Gone to the dogs: Nine Offaly winners

The first round of the Star Sports/TRC English Derby dominated the week's racing across the pond. Forty five Irish dogs made the trip to Towcester trying to defend the title won so brilliantly, last year, by Gaytime Nemo for Graham Holland. Not sure the home dogs have the quality to take on the cream of the Irish hounds again this year and expect at the business end of this stake that the majority of the dogs remaining are Irish. On the home front this week we had the final of the April Open Unraced in Enniscorthy, the final of the Islandbridge Open Sprint, second round of the Sporting Press Irish both in Shelbourne and final of the Lee Strand in Tralee. 

A great week for Offaly winners with a number of winners across the country's tracks. 


Early Week Racing

Monday, Enniscorthy, final of the April Open Unraced Stake, the €2.5k first prize went to Ballybreenautumn (Ballymac Bolger-Droopys Claire) who won three of the four rounds for John O’Connor and John Somers and the final in 29.06 (20 slow) by six lengths at 1/1 fav.

Also on Monday, in Limerick, the Semi-finals of the Limerick Stadium A3 600, the first heat went to Honest Endevour for Jack Foley, in 33.02 by ten lengths, at 3/1 with the second heat going to Karacreek Ranch for Stradbally trainer Karol Ramsbottom in 32.92 by seven lengths at 4/5 fav. The final is on Saturday.

Friday Racing

Newbridge staged the final of the Friends Of Newbridge A1 Derby over the 550 yard trip, the €3.75k pot went to Coonough Paddy (Grangeview Ten-Coonough Dolly) in 29.90 by two lengths at 2/1 with Barry Clancy training.

In Shelbourne, in the final of the Islandbridge Open Sprint, champion sprinter Ballinakill Alf (Pestana-Newinn Madam) was a one length winner in 18.67 at 1/1 fav with the €5k purse going to champion trainer Graham Holland. There was a dead heat in second with both Romeo Taylor for Holland and Cree Jo Jo for Owen McKenna winning €1.125k.

Another final on the night was the Retired Greyhound Trust ON2 unraced stake, first prize here was €2.5k which went to Max Pro (Droopys Sydney-Ballycowen Lucy) for Danny Kehoe in 28.93 by six lengths at 2/1. One Offaly winner on the supporting card, in an A4 contest, Highview Fab won for Croghan trainer Gerry Merriman in 29.13 by four lengths at 2/1 fav.

Saturday Racing
Curraheen Park in Cork, semifinals of the Deadly Kennels Open 750 yard stake, first one went to Twofourone for Michael English in 42.64 by one length at 5/1. The second heat was faster as Tuono Charlie stopped the timer in 42.21 by ten lengths at 1/2 fav with Sharon Hunt training.

First Offaly winner on Saturday evening was in Dundalk. In an A5 grade Carrick Cantona won for Edenderry owner Thomas Glynn in 28.81 by seven lengths with David Murray at the helm.

In Limerick, the final of the Limerick A3 600 yard stake was the most valuable race of their night. However, neither semifinal winner was to the fore here as Corporal Jack (Vic Vega- Ontheredcarpet) won the €1k first prize purse for Declan Beary in 32.51 by three lengths at 2/1. 

In Galway, in an S7 sprint, Birr owner Kevin Kelly made the trip with  Wicky Joe and won in 18.17 (.05 slow) by one length at 1/1 fav. 

Four Offaly winners in Mullingar, in the first race on the card, an ON2 unraced, Killeshill Callie won by eleven lengths for Croghan owner Vincent Lynch in 30.35 (60 slow) at 3/1. A Faithful County dog also won the second race on the night, in an A9 grade. So Its Strife won for Birr owner Paul Pardy in 30.05 (60 slow) by six lengths at a well backed 4/6 with Vincent McKenna training.  In an A6 race Highview Mel was first home for Daingean owner Oliver Etches in 30.37 (60 slow) by two lengths at 2/1. The final race on the card, an A5 contest went to Kilbride Magic for Edenderry trainer David Hanlon in 30.26 (60 slow) also by two lengths and also at 2/1. 

Eight second round heats of the Sporting Press Online Edition Irish Oaks dominated the nights racing in Shelbourne. Some very fast times were recorded with some very short priced favourites being beaten. There was a double on the night for Graham Kelly with the fastest run of the eight being Droopys Edel for Ian Reilly in 28.21 by two lengths at 1/1 fav.  Both Offaly greyhounds qualified for the next round with ease with both second in their relative heats. Highview Treat for Gerry Merriman was beaten three lengths in 28.42 by Deelish Nora for Ginger McGee with Short Grip for P.J. Cocoman also beaten three by A Lucky Julie for Jerry Melia in a fast 28.28. Expect both the Offaly bitches to be involved come the business end of this stake. Unluckily both have been drawn in the same heat on Saturday night but with a bit of luck both can progress. 

Thurles staged the final of the Willie Maher Memorial A3 stake with Borna Thyme (Skywalker Canny-Candanchu) collecting the €1.8k first prize for Ruairi Dwan in 29.33 (20 slow) by three lengths at 5/2.

The second most valuable final of the week was in Tralee, the Lee Strand A3 550 with €10k to the winner. The first prize and trophy went to Dashing Toro (Droopys Sydney-Ballycowen Lucy) who is a litter brother to Max Pro who on Friday won the Retired Greyhound Trust ON2 stake in Shelbourne. The winning time for Toro was 29.54 by two lengths at 5/2 and was owned by the Twice-A-Day-Everyday Syndicate. Cheap Sandwiches was second for Dan Brassil and received a purse of €3.5k.

The best race in Kilcohan Park in Waterford was the final of the DG Foods LTD A4 Tri-Distance stake with the final over the 575 trip. Gortkelly Bear (Broadstrand Bono-Gortkelly Sorcha) was a worthy winner here for Michael Meade as he won the first round over the 525 trip, the semifinal over the 550 trip and the final by two lengths at 5/2 in 31.78. €5k to the winner here. Bogger Cash was second for Liam Peacock and received a cheque for €2k.

Sunday Racing

Two Offaly winners at the matinee meeting in Mullingar, in an A2 contest Lingrawn Aoife had her thirteenth career win for Moneygall owner  Liam Jones in 29.85 (60 slow) by four lengths at 6/4 fav. In an A6 race Killeshill Glam won for Vincent Lynch again in 30.84 (60 slow) also by four lengths at 3/1. 

The most valuable final of the week was at the evening meeting in Kilkenny with the running of the Champion Open Unraced Stake. The €15k first prize went to Moanteen Wildcat (Dorotas Wildcat-Seaglass Shadow) for Rachel Wheeler who won three of his four heats and the final in 28.85 (20 slow) by three lengths at 5/2. Good winner. Broadstrand Syd was second for John Linehan winning a cheque for €5.5k with Ballymac Thelad third for Liam Dowling and €2.5k going his way.

English Derby

The first round of the Star Sports/TRC English Derby got underway in Towcester with heats run on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. One hundred and ninety two dogs went to traps all vying to be on the winner’s podium in five weeks time. First run in 1927 it took place in the famed White City track until 1985. From ‘85 to 2017 it was ran in Wimbledon, ‘17 and ‘18 in Towcester, ‘19 in Nottingham and then back to Towcester since. Four dogs have won the English blue ribbon event twice, the one and only Mick The Miller, Patricias Hope, Rapid Ranger and the great Westmead Hawk. Charlie Lister OBE is the leading trainer in the Derby having won it seven times. This year there is a winners purse of £175k and expect that and trophy to come to this side of the Irish Sea.

Thursday, great start for the Irish hounds with four Irish dogs on the winners rostrum. De Lahdedah started the ball rolling for Kerry trainer Dowling, then Gowran trainer Paul Hennessy had a double with Jaytee Etienne and Boylesports Bob. Last years Irish Derby winner The Other Kobe completed the quintet although has changed trainer from Jennifer O’Donnell to Graham Holland.

Friday, seven brilliant Irish winners with Holland having a bumper night with five in the winners enclosure. Clonbrien Treaty, Romeo Steel, Swords Rex, Faypoint Susie and last years winner of this stake Gaytime Nemo. Antigua Hawk won heat 18 for Pat Buckley with Hawkfield Blue rounding off a great night for the Irish for Ginger McGee.

Saturday, 15 Irish dogs went to traps in the final night in the first round and once again we were to the fore. Another five winners for the Emerald Isle, with a double for Pat Buckley in Road Exile and Glengar Martha and a double for Liam Dowling in Ballymac Slick and Ballymac Senan. Graham Holland completed the Irish winners in the first round with High Trend romping home and has put himself firmly in the picture to lift the trophy. 

English Derby Betting

After thirty two heats in the first round leading Irish bookmakers Boylesports have installed both Clonbrien Treaty and top  English hound King Memphis as joint 10/1 favourites. De Lahdedah is 14/1 second favourite with The Other Kobe and Barntick Bear at 16/1. 20/1 bar. Long way to go yet in this classic and expect shocks galore in the coming weeks.

Upcoming Events

Saturday, second round of the English Derby in Towcester, final of the Deadly Kennels Open 750 in Cork and quarterfinals of the Sporting Press Irish Oaks. 

Tribune Offaly Dog Of The Week

Despite not winning Short Grip gets the nod this week for finishing second in the second round of the Sporting Press Irish Oaks in Shelbourne Saturday night only beaten three lengths in 28.28 for Rhode owner P.J. Cocoman. 

Offaly Winners

Nine Offaly winners this week.Well done to all connections.