Gone to the dogs: Offaly GAA stalwarts enjoy big greyhound win

Pictured above is: Susie Chaperal after winning an A3 sweepstake in Newbridge on Friday with members of the twenty-eight-eighty-two syndicate, Ian Mcloughlin Kildare with two great Rhode and Offaly men Gerry Hickey and Seamus Darby. Also in photo trainer Jerry Melia and Newbridge track supporters member Aoife Donnelly.

The new season started with a bang with Offaly dogs winning finals in Newbridge with some Offaly GAA heroes having great wins. The week also included some quality winners in Shelbourne and the usual abundance of Faithful winners in Mullingar.

Early Week Racing

With no Thursday racing in Shelbourne until March so early week Offaly winners will be scarce for a while. Sadly this trend started this week.

Friday Racing

Kilkenny, in the final of the Mickey O’Sullivan Memorial ON2 unraced stake, Walkinonsunshine (Broadstone Bono - Coolavanny Ella) was too good for his rivals when winning in 29.62 (40 slow) by one length at 4/6 fav with €1.5k going to trainer Con Guiney.

Clonmel, in the final of the upcoming Sweepstakes S4 300 yard sprint stake, the first prize was shared as it was a dead heat between Bouleahill Biddy (Bull Run Bolt - Goldmine Charm) for William Corbett at 5/2 and Flomur Kestrel (Ballymac Best - Flomur Roisin) for Pat Murphy, at even money fav in 16.74, with each getting a cheque for €1.3k.

Shelbourne, in the first round of the Barking Buzz A5 stake, four heats with Jackals Oscar going fastest for Declan Beary in 29.13 by four lengths at 2/1. In the semifinals of the Retired Greyhound Trust A4 stake, Laughil Oscar won the first heat for Kilcormac owners Mary and Paul Jennings in 29.22 by one length at 6/4 with David Murray training. The second semi was won in the identical time by Shiva Diva for Rory Bracken by two lengths at 2/1.

In Tralee, in the final of the Listowel Garden Machinery A3 sweepstake, Millridge Cali (Good News - Millridge Hunter) was first home in 29.09 by two lengths at 5/1 with a purse of €1.25k going to Donal O’Mahony. The best six races in Tralee were in the first round of the Eric Browne Memorial Kingdom Derby Open 525, won last year by Good Cody and Pat Guilfoyle. Six super heats of a very high standard. Fastest winner on the night was Wi Can Dream for  Guilfoyle in a super 28.15 by four lengths at 7/4.

It was a great night’s racing in Newbridge with a card that was rescheduled having had to be postponed a week ago with a mechanical fault. Seven finals were up for grabs with Offaly dogs getting three winners on the night. In the final of the A3 Irish Retired Greyhound Trust Stake, the €1.6k first prize went to Susie Chaperal (Laughil Blake - Mags Chaperal) in 29.86 (30 slow) by one length at 3/1 for trainer Jerry Melia and the popular Twenty-Eight-Eighty -Two Syndicate which featured Kildare man Ian McLoughlin and two great Rhode and Offaly men, Gerry Hickey and Seamus Darby.

In the final of the NTSC A3 600 stake, it was another great Offaly winner as Let Her Loose (Droopys Jet - Droopys Megan) was first over the whitewash for Edenderry owner Jimmy Dolan in 34.12 (50 slow) by three lengths at 6/4 with €750 going his way. In an SO sprint, Glenfircal was a comprehensive four length winner for Ballinagar owner Liam Kirley in 17.76 (15 slow) at 2/1.

Saturday Racing

Limerick, first round of the Knocklong Schooling Track A1 525, five heats with Ruffian Angel setting the standard for Dave Bourke in 28.77 by a head at 4/1.  Two Offaly winners in Mullingar, in an A5 Contest White Toe Butler had her first career win for Mountlucas owners Elaine and Anthony O’Grady in 30.45 (60 slow) by two lengths at 6/4 fav.  In an A7 grade, Lahinch Sandy made it three wins from four starts for Clara owner P.J. Cleary in 30.01 (60 slow) by nine lengths at 4/5 fav. 

The most valuable final of the week was in Shelbourne the marathon over 1,025 yards, two laps of the track where both speed and stamina come into play. The €4.5k first prize went to Garfiney Legend (Vulturi - Dolcini Rose) with the ever popular Liam O’Rourke training in 60.18 (80 slow) by seven lengths at 4/6 fav. Fire Height Mane was second for Kerry native Brendan Maunsell and won a cheque for €1.25k. 

Kilcohan Park in Waterford hosted two decent finals as well a semifinals in an unraced stake. In the final of the Slaneyside Kennels Solutions and WTSC ON2 unraced stake, the €1.9k purse went to Billericay Joe (Ballymac Cashout - Ballymac Diva) in 28.89 by two lengths at 5/2 from local trainer Peter Cronin Kennels.

In the final of the Paula Bergin Memorial A2 550 stake, Cloncunny Bally (Ballymac Best - Body Clock) won for Jim Scully in 30.36 by two lengths at 5/1 with a pot of €1.65k going his way. 

In the semi-finals of the Whitewood Kennels ON2 unraced stake, two good heats both won in fast times, Takinitallin scored in the first for Robert Gleeson in 28.95 by five lengths at 4/6 fav. The second semi went to the sponsors as Whitewood Monye won for Laura Earle in 29.08 by one length at 5/2. All races in Waterford were rated .20 slow.

Sunday Racing

Just the one Offaly winner at the matinee meeting in Mullingar. In the final race on the card, an A5 grade Lahinch Flash had his eleventh career win, from eighty one starts, for Cleary again from Clara in 29.87 (60 slow) by two lengths at 15/2.

Upcoming Events

Friday, semifinals of the Barking Buzz A5 and final of the Retired Greyhound Trust A4 stakes in Shelbourne. Second round of the Kingdom Derby in Tralee.

Saturday, quarterfinals of the Knocklong Schooling Track A1 525 in Limerick and final of the Whitewood Kennels unraced in Waterford.

Tribune Offaly dog of the week

Gerry Hickey and Seamus Darby’s  Susie Chaperal is an automatic choice this week along with their syndicate colleague Kildare man Ian McLoughlin, winning an A3 525 final in Newbridge on Friday in 29.86 (30 slow), by one length with Robertstown trainer Gerry Melia guiding.

2022 Offaly dog of the year

In a year where we had a number of very strong dogs, the one who shone the brightest was Thirtynine Winks for Edenderry owner Thomas Glynn and with David Murray training. He won four in a row in Shelbourne, in January, culminating in a AO sweepstake win in early February. He competed well all year in the top grade at Headquarters before going over two bends getting to the semifinal of the National Sprint in Dundalk with one of his heat wins being in a super 21.20. In October he competed in the Fair Warrior in Mullingar getting to the final when an unlucky third only beaten by half a length. He was back in Shelbourne in December winning in 28.40 on a slow track which was another super run. Thirtynine Winks is a well deserved winner of Gone To The Dogs 2022 Offaly dog of the year.

Statistics from 2022

Graham Holland remained Champion trainer with 215 winners for the year. 81 of these were in Shelbourne. He amassed winning prize money for the year of over €304k. Derby winner Born Warrior won the most prize money for the year with over €132k.

In Mullingar, Ian Reilly was the trainer with the most wins -  45,  most winning owner was Marcella Campbell with 54 and the dog with the most wins was Horseleap Nelly with 13 wins for Offaly man Sean McGuinness.

Other statistics of interest from an Offaly point of view:

Mullingar - Liam Jones had 27 wins, Mary Jones had 16, Ballycommon owner Peter Raine also had 16, Clara owner P.J. Cleary had 15 with Kevin Jones on 14. Edenderry trainer David Hanlon had 25 wins with Geashill trainer Margaret Bolton on 17 and Paddy McCormack with 14.

Newbridge - Leading trainer for 2022 was Jerry Melia with 37 winners, leading owner was Moira Costigan on 15 and leading the dog with most wins was Sooty Centurion with seven for Shaun Conway.

Offaly Winners

Seven Offaly winners this week.  A big congrats to all involved in any way.