GONE TO THE DOGS: Another great week of racing for Offaly trained/ owned dogs

HE semifinals of the Paddy Kehoe Suspended Ceilings AAO Gold Cup in Shelbourne, the quarterfinals of the A1 Cork Cup in Curraheen Park and first round of the Greyhound and Petworld Juvenile Classic in Tralee were the highlights of another great week of racing. Add in the usual number of Offaly trained/owned winners proves why crowds are back up enjoying great nights greyhound racing around the tracks.
Early Week Racing
First Offaly winner of the week was in Galway on Wednesday night. In an A6 525, Kilbride Dan had his twelveth career win for Geashill trainer Margaret Bolton in 29.88 (20 slow) by five lengths at 4/1.
Friday Racing
Kilkenny hosted the final of the Frightful Flash Kennels A3 stake, the €1k first prize went to Lance Strolls (Droopys Sydney - Lululemon) for Karol Ramsbottom in 29.40 (40 slow) by two lengths at 3/1.
In Tralee, in the final of the Boylesportsmagic @ Stud ON2 unraced stake, Cashen Eliza (Droopys Sydney -Cashen Kaboodle) proved too strong for her rivals in 28.71 by two lengths at 5/4 fav with a cheque for €1.4K going to trainer Chris Houlihan.
Two quality stakes at Semifinal stages in Newbridge, in the NTSC A3, Leinster Leo won the first for Geoff Bateman in 28.83 by three lengths at 6/4 with Only a Number winning the second for Jerry Melia in nearly identical time of 28.85, by two lengths, at 4/6 fav. The second stake was the NTSC A1, Jerry Melia once again was in the winners enclosure in the first as A Lucky Gift won by two lengths in 28.96 at 2/1. The second semi in this stake went to Melling Road for local Newbridge owner Martin Sweeney in 29.04 by one length at 7/2. Shelbourne, in the final of the RCETS A3 bitch stake, Costa Candyi (Dorotas Woo Hoo - Borna Candy) won by five lengths in 29.16 at 5/4 fav with €1.75k going to the Costalot Syndicate.
In the Barking Buzz A4 525 final, Maxillian (Pestana - Ballycowen Lucy) was first across the line with the winners prize of €1.5k going to Danny Kehoe in 28.82 by five lengths at 4/5 fav.
Two Offaly winners on the supporting card, in the semifinal of an S1 350 yard sprint sweepstake, So Its Rapid stopped the clock in 18.84 by six lengths at 6/4 for Birr owner Paul Pardy with Vincent McKenna training. The other semi was won by Maireads Best for Frazer Black in 18.79 by nine lengths at 6/4. In an A1 contest, Blue Rumble had his tenth career win for Tullamore owner Niall Deegan in 28.87 by one length at 3/1.
Saturday Racing
In Curraheen Park, the quarterfinals of the Time Greyhound Nutrition A1 Cork Cup were the highlight of a decent card in the Rebel county. Four hotly contested heats with Russmur Pat setting the standard in 28.61 by five lengths at even money fav for James O’Rourke, next fastest was prolific winner Lyncys Boy for Paraic Campion in 29.01.
Limerick, in the final of an ON3 unraced stake, cream came to the top here as Glideaway Taylor (Newinn Taylor - Glideaway Magic) won by eight lengths at even money fav in 29.01 with €1k going to trainer Thomas O’Donoghue. Also in Limerick we had the quarterfinals of the Talking Dogs A3 600 yard stake, Mellon Rosa was fastest of the four for Pat Conway in a decent 32.99 by three lengths at 6/1.
Mullingar held the first round of one of its annual spring stakes, the Kilbride Kennels A2 550 Midlands Derby, won last year by Sanitize for Edenderry trainer David Hanlon. Five heats with Beepers Grace going fastest for Ian Reilly in 30.83 by nine lengths at 5/4. One Offaly heat winner here as Ripley Lightning had his ninth career win for Paddy McCormack in 31.08 by three lengths at 3/1. Two more Offaly winners on the card, in the first race of the night, an ON2 unraced, Carrick Aldana just got up on the line after finding a lot of trouble in running for Edenderry owner Thomas Glynn in 39.61 by one length at 1/2 fav with David Murray at the helm.
In an A5 grade, Coolree Best won for Daingean owner Eugene Glennon in. 30.34 by a neck at 4/1. All races on the night at the Westmeath track were rated .70 slow. In Thurles, in the final of the John Rafferty Memorial Open 330 sprint, Laughil Roy (Droopys Jet -Laughil Irene) won the €750 first prize pot for Kilcormac owners Mary and Paul Jennings in 17.75 (10 slow) by three lengths at even money fav with Michael O’Donovan training.
Another bumper crowd in Shelbourne for the semifinals of the Paddy Kehoe Suspended Ceilings AAO Gold Cup, two cracking semis both won by female greyhounds. Rathdown Molly won the first for Marie and Skippy Gilbert in 28.45 by three lengths at 3/1 with Stream of Sydney the second in a faster 28.07 by two lengths at 5/2 for Pat Buckley. Once again Droopys Sydney is dominating this final with three of the six remaining are his progeny. Further down the card, in the final of the Talking Dogs A1 stake, Brakes Are Off (Droopys Sydney - Lady Midnight) was an impressive one length winner for Dublin trainer Gerard Barber in 29.49 at 7/2 with a nice cheque of €2k going home with him.
One of the biggest stakes of the year in Tralee got underway on Saturday with the first round of the Greyhound and Petworld Juvenile Classic ON1 unraced, seven heats of some classicly bred and future champion pups. This stake was won last year by Wi Can Dream for Pat Guilfoyle. There were joint fastest winners on the night as two of the heats were won in 28.12. Ballymac Walt set the early standard by four lengths at 7/4 for Liam Dowling before Ryhope Beach equaled the clock for Michael O’Donovan by five lengths at 4/5 fav. Local trainer Dowling ended up winning three of the seven heats and will be pushing hard to keep this prestigious trophy in the Kingdom.
Also in Tralee, in the semifinals of the RCETS ON2 Unraced Novice sprint, Daleroad Diego set the standard for Thomas O’Keeffe in 17.60 by six lengths at 2/5 fav. Kilcohan Park, Waterford also staged the first round of one of their spring stakes, The Paddy and Ciara Sharkey Bookmakers and WTSC A2 525, won last year by Ballymac Freya for local trainer Declan Byrne. Eight heats with Whitewood Moyne going fastest for Laura Earle in 28.85 by three lengths at 2/1 fav.
In the semifinals of the This Runs Deep ON2 unraced stake, Droopys Denis won the first for Rathangan trainer Robert Gleeson in 28.93 by a head at 4/7 fav with the second going to Swift Aidan for Cora Doyle in 29.45 by one length at 5/2.
Sunday Racing
Three Offaly winners at the matinee meeting in Mullingar. First two were for Clara owner P.J. Cleary, both in A5 grades, as Lahinch Lilly had her first career win in 30.12 by two lengths at 5/2 and Lahinch Sandy in 30.07 by two lengths at 7/2.
The final Offaly winner of the week was Superior Miss for Deegan, again in an A3 grade in 29.65, by four lengths at 2/1. All races in Mullingar were rated .60
slow.
Upcoming Events
Friday, final of the NTSC A3 and final of the NTSC A1 stakes in Newbridge. Shelbourne, final of the S1 sprint. Saturday, semifinals of the Cork Cup, semifinals of the A3 600 in Limerick, quarterfinals of the A2 Midlands Derby in Mullingar, second round of the Greyhound and Petworld Juvenile Classic in Tralee, quarterfinals of the Sharkey Bookmakers A2 plus final of ON2 unraced both in Waterford and final of the Paddy Kehoe Suspended Ceilings Gold Cup in Shelbourne. Loads of top class action to look forward to this week.
Tribune Offaly dog of the Week
Blue Rumble gets the nod this week when winning an A1 contest on Friday night recording his tenth career in Shelbourne in 28.87 by one length at 3/1 for Niall Deegan.
Offaly Winners
Ten Offaly winners this week. Congratulations to all involved in any way.

D.C.