10 | 6 | 3 | |
| €3,000-€3,999 | 11 | 7 | 3.5 | |
| €4,000 or > | 12 | 8 | 4 |