Gone to the dogs: Twelve Offaly winners

Some top class action across the length and breadth of the country including some great finals at the concluding stages of certain of the annual stakes. Plenty of money won around the tracks with bumper crowds in attendance. Most leading trainers have been flying the Irish flag, showing the best of our their top class dogs, over in Towcester. The trainers are running dogs in prep races for the English Derby which is only around the corner, no doubt we will be highly competitive again this year. We had to wait until Friday for our first Offaly winner however then they just rolled in, one after the other, in another bumper week for the Faithful County dogs.

Early Week Racing

Monday, Enniscorthy, in the second round of the April Open unraced stake, eight heats, each with a different local sponsor,  which is a credit to the management of the Wexford track to made an effort to go out and get these generous sponsors. Other track management should take note of this. All eight heats were very competitive with the fastest winner being Miami Patrol for Gary Dempsey in a super 28.64 (20 slow) by five lengths at 3/1. Waterford trainer Peter Cronin had a double on the night with Dubai Kid in 28.75 (20 slow) and Yahoo Sydney in 29.01 (20 slow) by seven Lengths at 1/3 fav.

Thursday, Shelbourne, in the final of an A3 novice 750 stake, Harryannafreya (Duke Special - Calzaghe Lady) outstayed the field to win by five lengths in 43.61 (70 slow) at 5/2 with a pot of €1.25k going to Eddie Rushe. Laughil Oscar was second for Kilcormac owners Mary and Paul Jennings.

Friday Racing

In Kilkenny, one of the most anticipated and valuable open novice stakes got underway, The Champion Open Unraced Stakes, always top quality where future champions are paraded for the first time. This stake was won last year by Another Holiday for Michael O’Donovan. Eight Heats, with a treble for Graham Holland who provided the two fastest heat winners aswell in Unreal Bruiser in 28.90 (30 slow) and Ballinakill Alf in 28.91 (30 slow) by five lengths at 4/1. One Offaly winner in heat two as Carrick Fergie stopped the clock in 29.22 (30 slow) for Edenderry owner Thomas Glynn by two lengths at 4/5 fav with Robert Gleeson training.

The first round of the Friends Of Newbridge A1 550 Derby was the highlight of a decent card at the Hawksfield track. Five heats with Mendelson delivering the best run for his trainer Thomas O’Donovan in 30.06 by five lengths at 2/1. Last year's winner Toolmaker Wilde was back to defend his crown for Gleeson winning heat four in 30.68. Also in Newbridge, in the final of the NTSC A4 stake, Shiva Diva (Skywalker Farloe - Cabra Diva) won for former Laois footballer Donie Brennan by one length at 5/4 fav in 29.15 with a purse of €1.1k going his way.

Two finals in Shelbourne, both worth €1.75k to the winners. The first was the Ballymac Inspeed @ Stud ON2 unraced stake where American Prince (Droopys Sydney - Rangefield Lass) shone brightest in 29.12 by five lengths at 1/1 fav for Dolores Ruth. The second final was the Rasaiocht Con Eireann A2 550, Kilcolgan Comet (Pat C Sabbath - Razldazl Valarie) was too good for the other five in 30.17 by one length at 5/2 with Nelius O’Connell training. Two good Offaly winners on the supporting card, in an A2 525, Fear No Judge won for Kinnitty owner Jeannette MacKenzie in 29.01 by three lengths at 6/4 and Verratti won in an A1 grade for Edenderry owner Keith Duffy in 28.87 by one length at 1/1 fav with Gleeson once again training.

In Tralee, in the second round of the Lee Strand A3 550, six heats with local trainer Liam Dowling supplying the fastest winner as Ballymac Opera was first over the whitewash in 29.93 by seven lengths at a short 2/5 fav.

Saturday Racing

Cork, second round of the Curraheen A2 Spring Derby, six heats with Killaheen Lady going fastest for Bernadette Connolly in 28.39 by six lengths at 2/1.

First Offaly winner on Saturday was in Galway, in the semifinals of an A4 sweepstake, So Its Wild won for Birr owner Paul Pardy in 29.27 (10 slow) by four lengths with Vincent McKenna at the helm. 

The semifinals of the Epic Hero Limerick Oaks dominated proceedings on the Dock Road track in the Treaty City. There was only a length between the two winners, Quivers Magic won the first, for Adam Dunford in 28.60 by one length at 5/1, with Rafas Friend getting the winning ribbon in the second, for Noreen O’Connor and Lorraine Keane, in 28.53 by five lengths at 5/2. 

Four Offaly winners in Mullingar, in the first race on the card, an ON2 unraced. Diplo was an easy eight length winner for Keith Duffy again with Edenderry trainer David Hanlon parading this one in 29.51 at a short 2/5 fav. In an A4 grade, Ripley Delight delivered a career best run of 29.19 by four lengths at 5/4 for Paddy McCormack.  In an A5 contest, Clareabbey Rebel was a one length winner for Geashill trainer Margaret Bolton in 30.09 at 2/1. In the final race on the card, an A3 grade, Syrax made it four wins from five starts in 30.04 by a neck for Edenderry owners Paul and Chloe Cronin. All races in Mullingar were rated .50 slow.

The most valuable final of the week was in Shelbourne with the running of the RPGTV Open 600, class won out here as 1/3 fav Ballinabola Ed (Confident Rankin - Dolls Lady) won his eighteenth race in splendid style in 32.49 by one length. The Pat Buckley trained white and black dog has only been out of the frame five times in his twenty seven races. His €15k first prize here has now brought his career earnings to over €40k. Surely the Derby is the goal now for this super consistent dog.  Millridge Byrce was second for Donal O’Mahony and he won a Cheque for €4K.

In the final of the Retired Greyhound Trust A1 stake, Blackstone Bobby (Droopys Sydney - Calzaghe Jan) was first back in kennels in 28.57 by two lengths at an incredible price of 9/1 with the €2k pot going to trainer Michael O’Donovan.

In the first round of the Shelbourne Open Champion 550, four heats with a double for Buckley and also the fastest heat winner in Bens Teddy in a super 29.74 by two lengths at 15/8.

Sunday Racing
Another four Offaly winners at the matinee meeting in Mullingar, three from the Moneygall stable of the Jones’.

In an  A3 race Lingrawn Grace won in 29.59 by two lengths at 5/2 for Kevin Jones.

In another A3 contest Lingrawn Buzz won for Liam Jones in 29.51 by two lengths at 9/2. In an A2 race.  Lingrawn Aoife was first home once again for Liam in 29.38 at 7/4 by one length. Our final winner of the week was Horseleap Zoe in an A6 race in 30.01 by three lengths at 9/4 for Sean McGuinness.

All races  in Mullingar were again rated again  .50 slow.

Upcoming Events

Friday, quarter-finals of the Friends Of Newbridge A1 Derby, quarterfinals of the Lee Strand A3 550 in Tralee and quarterfinals of the Champion Open unraced in Kilkenny. Saturday, quarterfinals of the Curraheen Spring Derby in Cork, final of an A4 stake in Galway and semifinals of the Shelbourne Champion 550. Loads of top class action to look forward to this week.

Tribune Offaly dog of the week

Carrick Fergie get the nod this week for Edenderry owner Thomas Glynn for winning in 29.22(30 slow) in the first round of the very competitive Champion Open Unraced Stake in Kilkenny.

Offaly Winners

There were twelve Offaly winners this week. Congratulations to all involved in any big or small way.