Great performances from Offaly dogs in week's greyhound racing

A super week of racing for early February with the semifinals of the Dublin cup and Tote Gold cup in Shelbourne, first round of the Kilbride Kennels Midlands Derby, quarterfinals of the Cork Cup and first round of the Clonbrien Treaty Limerick Oaks dominating proceedings. There was quality racing around the country with attendances definitely on the up once again. Some decent performances from the Faithful County dogs once again.

Early Week Racing

Nothing of note for the first four days of the week.

Friday Racing

First two Offaly winners of the week were at the matinee meeting in Mullingar, in an A4 contest Lahinch Murphy won for Clara owner P.J. Cleary in 30.44 (70 slow) by five lengths at 11/8 fav. In an A3 grade Killeshill Milo won for Croghan owner Vincent Lynch in 30.19 (70 slow) by one length at 15/8 fav.

After the first Open Unraced Stake of the year finished last week in Clonmel the Rural Kennels Stake the next spring stake commenced in Tralee, the T Nolan C.V.R.T. Centre Juvenile Classic. Six super heats with all thirty six immaculately bred pups on debut won last year by Ballymac Patriot for Liam Dowling. Dowling was once again to the fore here with three of the six winners including the fastest one in Ballymac Dave who won in 28.26 by two lengths at 4/1. Next best on the clock were Droopys Trade for Johnny Linehan and Sole Mio for Peter Cronin who both won in 28.28. Very high standard.

The semifinals of the A2 Dublin Cup were the highlights of a good card in Shelbourne with Razldazl Kamaria winning the first for Dolores Ruth in 28.86 (50 slow) by four lengths at 5/1. The second semi went to Free Flow for Mullingar trainer Francis Murray Jnr in 29.08 (50 slow) by three lengths at 7/2.

In the semifinals of the Gizmo Cash @ Stud ON2 Unraced Stake Bad Dreams was on the winners podium in the first for Declan Beary in 29.82 (50 slow) by four lengths at 4/1. Lombardy won the second for Marie and Skip Gilbert in 29.49 (50 slow) also by four lengths at 6/4. In the final of the This Runs Deep A4 Tri-distance stake over the 575 trip Lisk Rapid (Broardstrand Bono-Ballygrauige Sue) proved too strong for his rival in 32.11 (50 slow) by two lengths at 3/1 with Vincent McKenna training.

Saturday Racing

Curraheen Park, quarterfinals of the Time Greyhound Nutrition A1 Cork Cup with Vedfield Tiger setting the bar highest for Julie O’Sullivan and Fiadh Murphy in 28.78 (10 slow) by five lengths at 6/4.

The highlight of racing in the Dock Road track was the first round of the Clonbrien Treaty A1 Limerick Oaks, won last year by the 2024 Tribune Offaly Dog Of The Year Short Grip for Rhode owner P.J. Cocoman. Of the six heats Rinwood Gem went fastest for Galway owner Des Flaherty in 28.25 (10 fast) by six lengths at 5/2.

Four Offaly winners in Mullingar with three in the first round of the Kilbride Kennels A2 Midlands Derby 550, this stake was won last year by Rough Frankie, for Northern Ireland trainer Kurtis Bain. Six heats in total with Phoenix Charlie easily the fastest winner for Ian Reilly in 30.89 by a wide margin of eleven lengths at 2/5 fav. Two winners for Vincent Lynch Killeshill Messi was first in 31.31 by one lengths at 6/4 and Killeshill Ranger in 31.37 by two lengths at 1/1 fav.

Muffin Mikado won for Edenderry trainer and sponsor of this stake David Hanlon in 31.24 by six lengths at 2/1 co fav. In the first race in the card an A9 525 Locha Mora won for Clara owner Bernard Sonny Walsh in 30.50 by four lengths at 2/1. All races in Mullingar were rated .70 slow.

The two best races in Shelbourne were the semifinals of the Tote Gold Cup Open 525 stake, once again Offaly dog Carrick Aldo shone brightest for Edenderry owner Thomas Glynn when stopping the timer in a super 28.55 (30 slow) by four lengths at a very short 2/5 fav with David Murray training. The second semi was won by Grangeclare Lady for Owen McKenna in a slower 28.79 (30 slow) by a short head at 7/2. The final is surely the Offaly dog to lose now and will go off a very short favourite in Saturdays final.

Sunday Racing

No Faithful County winner at the matinee meeting in Mullingar or the evening meetings in Clonmel or Lifford.

Upcoming Events

Friday, final of the Gizmo Cash @ Stud ON2 Unraced and final of the A2 Dublin Cup both in Shelbourne. Quarterfinals of the T Nolan C.V.R.T Centre Juvenile Classic in Tralee. Saturday, final of the Time Greyhound Nutrition Cork Cup in Curraheen Park, quarterfinals of the Clonbrien Treaty Limerick Oaks, quarterfinals of the Kilbride Kennels Midlands Derby in Mullingar and final of the Tote Gold Cup in Shelbourne. Loads of top class action to look forward to this week.

Tribune Offaly Dog Of The Week

For the third week in a row Carrick Aldo gets the nod for winning in the semifinals of the Tote Gold Cup in Shelbourne on Saturday in a sparkling 28.55 (30 slow) by four lengths for Thomas Glynn. Undoubtedly the fastest dog in Offaly running at the moment if not in Ireland.

Offaly Winners

Seven Offaly winners this week with six of those in Mullingar and one in Shelbourne. Well done to all connections.

DC.