Gone to the dogs: Nine Offaly winners

It was a week of finals with seven in all with prize money in excess of €2k being divided out around most of the tracks with some brilliant displays from Offaly dogs too.  Racing in the UK brought the first round of the English Derby where the Irish dogs dominated proceedings. Another magical week of racing with super crowds in attendance.

Early Week Racing

First final of the week, in Enniscorthy on Monday, with the running of the ON1 April unraced stake won last year by Roanna Daisy. The €3k first prize went to Gowran trainer Paul Hennessy as Dairyhill Stella (Ballymac Best- Dairyhill Josie)  showed why she was 4/5 fav when winning by two lengths in 28.77(20 slow). Dairyhill was the class greyhound in this stake winning four of the five rounds with considerable ease.

Shelbourne, Thursday, in the final of the This Runs Deep A4 stake, Ballyhoe Samhain (Cushie Jet - All Time Low) was first home in 29.00 by one length at 2/1 with a cheque of €1.75k going to Miss Mairead McCarthy. Two Offaly winners on the supporting card, both for Croghan trainer Gerry Merriman and both in A5 contests. Coolemount Polly was his first winner in 29.05 by a head at 3/1. His other winner was Highview Rosie who stopped the clock at 28.95 by four lengths at 1/1 fav.

Back to Enniscorthy, in the final of the GRI Spring A4 stake, Woolies Yankee (Jaytee Yankee - Woolies Cheyenne) won the €3k first prize in 29.40 (20 slow) by a short head for Larry Ellard.

Friday racing

Kilkenny, first round of the Mary Ramsbottom Memorial ON2 unraced stake, four heats, all won in smart times, with the fastest being Hey Champ in 29.31 (20 slow) by five lengths at 5/2 for Tommy Flynn.

Newbridge staged one of their big nights of the year, the final of  The Friends Of Newbridge A1 550 Derby, the €3.5k purse went to Prince Lucius (Crash - Limini) in a super 29.97 by two lengths at 7/4 for  Navan based trainer Oliver Bray Lucius was in top form all through this stake as he  went through it unbeaten and a well deserved winner.

It was a super night for Oliver Bray as he had the winner of the big race in Shelbourne too, in the final of the Islandbridge Open Sprint, Gallant Knight (Droopys Sydney - Silver Penny) won by a short head at 3/1 in 18.91 with another €3k going to the Meath trainer.

In the first round of the GRI Summer AO stake, seven heats with Hawkfield Blue going fastest for Newbridge owner Jerry Connors and trainer Keeley McGee in a super 28.17 by nine lengths at 6/4 fav.

In Tralee, in the final of the Lee Strand A3 550 stake, Allowdale Icon (Droopys Sydney - Allowdale Coco) was on the winners podium with a handsome cheque of €6.5k going to Daniel and Eimear Roche in 29.85 (10 fast) by two lengths at 9/4.

Saturday Racing

In Cork, in the final of the  Curraheen Park A2 Spring Derby, Montana Fantasy (Droopys Sydney -Droopys Cuckoo)  took the right night to win her only round of this stake and claim the €8.5k first prize in 28.47 by two lengths at 5/1 for owners Martin and Barry O’Reilly with local trainer John Linehan at the helm.

In the first round of the Deadly Kennels Open 750, won last year by Ballybough Champ for Murt Leahy, four heats all won in top class times. Kinturk Road set the standard for Liam Dowling in 41.84 by two lengths at 2/1.

First Offaly winner on Saturday night was in Dundalk as Benazzi win an S5 400 yard race for Edenderry owners Keith and John Duffy in a swift 21.36 by two lengths. 

Galway hosted the first round of an A4 sweepstake, four heats with Cappaneale Lulu easily delivering the fastest run for Birr owners Micheal Pardy and Jack Carroll in 29.13 (10 slow) by four lengths at 4/6 fav. 

One Offaly winner in Mullingar, in the final of an ON2 unraced contest, Ekin Su (Droopys Sydney - Zola Princess) was even money fav when winning by three lengths in 29.77 (50 slow) with the €500 cheque going to Edenderry owner Paul and David Hanlon. 

Eight magnificent heats in the second round of the Sporting Press Online Edition Irish Oaks in Shelbourne Park. Last years winner Rafa Mofo has certainly laid down the gauntlet when winning her heat in a super 27.96 by eight lengths at 1/1 fav. The Murt Leahy trained bitch is certainly not going to relinquish her trophy without a battle. Breaking the 28.00 barrier has only been done a handful of times and shows the quality of this exceptional bitch. Surely the track record is within her grasp.  Next best on the clock was Quivers Magic for Adam Dunford in 28.25. 

One Offaly winner in Waterford, in the semi-finals of the Bergin Monumental Works A3 stake, Greizman  was first back in kennels for Keith Duffy in 28.87 by one length at a short 4/7 fav with Robert Gleeson training.

English Derby

The first round of the Star Sports/TRC English Derby got underway this week with heats being run on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. At declaration stage thirty one Irish dogs were entered but four were withdrawn due to injury, Irish hopes rested with the remaining twenty seven, all with a  chance.

Thursday was a super night at the Towcester track in Northamptonshire  for the Irish dogs with eleven going into traps with all eleven qualifying. We had a brilliant six winners with two for Brendan Mathews and four for champion trainer Graham Holland. Holland's proudest probably being last year’s champion Romeo Magico who was back to his best coming from off the pace to win by half a length in 29.43. Other winners were Romeo Hanzo, Cryptopunk and Swords Rex for Holland and Undulation and As I Say for Mathews.

Friday, another three Emerald Isle winners, with Clona Duke the stand out performer in round one when breaking the track record in Towcester for Holland. Having already won the Juvenile Derby in Shelbourne last October and the Select Stakes in Waterford last month he certainly laid down a firm marker that he is the dog to beat when stopping the clock at a new marker of 28.76. Holland had a double on the night with Gaytime Nemo in 28.95.  Liam Dowling completed the trio of winners as Ballymac Marino won by nine lengths in 28.95.

Two more Irish winners on Saturday night, Dowling was back on the winners podium with Ballymac Joey in 29.17 and Beepers Lariat brought our winning numbers to eleven in the first round for Jack Kennelly in 29.53. 

Of the twenty seven Irish dogs who started the week twenty four qualified which is a remarkable return and certainly puts us in the frame to retain the trophy in English dog racing blue ribbon event.

Sunday racing

Two Offaly winners at the matinee meeting in Mullingar both for the Jones’s kennel in Moneygall. In an A5 grade Lingrawn Lola won for Mary Jones in 30.28 (70 slow) by one length at a big price of 14/1. Also in an A5 race Lingrawn Focus won for Liam Jones in 29.72 (50 slow) by five lengths at 4/1. 

At the evening meeting in Kilkenny, in the final of the Champion Open unraced stake.It was a brilliant win for Offaly dog Carrick Fergie (Dorotas Wildcat - Droopys Zero) in 28.76 (20 slow) at 3/1 with the  €15k first prize going to Edenderry owner Thomas Glynn with Rathangan trainer Gleeson training. A super win and certainly a bright future ahead for this young dog.

Upcoming Events

Friday, semi-finals of the Mary Ramsbottom Memorial unraced in Kilkenny and second round of the GRI Summer AO in Shelbourne.

Saturday, semi-finals of an A4 sweepstake in Galway, quarterfinals of the Irish Oaks in Shelbourne, final of the Bergin Monumental Works A3 in Waterford and second round of the English Derby in Towcester on both Friday and Saturday.

Tribune Offaly dog of the week

Another easy decision this week as Carrick Fergie won the final of the Champion Open Unraced Stake in Kilkenny on Sunday for Edenderry owner Thomas Glynn. Well deserved dog of the week.

Offaly Winners

There were nine Offaly winners this week. Congratulations to all who contributed in any small way.