Gone to the dogs: Five Offaly winners

This week's racing schedule saw Mullingar start its new programme of racing with Friday and Sunday's meetings being BAGS meetings . The BAGS meetings in conjunction with the running of the traditional Saturday meeting with its eleven races will hopefully work well for the greyhound fraternity and hopefully will ensure plenty of races are available for all midland dogs.

The main action was the second round of the Dublin Cup in Shelbourne and the quarterfinals of the Kerry Oaks in Tralee. The first of the big open unraced stakes of the year kicked off in Clonmel with plenty of immaculate bred pups on display.

Early Week Racing

The first three days racing of the week were postponed due to the cold spell and frozen tracks. Two BAGS meetings on Thursday in Waterford and Tralee - nothing of note there for Midland dogs.

Friday Racing

First two Offaly winners of the week were in Newbridge. In an S3 325 yard sprint, Aon Sceal Eile had his second career win for Geashill owners Edmund and Rebecca Garry, in a decent 17.98 by two lengths, at 5/2. In an A3 525, Susie Chaperal had her eleventh win for the Twenty-Eight-Eighty-Two-Syndicate which has Rhode legends Seamus Darby and Gerry Hickey in its ranks in 29.23 by three lengths also at 5/2 with Barry Clancy training.

Tralee staged the quarter-finals of the Nolan CVRT Test Centre A1 Kerry Oaks. Four very competitive heats with Ballymac Opera going fastest for local Kerry trainer Liam Dowling in 29.12 (50 slow) by two lengths at 5/2.

Shelbourne hosted the second round of the 2024 A2 Dublin Cup, eight heats with Miami Prince setting the standard for John Donohoe and Tom O’Donnell when stopping the clock in 28.63 by four lengths at 1/1 fav.

In Clonmel, the first of the Open Unraced of the year got underway, the Rural Kennels Unraced Stake, eleven heats where future champions made their debut. Pups with impeccable bloodlines went to traps with owners hoping and praying that this could be the one that dreams are made of. Of the eleven heats Romeo Taylor went fastest when crossing the whitewash in 28.88 (40 slow) by four lengths with champion trainer Graham Holland at the helm. Others  winners to catch the eye were Ballymac Darcia for Dowling in 28.94 (40 slow) by two lengths and Stonepark King for Michael O’Donovan who was the only trainer to have a double on the night in 28.95(40 slow) by eight lengths. Long way to go in this very competitive unraced stake yet and predicting the winner at this stage an impossible task.

Saturday Racing

Only  Faithful County winner was in Galway, in an S6 sprint Birr Bomber won his first race in five starts in  for Kevin Pardy in 18.16 (.05 slow) by four lengths at 5/4 fav.

Limerick held the first round of the Born Warrior @ Stud A1 525, five heats with Glengar Jasmine going fastest for Corona Ryan in 28.65 by three lengths at 1/1 fav.

Two finals of note in Shelbourne Park, in the Barking Buzz App AO 550, We Got This (Droopys Buick-Knocksouna Lady) won the €2.2k first prize in 29.90 by one length at 6/1 for Amanda Meade and Sean Roche. In the final of the Talking Dogs A1 Dual Distance with first round over 525 and final on Saturday over 550 was won by Pied Piper (Droopys Jet- Higher Level) with a pot of €2k going to Maurice Heffernan in 30.34 by two lengths at 3/1.

In Waterford, in the final of the Graigavine Livestock and WTSC A3 Novice 730 yard stake, the €1.3k purse went to Rockmount Lucy (Good News-Rockmount Wings) for owner Carol O’Connor in 41.10 by two lengths at 2/1.

Sunday Racing

Two more Offaly winners at the matinee meeting in Mullingar, in an A5 contest, Horseleap Pippy won for Sean McGuinness in 30.68 (70 slow) by two lengths at 2/1 fav. In an A4 grade, Mullingar specialist Lingrawn Focus had his twelveth career victory for Moneygall owner Liam Jones in 30.64 (70 slow) also by two lengths and also at 2/1.

Upcoming Events

Friday, quarter-finals of the Dublin Cup in Shelbourne and semifinals of the Kerry Oaks in Tralee. Saturday, quarter-finals of the Born Warrior @ Stud A1 525 in Limerick. Sunday, second round of the Rural Kennels Open Unraced in Clonmel.

Tribune Offaly dog of the week

Aon Sceal Eile gets the nod this week as he won the highest grade race by any of the Offaly winners, an S3 in Newbridge on Friday night in 17.98 by two lengths for Edmund and Rebecca Garry. Good win.

Offaly Winners

Five Offaly winners this week, well done to all connections.