Gone to the dogs: Another good week for Offaly greyhounds with six winners registered

It's the quiet time of the greyhound year however there were still a few interesting stakes this week starting off around the tracks, including some top class unraced competitions where future  champions were on debut. Some decent Offaly winners also in the mix.

Early Week Racing

Nothing out of the ordinary and no Faithful County winners in the early part of the week.

Friday Racing

First Offaly winner of the week was in Galway as Geashill trainer Margaret Bolton made the trip with Ocean Blake with the travel paying off as she won an S9 350 sprint in 19.68 (.05 slow) by one length at 2/1. Newbridge hosted the first round of the Eamonn Wheatley Memorial A4 stake, six heats, all closely contested. Fastest of the six was Black Emperor in 28.99 by five lengths at 5/2 for local trainer Eric Thorpe.

Shelbourne staged the first round of the 2023 A2 Dublin Cup, again six heats with Highview Stage going fastest and making it three wins from three starts in 28.51 by nine lengths at 3/1 for Man O War owners in north County Dublin Anthony Rooney and Owen Sweeney.

In Cork, in the semi-finals of the Curraheen Park ON2 unraced stake, Whominowdoll won the first in 29.09 (10 slow) by three lengths at 4/6 fav for Thomas O’Donovan. The second went to Jacktavern Magic for local Cork trainer Denis Fitzgerald in 29.12 (10 slow) by two lengths at 5/4 joint fav. Only half a length between these two winners going into Fridays final.

In Tralee the highlights of a decent card were the quarterfinals of the Eric Browne Memorial AAO Kingdom Derby. Fastest of the four was streams Of Sydney for Austin Whelan in 28.35 by three lengths at 6/4. Other three winners were Ballymac Finn in 28.40, Ballymac Bronze in 28.51, both for Liam Dowling and Disco Pants for Michael Daly in 28.37.

Clonmel held one of its  annual early stakes with the first round of the Rural Kennels Open unraced stakes. Seven heats with some classically bred pups making their debuts. This stake was won last year by the great Swords Rex  who went on to win the Con and Annie Kirby Memorial in Limerick. Graham Holland had a treble in the stake with the fastest run being done by Droopys Racer for Michael Corr in a super 28.49 (10 slow) by four lengths. Another to impress was Ballybrazil Lima for Adam Dunford in 28.76 (10 slow) by three lengths.

Saturday Racing

First Offaly winner on Saturday was in Dundalk, in an S2 400 yard sprint, Velocity Drive won in 21.38 by four lengths for Edenderry owner Thomas Glynn with David Murray training. 

Another three Offaly winners in Mullingar. In an S5 400, Murray was again the trainer as Laughil Rambo won, this time for Kilcormac owners Mary and Paul Jennings in 22.20 (20 slow) by one length at 4/5 fav.

In an A3 contest, Optic Xplosive was first home for Edenderry owner/ trainer David Hanlon in 29.85 (60 slow) by three lengths at 5/4 fav. 

In the best race on the card an AO 525, Horseleap Nelly had her fourteenth career win for Sean McGuinness and has now amassed over €4.5k in winning prize money when winning in 29.14 (60 slow) by four lengths at 5/4 fav. 

Some decent start of year action in Shelbourne Park, in the final of the RCETS Dual Distance A1 550/575 stake, Churchtown Syd (Droopys Sydney -Skywalker Pearl) was first across the line for Cork trainer Denis Fitzgerald in 31.57 by one length at 5/2. 

In the semi-finals of The Upcoming Events AO stake, Toolmaker Wilde won the first for Rathangan trainer Robert Gleeson in a super 29.67 by six lengths at 3/1. The second semi went to Lujanco for Murt Leahy in a slower 30.14 by one length at 4/1. 

In the semi-finals of the Talking Dogs A1 525, Droopys Battery was first back in Kennels in the first for Northern Ireland trainer Michael Corr in 29.22 by a neck at 4/1. The remaining semi went to Stefans Sicks for Shea Campbell in 28.85 by three lengths at even money fav.

In Kilcohan Park in Waterford, in the final of the Whitewood Kennels ON2 unraced stake, Takinitallin (Droopys Sydney - Ballymac Belle) showed why he was the 2/5 favourite when winning by two lengths in a fine 28.89 (10 slow) with the €1k first prize also going to Gleeson. 

Sunday Racing

Just the one Offaly winner at the matinee meeting in Mullingar, in the first race on the card, Lingrawn Mona won an A7 525 in 29.93 (50 slow) by four lengths at 5/2 for Moneygall owner Liam Jones. 

Upcoming Events
Friday, second round of the Rural Kennels unraced in Clonmel, final of the Curraheen Park unraced in Cork, quarterfinals of the Dublin Cup in Shelbourne and semifinals of the Kingdom Derby in Tralee. Saturday, Shelbourne, finals of the AO 550 and the A1 525. 

Tribune Offaly dog of the week

Horseleap Nelly gets the nod this week, winning an AO race in Mullingar on Saturday in easily the fastest time of the night in 29.14 (60 slow) by four lengths for Sean McGuinness. 

Offaly Winners

Six  Offaly winners this week, congrats to all involved in any way.