Gone to the dogs: Great week for Offaly greyhounds

Another super week of racing with the start of one classic and others reaching the concluding stages. The highlight of the week was the first round of the Easter Cup in Shelbourne. Around the provincial track there was lots of top racing to enjoy including the semi-finals of the Cork Oaks, semifinals of the McCalmont Cup, semifinals of the Midlands Cesarewitch, semif-inals of the Open unraced bitch stake in Newbridge and first round of one of the top unraced stakes in the country.

Early Week Racing

In Enniscorthy, Monday, in the first round of the Future Champion and Michael Fortune Memorial ON1 open unraced stake, eleven heats went to post in what is always regarded as one of the top unraced competitions of the year. Annually more pups are bought and sold after running in the first round of this stake than possibly any other stake in the country. Sixty six young dogs went to traps all vying to get their name on this prestigious trophy won last year by Ballymac Darcia for Pat Whelan.

An Offaly dog delivered the fastest of the eleven heats as Optic Chico blazed from traps for Edenderry owner David Hanlon and won by six lengths in a super 28.50 (20 slow) at 4/7 fav. Hanlon looks to have a serious pup on his hands here. Rathangan trainer Robert Gleeson was trainer here. Others to impress on the card were Glengar Martha for Pat Buckley in 28.79 (20 slow) by fourteen lengths at even money fav and local dog Ballinabola Bora for Niamh Murphy in 28.92 (20 slow) by four lengths at 4/1.

As Friday was St. Patrick's Day all the Friday meetings were moved to Thursday with the exception  of Tralee which went ahead on the 17th. There was an abundance of top class action around the track on Thursday.

Clonmel, quarter-finals of the Trap 1 Greyhound Supplies ON2 unraced stake with Chasing Trooper going fastest for Sean O’Halloran in 28.54 by six lengths.

In Curraheen Park, in the first round of the Galloping Kennels ON2 unraced competition, five heats with Hot Throttle setting the standard for Patrick Norris in 28.58 by a wide margin of fiftheen lengths at 4/7 fav. Another pup for the notebook here.

First Offaly winner on Thursday was in Galway as Dynamic Logan won an S7 sprint for Geashill trainer Margaret Bolton in 19.41 (.05 slow) by three lengths at 2/1. In Kilkenny, the highlight of a decent card were the semifinals of the Frightful Flash McCalmont Cup A1 stakes. Gortkelly Nestor was back to his best in the first semi, this dog reached the semifinals of the Irish Derby last September and he won on Thursday in 29.45 (30 slow) for Andrew Murray by five lengths at 3/1. The second semi went to local trainer Murt Leahy as Delirium Tremors won in a faster 29.11 (30 slow) by seven lengths at 6/4.

Newbridge staged the semi-finals of the Brownstown Tango and NTSC open unraced bitch stake. A super crowd was in attendance as this meeting had been well advertised on all social media outlets pre racing. In the first heat, Burgess Orlaith won by a length from the favourite Boylesports Coco in 28.67 at 7/2 for Cork owners Shiela Spillane and J.J.Fennelly. The second semi went to Crafty Shivoo for Galway owners Peter and Brian Divilly in 28.61 by one length at 3/1. Friday's final should be a cracker. One Offaly winner on the supporting card as Susie Chaparel won for the ninth time for the Twenty-Eight- Eighty -Two Syndicate consisting of Seamus Darby, Gerry Hickey and Kildare native Ian Mcloughlin  in an A3 stake semifinal in 28.87 by four lengths at 5/2 with Robertstown trainer Jerry Melia at the helm.

Saturday Racing

It was a brilliant night of racing with most of the top dogs and bitches in the country gracing tracks all over the provinces.

Curraheen Park staged the semi-finals of the Apex Global Resources LTD Cork Oaks. Two cracking heats with the first going to prolific winner Maries Wedding for Tamara Butler in 28.49 by two lengths at 1/2 fav. The second semi went to Liosgarbh Lila for the McLoughney-Family Syndicate in 28.66 by three lengths at 6/4 fav.

In the Showgrounds the semifinals of the Galway Greyhound Stadium A3 stake were the two best races on a good card.  The first semi-final was a dead heat between Lissycasey Flor for Jayne Donlon and Ballygraigue Ten for Vincent McKenna in 29.28 (10 slow). The second semi was won in identical time as Eileens Daisy won by a neck for M.J. Corrigan at 8/1. It will be a tough job finding the winner of this valuable stake final on Saturday.

In Limerick, there was another Offaly winner as Laughil King won a DDO 750 in 42.18 by one length at even money fav for Kilcormac owners Mary and Paul Jennings with Michael O’Donovan training.

Five Offaly winners in Mullingar from various parts of the County. Two for David Hanlon again, in the first race on the card, an ON2 unraced, Kilbride Fairy won in 29.80 at 1/2 fav by four lengths and Casa Miro won an A4 grade in the fastest time of the night in 29.58 for the Edenderry trainer by two lengths at a well backed 2/5 fav. In an A9 contest Lahinch Blaze was first home for Clara owner P.J. Cleary in 30.71 by three lengths at 6/4. In an A7 grade Banagher owner Mary Moran was in the winners enclosure with Ollys Mary in 29.94 by three lengths at 3/1 with Gary Moloney training. In an A5 race Superior Pearl won for Tullamore owner Niall Deegan in 29.80 by two lengths at 4/5 fav. All races in Mullingar were rated  .60 slow.

Shelbourne staged one of their first classics of the year with the first round of the Bresbet Easter Cup over the 550 yard trip. This annual spring contest is always one of the most anticipated stakes. Won last year by the super bitch Susie Sapphire for Owen McKenna. Six heats with all these dogs will be entered in the Derby later in the year. Fastest on the night was Ballymac Finn for Kerry trainer Liam Dowling in 29.66 by two lengths at 5/2. There was a double on the night for champion trainer Graham Holland. Long way to go in this stake yet and picking an eventual winner still an impossible task.

In the final of the RCETS A3 tri distance stake, Our Dog Mollie (Droopys Sydney - Fortune Himary) was a worthy winner in 31.36 by three lengths at 5/2 for Tom O’Neill. This young dog won all three rounds over the 525, 550 and final over the 575 trip.  Thurles held the semifinals of the Borna Kennels A4 525 sweepstake, Kilvil Robert won the first for the Kilvil - Syndicate in 29.66 (20 slow) by one length at 5/4 fav. The other heat went to Code Skye for Jennifer Lee in 29.37 (20 slow) by one length at even money fav.

Sunday Racing

The two best races at the matinee meeting in Mullingar were the semifinals of the RPGTV Irish Cesarewitch open 600, two very competitive races with Jacktavern Bella winning the first for Holland in 33.19 (70 slow) by one length at 2/1. Bobsleigh Dream was first back in kennels in the second for Pat Buckley in a faster 33.04 (70 slow) by one length. Next weeks final of the Westmeath track blue ribbon event should also be a cracker.

Three Offaly winners on the supporting card, all from the Jones’s kennel in Moneygall. In an A6 grade Lingrawn Heidi had her ninth career win for Mary Jones in 29.70 (60 slow) by four lengths at 5/4 fav. In an A5 race Lingrawn Woody won for Liam Jones in 29.69 (60 slow) by three lengths at 3/1. Our final Offaly winner of the week was in an A4 contest as Lingrawn Grace was first home for Kevin Jones in 29.82 (60 slow) by one length at 5/4 fav.

Upcoming Events

Friday, quarterfinals of the Galloping Kennels unraced in Cork, semifinals of the Trap 1 Greyhound Supplies unraced in Clonmel, final of the Frightful Flash McCalmont Cup in Kilkenny and final of the Brownstown Tango and NTSC Open unraced bitch stake in Newbridge. Saturday, Curraheen Park final of the Open Cork Oaks, final of the A3 stake in Galway, final of the Borna Kennels A4 in Thurles and quarterfinals of the Bresbet Easter Cup in Shelbourne.  Sunday, final of the Irish Cesarewitch Open 600 in Mullingar.

Tribune Offaly dog of the week

An easy choice this week as Optic Chico made the trip to Enniscorthy for the first round of the Future Champion and Michael Fortune Memorial open unraced stake and was easily the fastest winner of the eleven heats in 28.50 (20 slow) by six lengths for Edenderry owner David Hanlon.

Offaly Winners

A super total of twelve Offaly winners this week. Congratulations to all involved in any small way.