Gone to the dogs: Seven Offaly winners

Shelbourne Park, on Friday and Saturday, brought the standout racing of the week  with the second round of the Boylesports Irish Derby. Heats one to eight on Friday with heats nine to sixteen on Saturday. Plenty of shocks with many fancied dogs exiting the competition but also some younger dogs putting themselves into the frame to be the outright winner of the world’s most sought after greyhound racing trophy.

In addition to the Derby there was plenty of other top class action including the semi-finals of the best sprint competition on either side of the Irish Sea. Some decent sweepstakes got underway while  some came to the concluding stages. In another super week of racing around the tracks there were plenty of quality Offaly winners.

Early Week Racing

Monday, Enniscorthy, in the first round of the Public House Open Unraced stake, won in 2022, by Coolavanny Raven for Garry Dempsey. Six heats with Dempsey not giving up this trophy easy when supplying the fastest heat  winner in Miami Prince in 28.99 (20 slow) by eight lengths.

Thursday in Enniscorthy, they celebrated a milestone at the track, when they held birthday celebrations as the Greyhound track on the Ross Road was ninety years old. While other tracks around the country may be older most have moved location over the years, Enniscorthy has started here and remains a vital part of the town. A huge crowd turned up for their gala night where the management ran nine races, six worth a €1k and three worth €750 to the winners. Let’s hope racing continues there for many years to come.

In Shelbourne Park, in the semi-finals of the RCETS Open Unraced Stake, Droopys Mandolin remains unbeaten in this competition when winning by a head at 1/1 fav in 28.45. The second semi went to Grouchos Duke for John Byrne in a faster 28.31 by ten lengths at 1/2 fav.

Two finals on the night, in the RCETS A3 stake, the €4K first prize went to Glory Baz (Droopys Sydney - Glory Sara Jane) who made it six wins from six starts in 28.55 for owner Sheila Duncan by six lengths at 5/4 fav.  In the final of the Sporting Press A4 stake, Comets Allegro (Pestana - Allen Comet) was on the winners podium for Marie and Skip Gilbert and owner Aidan Comerford in 28.61 by three lengths at 2/1.

Friday Racing

Kilkenny, in the quarter-finals of the Boylesports A3 Bitch Stake, Storys Fuse set the bar highest for local trainer Murt Leahy in 28.83 (10 slow) by two lengths at 7/2. First Offaly winner of the week was in an A2 550 contest in Newbridge, Dark Design seems to be back to her best when having her sixth career win in 30.30 (10 fast) by a neck at 5/2 for Rhode owner Sean Cocoman.

The highlight of a competitive card in Tralee was the final of the Tullig Cryname @ Stud A3 stake over 500 yards, the €2k first prize went to State Mint (Bull Run Bolt - Kateanns Joy) in 26.98 (10 fast) by five lengths at 5/4 fav with Shane Murphy owning and training. In the quarterfinals of the Rose Of Tralee A4 525 Sweepstake, Saleen Pearl was easily the fastest of the heat winners in 28.56 (10 fast) by two lengths at 7/2 for Patrick O’Connor.

Saturday Racing

Curraheen Park in Cork, final of the Pat O’Keeffe and CPSC A6 stake was the best race on their card, the €1.5k pot went to Paul Dowdeswell as Ballymac Reymie (Ballymac Cashout- Murleys Ellie) was an easy ten lengths winner in 28.65 at 6/4.

The two semi-finals of the Bar One Racing Irish Sprint Cup over the 400 yard trip were the main feature in Dundalk. Two very close battles with Offaly dog Carrick Aldo winning the first for Edenderry owner Thomas Glynn in 21.04 by three lengths with David Murray training. The  second semi went to Rathdown Molly for Marie Gilbert in 20.99 by four lengths. Only half a length separating these two winners, hopefully another trophy coming to the Faithful County in Saturday's final.

In a night of finals at the Showgrounds in Galway in conjunction with the Galway races, the best one on the card was the Galway Plate A2 stake, the €1.4K purse went to Grangeview Lolo (Ballymac Best - Grangeview West) for Emily Hogan in 28.91 (10 slow) by three lengths.

At the Dock Road track in Limerick, in the quarter-finals of the O’Connor Julian Vets Cashel A2 Tri-Distance stake over the 575 yard trip, County Minor set the fastest time in 31.11 by a short head at 9/4 for Gerard White and Pat Butler. Semi-finals on Saturday will be over the 600 yard distance. Also in Limerick, in the final of an A3 bitch stake, Beaming Becca (Droopys Sydney - Beechgrove Bell) took the spoils in 29.01 by one length at 8/13 fav with a cheque of €1.2k going to Corona Ryan.

In Thurles, in an A6 grade, Birr owner Gerard Milne brought Clonkelly Cat and duly collected the winning prize money in 29.58 (20 slow) by three lengths.

The best two races in Kilcohan Park in Waterford were the semifinals of the John Fitzgerald Memorial Open Bitch stake. First one went to Clogheen Lass for Graham Holland in 28.36 by two lengths at 1/2 fav with the second going to Quivers Magic for Adam Dunford in 28.41 by a head also at 1/2 fav. Not much separating these two winners on the clock either.

Three Offaly winners in Mullingar, in an A5 grade, Ballyfore Blonde won for Johnny Jones in 30.20 by four lengths. In an A4 race, Clonearl Kate won for Tullamore owners Conor McGrath and Niall Deegan in 30.01 by a head at 6/4 making it two wins from three starts. In the final race on the card which was also the best, an A1 contest, Uncle Baldy came home strongly to win by one length in a fine 29.58 at 6/4 fav for Cappincur owners Charlie Colgan and the Glafo Syndicate. All races in Mullingar were rated  .50 slow.

Boylesports Irish Derby

Friday, eight great heats, all won in super times, once again Scagletti set the standard when winning in a brilliant  29.26 by four lengths at 5/4 for Pat Guilfoyle. Next fastest on the clock was Pat Buckley’s prolific winning bitch Bobsleigh Dream in 29.36 by a head at 2/1.

Portlaoise owners Ray Conroy and Ollie Dunne were in the winners enclosure for the second week in a row when Clonroosk Sydney won by three lengths in 29.61 at 5/1.The big losers on Friday were two of the most fancied dogs for outright victory when Ballinabola Ed and Gaytime Nemo had no luck in running and were sadly eliminated.

Saturday, the two standout performances in front of a massive crowd were from anti post favorite Coolavanny Hoffa and Bens Teddy as both stopped the clock in identical time of 29.31. Hoffa won by nine lengths for Michael O’Donovan at 2/9 fav while Teddy won by six for Pat Buckley at 7/4 fav. The eight heats winners were spread around all the top trainers with no one having a double. Edenderry and our last remaining Offaly dog Trinity Junior qualified with ease only beaten into second on the run in by one length in 29.53 for Timmy Slevin. Undulation won this heat for Brendan Mathews. Sixteen great heats last weekend, Saturday should be brilliant.

Derby Betting

After Saturday’s super performance Coolavanny Hoffa is now clear favourite with the sponsors Boylesports at 3/1. Clona Duke is second favourite at 10/1 for Holland with Scagletti on 12/1 fo Guilfoyle. 14/1 bar. Edenderry dog Trinity Junior can be backed now at 25/1 as he didn’t get a favourable draw in trap five in his heat on Saturday but still has the early gears to clear the field and qualify.

Sunday Racing

One Faithful County winner at the matinee meeting in Mullingar, in an A2 race, Lingrawn Focus has his ninth career win for Moneygall owner Liam Jones in 29.56 (50 slow) by one length at 4/1.

Upcoming Events

Thursday, final of the RCETS Open unraced in Shelbourne. Friday, semifinals of the Boylesports A3 Bitch stake in Kilkenny and semifinals of the Rose Of Tralee A4 stake in Tralee. Saturday, third round of the Boylesports Irish Derby, final of the Bar One Racing National Sprint in Dundalk, semifinals of the O’Connor Julian Vets Cashel A2 Tri-distance in Limerick and final of the John Fitzgerald Memorial Open bitch stake in Waterford. Loads of top class action to look forward to this week.

Tribune Offaly dog of the week

Carrick Aldo gets the nod this week for his magnificent win in the semi-finals of the country’s top sprint competition, the Bar One Racing Open Sprint in Dundalk for Edenderry owner Thomas Glynn.

Offaly Winners

Seven Offaly winners this week, well done to all who contributed to these wins in any way.