Gone to the dogs: Eight Offaly winners

Dominating the racing this week were the final of the Fair Warrior Open 400 yard sprint in Mullingar, the final of the Puppy Oaks in Shelbourne and the second round of the St. Leger in Limerick. After just two victories last week Offaly dogs luck improved this week with plenty of winners and some quality ones to boot.

Early Week Racing

Thursday, Enniscorthy, in the final of the Michael Donoghue Memorial A1 stake, Indian Kitty (Ravenswood Hugo-Droopys Elite) had one length in hand over the field in 29.01 (20 slow) at 2/1 with €2k going to his trainer Patrick Whelan.

In Shelbourne, in the final of the This Runs Deep ON2 unraced stake, the €2.5k first prize went to Killglen Milo (Ballymac Anton-Bessbrook Mill) for Gerard Martin by a neck in 28.88 at 6/4 joint favourite.

Friday Racing

First Offaly winners of the week were in Newbridge with a double. In an A1 race Early News won for Edenderry owner Sean McNamara with Paul Cronin training in a decent 28.59 (30 fast) by seven lengths at 5/2. In the final race on the card, an A2 contest, Dark Design won for Rhode owner Sean Cocoman in 28.92 (30 fast) by one length at 2/1.

In Shelbourne, in the first round of the 2023 Gold Collar A1 550 stake, four heats with Fernandes setting the standard for Brendan Mathews in a very respectable 29.47 by seven lengths at 4/6 fav. Three finals on a very competitive night’s racing, in the Talking Dogs Open Unraced stake, Unanimous Kai (Droopys Sydney-Swift Magnetic) won the €3k first prize pot for trainer Pat Buckley in 28.37 by eight lengths at 5/1. In the final of the Upcoming Events A3 stake, Bregawn View (Ballymac Best-Roseville Liz) won in 28.80 by three lengths at 7/4 fav with a cheque for €2.3k going to Colm Morris. The remaining final was an A2 575, Gorgorito (Ballymac Cashout-Ballymac Minton) was first home in 31.45 by two lengths at 3/1 with a purse of €1.75k going to Northern Ireland trainer Willie Connolly.

Saturday Racing

In Limerick, the second round of the Willwego.com Irish St. Leger were the feature races on a superb card, eight heats all won In fantastic time. There was also treble for Pat Buckley as well as a double for Graham Holland and Peter Cronin. The fastest of the heats was brilliant tracker Swords Rex who has now won twenty six races and stopped the clock on Saturday in 29.27 by three lengths at 5/6 fav for Holland. This hound has now amassed over €124k in winning prize money. One Offaly winner in the heats and that was Champion Stakes winner Trinity Junior for Edenderry owner Timmy Slevin who crossed the line in 29.55 by six lengths at 2/1 with Cronin at the helm. 

In Mullingar, another two Offaly winners, in an S7 400 yard dash. So Its Milo won for Birr owner Paul Pardy in 22.06 (20 slow) by one length at 6/4 joint fav with Vincent McKenna training. In an A4 525, Lingrawn Review won for Moneygall owner Liam Jones in 29.77 (50 slow) by a wide margin of fifteen lengths at 1/1 fav.

There was an abundance of money up for grabs in a packed Shelbourne Park where three valuable finals were decided. In the final of the Paddy Merriman Memorial A1 stake, in memory of a great Croghan, Offaly and Greyhound enthusiast, the €10k first prize went to Whyate Bonnylad (Ballymac Cashout-Drumalee Premier) for trainer Robert Gleeson in 28.34 by one length at 11/4. Mustang Fever was second for Sean Bourke and Paul Horig and received a cheque for €3.5k. 

In the final of the RPGTV Puppy Oaks, the €5k pot went to Singalong Dolly (Droopys Sydney-Mydras Dawn) for Pat Buckley again in 28.44 by a neck at 9/2. Offaly finalist Short Grip finished a creditable third for Rhode owner P.J. Cocoman. In the conclusion of the Sporting Press A1 stake, Crafty Orlando (Skywalker Canny-Dower Bud) won the €2.2k first prize for Shane Divilly in 28.47 by five lengths at 5/6 fav. One Offaly winner on the under card. in an Open 525, Highview Splash won for the Merrimans in 28.14 by seven lengths at a short 4/9 fav making it five wins now from nine starts. 

Thurles, in the final of the Mick and Mary Bourke Memorial A4 stake, Bogger Ace (Pestana-Bogger Bonnie) won the €3.6k first prize for Liam Peacock in 29.66 (20 slow) by a head in a great finish at 2/1.

Another Offaly winner here as Cagey Billy won an ON2 unraced for Birr owners Bill Pardy and Christopher Fitzgerald in 30.20 (20 slow) by two lengths at 4/6 fav with Christopher Delaney training.

Sunday Racing

It was a very busy Sunday with over €20k up for grabs in three different tracks.   In Mullingar, in the final of the RPGTV Fair Warrior Open 400, the €4K first prize went to Northern Ireland trainer Aidan McVeigh as Pavilion Fire (Good News- Bubbly Firebird) won by a head in 21.43 (20 slow) and justified being the 6/4 fav. The unlucky dog in the race was So Its Rapid for Birr owner Paul Pardy to was in front all the way and just passed on the line. The South Offaly dog ran a blinder and surely big pay days ahead for him.

One Offaly winner earlier on the night, in an A5 contest, Over The Top won for Croghan owner Vincent Lynch in 29.58 (50 slow) by six lengths at 2/1 fav. 

In Clonmel, in the quarter-finals of the AO Riverside Stud Munster Juvenile Cup, Annual Coco went fastest when stopping the clock in 28.18 (10 slow) by seven lengths at 3/1.

Lifford staged their biggest night of the year with two races worth €5k to the winners and numerous others with big first placed prizes aswell. In the Christy Gillespie Memorial Open 550, the €5k pot went to Unmatched (Droopys Sydney-Droopys Alice) for John Linehan who drove the full length of the Country from his Cork base to win in 29.97 by five lengths at 5/1. The second €5k race was the Christy Gillespie/ Foyle Hospice Open 575, Derby finalist Bens Teddy (Droopys Sydney- Beechgrove Bell) was too good for his rivals in 31.48 by two lengths at 6/4 and made the long drive back to Tipperary for trainer Pat Buckley a lot easier with that cheque in his pocket.

Upcoming Events

Friday, semi-finals of the Gold Collar A1 550 in Shelbourne.
Saturday, quarterfinals of the Willwego.Com Irish St. Leger in Limerick.                  Sunday, semifinals of the Riverside Stud Munster Juvenile Cup in Clonmel. 

Tribune Offaly dog of the week

Another easy decision this week. Trinity Junior once again showed his class winning in the second round of the Irish St. Leger in Limerick on Saturday, for Edenderry owner Timmy Slevin, in a super 29.55 by six lengths. 

Offaly Winners

Eight Offaly winners this week. Congratulations to all involved.