Gone to the dogs: Seven Offaly winners

Valuable finals were the order of the week with stakes coming to a conclusion in Mullingar, Tralee and Waterford. One of Mullingar’s top event got underway on Saturday as well as annual top events in Kilkenny, Shelbourne and Cork. In all over €50k was given out in prize money. As usual Offaly dogs had their fair share of winners.

Early Week Racing

First Offaly winner of the week was in Shelbourne on Thursday evening, in the first race on the card, an ON2 unraced, Highview Rosie won for Croghan trainer Gerry Merriman in 29.96 (80 slow) by one length at a well supported 1/2 fav.

Friday Racing

Clonmel staged the first round of the Trap 1 Greyhound Supplies ON2 unraced stake, five heats with Newinn Syd going fastest for Kevin O’Brien in 28.71 (10 slow) by five lengths at even money fav. Kevin also had the second fastest with Newinn Sensation stopping the clock in 29.00 (10 slow).

First Offaly winner on Friday was in Galway when Like The Mother won for Geashill trainer Margaret Bolton in an A8 race in 29.56 (10 slow) by seven lengths at 5/2.

In the Marble City, the quarter-finals of the  Frightful Flash A1 McCalmont Cup was the feature of a decent card in Kilkenny, four good winners with One Time only winning the first for Thomas O’Donovan in 29.16, Crokers Spirit won the second for Ballinasloe owner John Croker in 29.40, Prolific winner Lynchy Boy was first home in the third for Paraic Campion in 29.14. The final heat was won in identical time as Delirium Tremors for local trainer Murt Leahy by three lengths at 6/4. All races in Kilkenny were rated .30 slow.

In Newbridge, in the quarter-finals of the Brownstown Tango and NTSC Open bitch unraced stake, Boylesports Coco set the standard for Dolores Ruth when first over the whitewash in 28.60 by four lengths at 2/1. Other winners to shine were Burgess Orlaith for Shiela Spillane and J.J. Fennelly in 28.95 and Crafty Shivoo in 29.01 by two lengths for Peter and Brian Divilly.

In Shelbourne, in the semifinals of the RCETS tri-distance A3 stake over the 550 yard trip, Drumdoit Chief was first back in kennels for Alan Byrne in 30.55 (20 slow) by a head at 5/4 fav. The second semi went to Ballyhooly Hi for Tom O’Neill in 30.17 (20 slow) by one length at 6/4 fav. Friday’s final will be over 575 yards.

Saturday Racing

Curraheen Park in Cork held the first round of one of their spring classics, the AAO Cork Oaks this year sponsored by Apex Global Resources LTD, won last year by Millbank Chosen for Graham Holland.   Four heats with Liogarbh Lila going fastest for the McLoughney Family Syndicate in 28.33 by seven lengths at 4/5 fav. Another bitch to impress was Maries Wedding for Miss Tamara Butler in 28.45 by two lengths also at 4/5 fav winner of the Shelbourne Oaks in December worth €7k.

The Showgrounds hosted the quarter-finals of the Galway Stadium A3 stake, fastest heat winner was Crafty Orlando for Shane Divilly in 28.84 (10 slow) by four lengths at even money fav. One Offaly heat winner here as Malbay Theo won for Margaret Bolton again in 29.61 (10 slow) by two lengths at 6/1. In Thurles, in the quarter-finals of the Borna Kennels A4 stake, Epic King set the bar highest for Michael Donnelly in 29.30 (20 slow) by five lengths.

In Kilcohan Park in Waterford, in the final of the Paddy and Ciara Sharkey Bookmakers and WTSC A2 525, Tinahue Brodie (Dorotas Wildcat - Tinahue Lady) was first home and received a tidy cheque for €2.8k for his owners the Foxcall - Syndicate in 28.97 by one length at 6/4 fav.

The biggest final of the week was in Tralee with the running of the Greyhound and Petworld Juvenile Classic ON1 unraced stake, six class pups went to traps but the cream came to the top as Ballymac Marino (Vulturi - Jamaica Joy) made it four wins from four starts and lifted this much sought after trophy and a cheque for  €11k for local trainer Liam Dowling, in 28.04 by four lengths, at even money fav. Terezas Mendoza was second for Pat Buckley and picked up €4.2k with Saleen  Ollie in third for Pat O’Connor winning €2.1k.

The most valuable race in Mullingar was the final of the Kilbride Kennels A2 550  Midlands Derby, Seamus Reilly supplied the winner here as Vinegar Joe (Droopys Sydney - Kilcowan Pippa) proved too strong for the field when winning in 30.77 by four lengths at 2/1. €3.2k to the winner here with many thanks to the sponsors Frank Seery and David Hanlon.

Three Offaly winners on the supporting card, in the first race on the card, Edenderry trainer Hanlon himself was on the winners podium as Dew Claw won an ON2 unraced contest in 29.96 by a huge margin of fourteen lengths at 1/2 fav. In an A5 grade White Toe Butler won for Mountlucas owners Anthony and Elaine O’Grady in 30.05 by four lengths at 5/4 fav. In the last race on the card which was also the highest grade, Superior Miss won an A1 race in 29.69 by two lengths at 6/4 for Tullamore owner Niall Deegan.

Sunday Racing

The first round of the RPGTV Irish Cesarewitch AAO 600, four heats, with last years winner Magical Mary going fastest for Pat Guilfoyle in 33.17 by four lengths at 1/3. Other winners were Cushie Island for Morgan Connolly in 33.43, last years winner of the Tipperary Cup Bobsleigh Dream for Oat Buckley in 33.59 who was having his sixteenth career win and Jacktavern Bella for Graham Holland in 33.39 by three lengths at 7/4. All races in the Cesarewitch were rated .70 slow. One Offaly winner on the supporting card, in the final race, an A5 contest Lingrawn Edel won for Moneygall owner Liam Jones in 30.23 (60 slow) by a head at 10/1. 

Upcoming Events
Friday, quarterfinals of the Trap 1 Greyhound supplies ON2 unraced in Clonmel, semifinals of the McCalmont Cup in Kilkenny, semifinals of Brownstown Tango unraced bitch stake in Newbridge and final of the RCETS A3 tri-distance in Shelbourne. Saturday, semifinals of the Cork Oaks in Curraheen Park, semifinals of the Galway Stadium A3 stake, semifinals of the Borna Kennels A4 stake in Thurles and first round of another Spring classic, The Easter Cup. Sunday, semifinals of the RPGTV Irish Cesarewitch in Mullingar. Loads of top class action again this week. 

Tribune Offaly dog of the Week

Not often we give the nod to a novice but Dew Claw was a very impressive winner of an ON2 unraced contest in Mullingar on Saturday by fourteen lengths for Edenderry trainer David Hanlon in 29.96 (60 slow). 

Offaly Winners

There were seven Offaly winners this week, congrats to all involved in whatever small way.