Bishopton strikes gold on first start of 2026 Bishopton (7/2f) scored on his first start of 2026 today, registered a third career success in Dundalk’s New Saddle Bar At Dundalk Stadium Handicap for trainer Natalia Lupini. Bishopton, whose previous start was last December, was today ridden by Paddy Harnett for owners O'Hare, Sloan, Mocchetti and Kabin Racing Syndicate, and having disputed the lead a furlong out, soon edged ahead when scoring by a half-length from Venetian . Lupini said "he travelled lovely all the way and held on at the line. Paddy, who also won on him last summer, said the other horse (Venetian) was coming but was always doing enough. "He has options over six or seven furlongs now and we hope he could be a lovely 'Saturday horse’ for the bigger meetings, like Guineas weekend. Maybe he will creep up the handicap and we could be looking at those nice races. "He's entered here next week so we will have a look at the weight and, if it is too much of a task, he will go back to turf when the ground dries up. He wouldn't handle the soft ground." Quotes from Michael Graham
