FORTANACH COL heads into next week’s Arc Select Stakes at Nottingham as a two-time Category One winner after landing a brilliant success in the Ladbrokes Summer Stayers Classic Final at Monmore.

On a night the busy Wolverhampton venue staged a Category One double-header among a host of finals including the final of the Ladbrokes Gold Cup, the feature events produced two exceptional finishes with Fortanach Col adding to his triumph in the Time 3 Steps To Victory at Sheffield as the Aug 2023 son of Ballymac Best and Ballymac Minton edged out Droopys Bookem in a thriller.

Soon at the head of affairs, the Kelly Wilton-trained, Gary Armstrong and Jen Dykes-owned star, formerly known as Ballymac Tibet, completed an unbeaten run through the 630m event as he stole a march on his rivals and, while Droopys Bookem (Tom Heilbron) battled hard to reel in the leader, the Nottingham tracker held on for a neck success over the Newcastle raider in 37.55sec (+30) for the 630m trip.

Fortanach Col, named by his owners in memory of the winning trainer’s hugely popular late father Colin Wilton, was bred by Liam Dowling for whom he reached the finals last year of the Juvenile Derby at Shelbourne and Kingdom Derby at Tralee, plus has run in two English Derbys. Victory completed a brilliant night for Kelly Wilton given her Grouchos Gregor ran-up to Woltemade in the Ladbrokes Gold Cup Final the same night.

“It was a fantastic win for Kelly (Wilton) and her team – and almost played its part on what was nearly the perfect evening for her given how well Grouchos Gregor ran in the Gold Cup,” said Monmore racing manager Tony Williamson.

He added: “It helped make for a great night all-round to see a full open-race card with two fabulous Category One finals and worthy winners of both – with both trainers achieving their first Cat One here at Monmore.

“The night itself was excellent – and noisy! – with packed terraces full of cheering spectators and connections of the finalists enjoying top-class racing.

“The Ladbrokes Summer Stayers Classic and Ladbrokes Gold Cup were our final Cat Ones of the year, but trainers can look forward to a full programme of open races and Cat Three comps scheduled for the remainder of 2026.”

 

Wicky Ned – Jimmy Fenwick, Newcastle

Strike It Skye – Mark Wallis, Unattached

Romeo Tomcat (m) – Patrick Janssens, Towcester

Ballymac Ralf – Gary Dempsey, Ireland

Fortanach Col (m) – Kelly Wilton, Nottingham 

Underground Gold – Paul Young, Romford

 

Reserves

Tiffield Tarquin (w) – Roy Peckham, Unattached

No Better Feelin – Esther Driver, Nottingham

Grouchos Gregor – Kelly Wilton, Nottingham