Gone to the dogs: Rare barren week for Offaly greyhounds

PROBABLY for the first time ever there were no Offaly dogs in the winners enclosure at any track in a very truncated week of racing. 

There was, however, some decent sweepstake action around the country with plenty of prize money on offer.

Early Week Racing

Nothing of note for the first three days and it took until Thursday for some decent action to happen in Clonmel.

Twelve races consisting of three stakes at quarterfinal stages. In the last four of the Rural Kennels Open Unraced Stake Jacktavern Alf was fastest of the quartet for The-Pillar-Syndicate in 28.35 by three lengths at 5/4 fav. In the quarterfinals of the John White Memorial A3 Guys And Dolls Stake Jacktavern Turbo set the standard for David Byrne in a superb 28.38 for the A3 grade winning by six lengths at 1/2 fav. Four heats also in the Sporting Press Online Edition A1 550 won last year by Mustang Marydel for Sean Bourke. Canavour Bucko set the bar highest for Pat O’Connell in 30.14 by nine lengths at 3/1.

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Friday Racing

Tralee, semi-finals of the Astra Kennels A1 Stake. Daleroad Best won the first for John O’Keeffe in 28.66 by one length at 2/1. Smart King won the second for Tom White in a slower 29.04 by three lengths at 2/1.Also in Tralee, in the final of the Kingdom Stadium Novice ON3 Stake, Cashout Kid (Ballymac Cashout-Gen Pop) won the €1.2k purse for James O’Regan in 28.89 by two lengths at 5/4 fav.

Saturday Racing

Lifford, a valuable prize of €4K went to the winner of the Shay Rooney Memorial A2 525. Zenith Wizard (Out Of Range ASB-Droopys Natalia) went home with the pot for Michael Taggart when winning by two lengths in 28.88.