Gone to the dogs: Only two Offaly winners

This week's racing included a congratulatory clap on the back for a year of top class racing with the running of the RCE Winter Racing Festival. It was a celebration of a fantastic year's racing with the cream of the country's best dogs battling for some serious loot with over €150k on offer in prize money across Friday and Saturday. The quality dogs of 2023 had a further opportunity to amass more money to add to their 2023 winning prize money. However, there were some shocks, as well as cream coming to the top once again, with all the top trainers walking away with some serious prize money for their very loyal owners. Locally there were some quality Offaly winners to add to another super week of Greyhound racing.

Early week racing

Thursday, Enniscorthy, final of the Irish Retired Greyhound Trust Novice Open unraced stake, the €900 first prize went to the odds on 1/3 fav Kit Man (Droopys Sydney-Palermo) for Waterford trainer Peter Cronin in 29.22 (20 slow) winning by one length.

First Offaly winner of the week was in Shelbourne on the same night as Highview Treat won an A1 race in 28.89 by three lengths at 3/1 for Croghan trainer Gerry Merriman.

Friday racing

Galway, final of the Paul McKenna Memorial A5 stake, David Flanagan supplied the winner here of the €1.2k first prize as Sober Mags (Dorotas Wildcat-Mags Angel) won in 28.98 (10 slow) by five lengths at 6/4.

The first night of the Winter Racing Festival in Shelbourne was on Friday with eight races worth €2k and five worth €2.5k to the winners on a top class card. While most of the big hitters were on the Saturday card there was some great racing on this card. Unfortunately no Offaly winners, however, a few went close. Two winners that stood out were in the final of the AO 525 Kapuka Warrior (Good News-Rural Intentions) won one of the €2.5k pots for Karol Ramsbottom in 28.33 by one length at 5/1. In the final of an A4 sweepstake Jaxx Vivienne (Sparta Maestro-Boreen Magic) won the €2k purse for Beatrice Steiner in 28.90 by two lengths at 11/2.

Saturday racing

Only Offaly winner was in Limerick, in an A8 race, Cagey Billy won for Birr owners Bill Pardy and Christopher Fitzgerald in 29.17 by eleven lengths at a well backed 4/6 fav with Christopher Delaney training.  No flag raised for any Offaly dog in Mullingar on Saturday which was a rarity.

A huge crowd turned up in Shelbourne to witness the cream of Irish dogs, and a few UK raiders, running in a twelve race program with impressive purses- five races worth €5k to the winners, six worth €10k and one at €12.5k. In the past all these top dogs would have been put away for a winter rest. However with prize money like this on offer most are kept in training and what a show they put on.

Highlights

Open Sprint and €5k went to Ballinakill Alf for champion trainer Graham Holland in 18.49 by one length. Open 850 was a complete shock winner as Highjay Muzzy won the €5k pot in 47.63 by two lengths for Stephen Maher and Jason Meredith at a whopping 40/1. The Open 525 and €10k went to High Trend for Holland again in 28.16 by three lengths. Champion bitch 525 went to Droopys Mandolin in 28.15 by two lengths at 8/11 fav fresh from winning the Galway Oaks last week and another €10k to Robert Gleeson.  The open 550 which was like a line up for the Derby final witnessed Another Holiday for Michael O’Donovan winning the €10k, in 29.48 by one length, at a decent 12/1 with Offaly dog Trinity Junior in second for Edenderry owner Timmy Slevin. Bens Teddy won the open 600 in 31.92 for Pat Buckley with the Open 575 going to Music Glideaway for Pat Guilfoyle in 30.69 with €10k going to both winners.

The race with the most valuable purse of €12.5k to the winner was the final of the IGOBF National Puppy Stakes. The winner ran a blinder and remained unbeaten in this very competitive stake as Whyate Bonnylad (Ballymac Cashout-Drumalee Premier) stopped the clock in 28.15 by two lengths at 15/8 with Gleeson at the helm again. Dunnanelly Fred was second for Northern Ireland trainer Damian Macginn and received a purse of €3k.

It was once again another super Winter Racing Festival and congratulations to all winners but especially those who organised it, sponsored races and trainers who supplied the best dogs their kennels. Festivals like this have been tried many times in the UK but all have been a pale replica of what Shelbourne Park can put on. Big congratulations for a great night's racing.

Sunday Racing

Sadly Sunday's racing had no Offaly winner at the matinee meeting in Mullingar.

Tribune Offaly dog of the week

Although not a winner, Trinity Junior get the nod for finishing second in the most difficult of races the Open 550 yard races in Shelbourne on Saturday at the Winter Racing Festival. He was only beaten by one length in a fantastic time of 29.48 for Timmy Slevin.

Offaly Winners

Just two Offaly winners this week. Congratulations to all involved.