Gone to the dogs: Seven Offaly winners

Highlights of this weeks racing included the second round of the Con and Annie Kirby Memorial in Limerick and the semifinals of the Bresbet Easter cup. The countrys top dogs were on view with bumper crowds back supporting one of the countrys oldest sports . A nice spread of Offaly winners in what was another super week of racing

Early Week Racing

The quarter-finals of the Future Champion and Michael Fortune Memorial Open unraced stake were the main feature of Monday's card in Enniscorthy. Optic Chico set the standard when winning in the fastest time of the night in 28.55 (20 slow) by an ever increasing eight lengths for new owners Richard Vereker and Paul Allen having recently purchased from Edenderry owner David Hanlon. Others to catch the eye were Toffee Man for Peter Cronin in 28.61 (20 slow) and Ballinabola Bora for Niamh Murphy in 28.85 (20 slow). Thursday, Shelbourne, in the final of the Talking Dogs A5 stake, Aulton Nick (Pat C Sabbath - Portumna West) was first home in 29.39 by five lengths at 2/1 with €1.5k going to trainer Vincent McKenna and Lorrha owner Patrick Hogan.

Friday Racing

Clonmel, in the final of the Trap One Greyhound Supplies ON2 unraced stake, Fantasy Moll (Pestana - Newinn Madam) also won a cheque for €1.5k for her trainer Adam Dunford when winning by a head in 28.65 (10 slow). Offaly's only winner on Friday was in Newbridge. In an A3 contest Glenlara Blue came from off the pace to get up on the line and win by a short head in 29.30 at 5/4 fav for Liam Kirley and nephew Thomas Garry recording his first win in just two starts.

The best race in Shelbourne Park was the final of the RCETS A2 550/575 dual distance stake. Foxmount Lough (Droopys Sydney - Lough Saoirse) was a five length winner in 31.98 (40 slow) at 3/1 with €1.75k going to trainer Lester Power.
In Tralee, in the first round of the John and Mary Killeacle Dowling Memorial A1 570 yard stake, won last year by Coolboy Rusty for Eric Prestage, four heats with Strideaway Lena going fastest for James O’Mahony in 31.09 by three lengths at 9/4.

Saturday Racing

Some quality racing in Curraheen Park in Cork with the first round of the Greyhound and Petworld Supersprint SS0, won last year by Gizmo Cash. Four  heats with joint fastest winners, Echo Zulu for Michael O’Donovan and Barnfield Pirate for John Kiely, both in 17.67. One final also decided in Cork, the Galloping Kennels ON2 unraced stake, with the €1.4K pot going to Away Jazz (Ballymac Eske - Wolfofallstreets) in 28.96 by three lengths at 1/2 fav for the C and C partnership Syndicate.

In Galway, in the quarter-finals of the Ann Cheevers Memorial A5 stake, Claudegreengrass went fastest for Gerry Dillon in 29.18 (10 slow) by two lengths at 4/5 fav. Eight heats of the Con and Annie Kirby Memorial AAO dominated proceedings in a packed Limerick stadium. Graham Holland had three winners on the night including the two fastest heat winners. Clona Duke once again set the standard when equalling the track record of 27.95 by thirteen lengths at odds of 1/3 fav. Second fastest on the clock was Romeo Hanzo who won by five lengths at 4/1 in 28.07. There was also a double in the stake for Pat Buckley. 

Three Offaly winners in Mullingar, in the first round of the This Runs Deep ON2 unraced stake, five heats with two being won by Faithful County trained hounds, in the first heat, Thousand Island won for David Hanlon in 29.90 by four lengths at 1/2 fav. Heat four also went to Edenderry owners as Syrax won for Paul and Chloe Cronin in 29.66 by seven lengths also at 1/2 fav. In the final race on the card, an A2 contest, Ripley Lightning had his tenth career victory for Paddy McCormack in 29.41 by three lengths at 5/4 joint fav. All races in Mullingar were rated .60 slow.

The two best races of a very busy week were the semi-finals of the Bresbet Easter Cup Classic AAO in Shelbourne Park. Graham Holland again supplied the two winners, Swords Rex in 30.39 (60 slow) by one length at 6/4 and Bockos Crystal in 30.22 (60 slow) by thirteen lengths at 9/4. Of the six remaining dogs in Saturday’s final, Holland has an amazing four of them with leading stud dog Droopys Sydney supplying three. Should be a cracker.

Sunday Racing

Three Offaly winners at the matinee meeting in Mullingar, in an A7grade, Horseleap Zoe won for Sean McGuinness in 30.71 (60 slow) by one length at 6/4 fav. The other two winners were from the Jones’s Moneygall stable. In an A6 race Lingrawn Billy won for Mary Jones in 30.73 (60 slow) by three lengths at 9/4. The final Offaly winner of the week was for Liam Jones in an A4 contest in 29.69 (60 slow) by six lengths at 5/2. 

It was the official opening of the Lifford stadium tonight with plenty of top class trackers on view in front of another super crowd. Some of the highlights, in the final of the Len McKinney Transport A1 stake, Cloneden Flash (Makeshift- Madabout Bella) won for sponsor of the Gold Cup in Shelbourne in February Paddy Kehoe and Enda Currie in 28.62 by four lengths at 4/6 with €750 to the winning owners. In an AAO 525, Wi Can Dream was as easy eight length winner for Pat Guilfoyle with a €1k going his way in 28.54 at 4/5 fav. In the Boylesports AAO 575, Droopys Nextone (Ballymac Eske- Droopys Cuckoo) got the cheque for €1.5k for  Raymond Hamilton in 31.34 by a large margin of fiftheen lengths at 2/1.

Upcoming Events

Friday, semi-finals of the John and Mary Killeacle Dowling Memorial in Tralee. Saturday, semi-finals of the Greyhound and Petworld Supersprint in Cork, semifinals of the Ann Cheevers Memorial in Galway, quarterfinals of the Con and Annie Kirby Memorial in Limerick and final of the Bresbet Easter Cup in Shelbourne. 

Tribune Offaly dog of the week

Ripley Lightning gets the nod this week for winning an A2 race in Mullingar on Saturday for Paddy McCormack in a super 29.41 (60 slow).

Offaly Winners

Seven Offaly winners this week. Well done to all involved in any small way.