Gone to the dogs: Nine Offaly winners

After the highs of the Con and Annie Kirby Memorial last week in Limerick, where over €175k was won, it was a much more modest seven days of racing. However loads of quality action with finals in Waterford, Galway, Shelbourne and Cork. First round of some top class annual events around the tracks with big crowds back supporting the industry. Some fine performances from some Offaly dogs with a couple of final trophies being brought back to the Faithful County.

Early Week Racing

Monday, Enniscorthy, the entire eleven race card was the first round of the April unraced open stake with some serious pups and future champions on debut. The two standout winners were Dairyhill Stella for Gowran trainer Paul Hennessy in 28.82 (20 slow) by twelve lengths and Forest Margaret for Robbie O’Neill and Ned Murphy in 28.87 (20 slow) by ten lengths.

Shelbourne, Thursday, in the final of the This Runs Deep A6 stake Bee Honey (Trinity Forest - Oi Oi Upenalty) won by one length in 29.16 at 4/1 with the cheque for €1.5k going to trainer Dennis Smyth. Two Offaly winners on the supporting card, in an A5 contest Ding Dang Sydney won for Geashill trainer Margaret Bolton in 29.86 by one length at 3/1. In the semifinals of a novice A3 750 yard stake Laughil Oscar won the first for Kilcormac owners Mary and Paul Jennings in 42.87 by one length at 1/2 fav. The second semi went to Trumpers Rachel for Shane Ronayne in 42.71.

Friday Racing

First Offaly winner on Friday was in Galway, in the final of an S7 sprint sweepstake over 350 yards. The €700 first prize went to Birr owner Bill Pardy as Cappaneale Rocky (Rossbirr Ranger - Off Her Rocker) won by two lengths in 19.16 (.05 slow) at 4/5 fav.

Kilkenny hosted the final of the Blackstone Kennels A2 525 stake, the classicly bred Watch The Limo (Droopys Sydney - Limini) won by four lengths in 29.07 (20 slow) at 4/1 with the first prize pot of €2k going to trainer Michael O’Donovan.

Limerick staged the first round of the Epic Hero Limerick Oaks, won last year by Burgess Josie for Pat Buckley. Only three heats but some quality bitches were on view. Fastest of the three was last year’s National Oaks and GRI Galway Oaks winner Rafa Mofo for Murt Leahy in 28.34 by four lengths at 4/5 fav. The other two winners were Burgess Rapid for Shiela Spillane and J.J. Fennelly in 28.50 and Cheeky Chloe for Trevor O’Connell in 28.90.

Another Offaly final winner in Newbridge as Glenlara Blue (Droopys Sydney - Glenlara Rosa) won the This Runs Deep A3 final in a career best run of 28.86 by four lengths at 6/4 with the purse of €650 going to Geashill owners Liam Kirley and nephew Thomas Garry.

In Shelbourne Park, in the final of the RCETS A2 stake, Mr. Skinny Legs (Droopys Buick - Melodys Molly) made all to win by a head in 28.82 at even money fav with the €1.75k going to trainer Shaun Conway. In Tralee, in the first round of one of their top annual events of the year, The Lee Strand A3 550, won last year by Tullig Cryname again for Buckley. Seven heats with Cape Island going fastest for Michael McEllistrim in 29.83 by two lengths at 5/4 fav.

Saturday Racing

Cork, first round of the Curraheen Park Spring Derby A2 stake, ten heats, with Nellies Holly setting the standard in heat seven in 28.55 by one length at 6/4 for John Kiely. 

Two Offaly winners in Mullingar, in an A7 contest, Camera News won for the second week in a row for Clara owner Bernard (Sonny) Walsh in 29.98 (50 slow) by eight lengths at 2/1. In an A4 grade, Kilbride Fairy made it three wins from three start for Edenderry trainer David Hanlon in a super 29.34 (50 slow) by five lengths at 5/4 fav. 

A bumper crowd once again at Shelbourne to witness some fantastic action, with the main event being the semifinals of the RPGTV Open 600. Allforthebest won the first for the H-D-J Syndicate in 32.63 by a head at 4/5 fav, with the second going to favourite to win stake out Ballinabola Ed for Buckley in 32.17 by five lengths at a very short 1/3 fav.  In the semifinals of the Retired Greyhound Trust A1 stake, Good Maestro won the first for Pat Guilfoyle in 28.28 by six lengths at 4/6 fav with the remaining heat going to Our Dog Molly for Tom O’Neill in 28.77 by two lengths at 6/4 fav.  One Offaly winner on the night, in an AO bitch stake, Highview Mags was first home for Croghan trainer Gerry Merriman in 28.65 by one length at 3/1. 

In Kilcohan Park in Waterford, in the final of their biggest event of the year the Time Greyhound Nutrition AAO Select Stakes, the €10k first prize went to Clona Duke (Malachi - Coolavanny Pearl) in 28.22 by two lengths at 9/4. Having already won the Juvenile Derby in October in Shelbourne worth €20k this Graham Holland trained Black has not amassed €40k in winning prize money in just eight career wins. Expect more to come.  Wi Can Dream was second for Guilfoyle and received a cheque for €3.5k.  In the final of the Explosive Boy @ Stud ON2 unraced, Fagans Garden (Droopys Sydney - Fagans Venus) was first back in kennels in 28.90 by a neck at 2/1 with €1.4K going to his owner Larry Kearns.

Sunday Racing

Two Offaly winners at the matinee meeting in Mullingar, in an A4 race Lingrawn Buzz was first over the whitewash for Moneygall owner Liam Jones in 29.80 (60 slow) by one length at 5/2. Our final winner of the week was in the last race, an A2 contest, Lahinch Lilly won for Clara owner P.J. Cleary in 29.66 (60 slow) by a head. 

At the evening meeting in Clonmel, in the final of the Sorley O’Dornan Memorial A4 Guys and Dolls stake, Honey Bunny (Droopys Sydney- Traceys Pet) won for David and Michael Power in 28.81 (10 slow) by four lengths at 3/1 with a decent cheque of of €2k going their way.

Upcoming Events

Friday, final of the Novice A3  750 in Shelbourne, semi-finals of the Epic Hero Limerick Oaks in the Treaty City and quarterfinals of the Lee Strand A3 550 in Tralee. Saturday, second round of the Curraheen Park Spring Derby in Cork and finals of the RPGTV Open 600 and Retired Greyhound Trust A1 stake, both in Shelbourne. 

Tribune Offaly dog of the week

Glenlara Blue gets the nod this week for Thomas Garry and Liam Kirley for winning the final of the This Runs Deep A3 stake in Newbridge on Friday in a super 28.86 by four lengths. Super run. 

Offaly Winners

Nine Offaly winners this week. Well done to all connections.