GONE TO THE DOGS: Seven Offaly winners in another super week of racing

FRIDAY we had the first round of the Connacht Derby in Galway and the start of a valuable unraced in Tralee. Saturday, the stand out features were the quarterfinals of the Midlands Derby in Mullingar, the semifinals of the Limerick Oaks, the Cork Cup and the Tote Gold Collar in Shelbourne.
Decent return of Offaly winners, once again, with some well bred youngsters around the county nearly ready for debut. Interesting times ahead.

Early Week Racing

Nothing much of note for the first four days of the week. Shelbourne should be shortly starting back on a Thursday which is always a happy hunting ground for Offaly winners.

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Friday Racing

First two Offaly winners of the week were at the matinee SIS meeting in Mullingar. Two seasoned campaigners were again back in the winners enclosure.
In an A7 contest Fahy Shop had his eleventh career win for Paddy McCormack, in 30.66 (1.00) slow, by six lengths at 5/6 fav.
In the last race on the card Killeshill Callie won his thirteenth race for Croghan owner Vincent Lynch in 30.63 (70 slow) by a short head at 9/1.
Five heats in the first round of Kilcolgan Castle Connacht AO 550 Derby, won last year by Magical Mag, for Pat Guilfoyle. Graham Holland and Colm Fitzgerald each won two heats however the fastest winner was Grouchos Gregor for Pat Buckley in 30.32 (30 slow) by eight lengths at 4/6 fav.
Another two Offaly winners In Newbridge. In the first round of the This Runs Deep A2 Stake former Tribune Dog Of The Week Coff Butler was the fastest winner of the three heats for Mountlucas owners Elaine and Anthony O’Grady.
His winning time of 28.79 was a fine effort on a slow track winning by five lengths. In an S1 325 sprint So Its Ranger was another comprehensive five length winner for Birr owner Paul Pardy in a smart 17.61 at 1/1 fav.
Two valuable finals in Shelbourne. In the conclusion of the February Monthly Novice ON2 Stake Daring Bullet (Callaway Pro Am-Daring Miggie) won the €2.5k pot for Stephen McGuire and Michael Kennedy in 29.24 (30 slow) by four lengths at 5/2. €2k for the winner of the Shelbourne Regulars A4 Stake which was won by Hangry (Good Cody-Meenagh Miracle).
The Paul Matthews trained black dog won in 28.98 (30 slow) by four lengths at 1/2 fav.
A very disappointing three heats in the first round of one of the country’s top unraced stakes. The T. Nolan CVRT Centre Juvenile Classic in Tralee won last year by the great Droopys Patriot for Robert Gleeson.
With only sixteen dogs going to traps for this valuable stake it certainly is a worrying stat so early in the year as normally we could have anything from forty to fifty.
The three winners were Ballymac Ralf for Liam Dowling in 28.35, Blackstone Lexus for Michael O’Donovan in 28.27 and Ballyverry Paris for Patrick O’Connor in 28.83.

Saturday Racing

Curraheen Park, semifinals of the Time Greyhound Nutrition A1 Cork Cup. Heat one was won by Microchip for Mary Clarke in 28.53 by one length at 3/1.
The second semi went to Daring Diamond for James McGuire in a slower 28.80 by one length at 6/4.
First Offaly winner on Saturday was in Dundalk.
In an ON1 unraced 400 sprint, Kirk Michael was an impressive four length winner in a fine 21.55 (10 slow) on debut for Kinnitty owner M.J. Corrigan.
Limerick, semifinals of the J.P. and Pauline Ryan Memorial A1 Limerick Oaks. Arrow Twirl won the first for Andrew Lawlor in 28.47 by two lengths at 7/2. The remaining semi was won by Magical Poppet for Pat Guilfoyle in 28.59 by one length at 11/8.
Mullingar, quarterfinals of the Kilbride Kennels A2 Midlands Derby. For the second week in a row Pat The Doc set the bar highest when winning in 31.68 (1.00 slow) for Brian Reilly by five lengths at 5/4 fav. Two Offaly dogs remain in this competition as we go into Saturdays semifinals,
Foulkscourt Cody for Tullamore owner Niall Deegan and Meleys for Edenderry trainer Paul Cronin. One Faithful County winner on the supporting card.
In the semifinals of Talking Dogs ON2 Unraced Stake Kilbride Blue was first over the line for Edenderry trainer David Hanlon in a decent 30.06 (1.00 slow) by an ever extending eleven lengths at 4/5 fav.
The best two races in Shelbourne this year so far were the semifinals of the 2026 Tote Gold Cup Open 525.
Ballymac Siun won the first for Liam Dowling in 28.69 (30 slow) by one length at 11/2. Graham Holland won the second as Swords Style proved too strong for his rivals when also winning by one length at 9/4 in 28.88 (30 slow).
One final took place, in the finale of an A3 Sweepstake, Callaway Katie (Ballymac Finn-Ballymac Arminta) won the €2k purse for Owen McKenna in 28.92 (30 slow) by two lengths at 1/1 fav.
Our last Offaly winner on Saturday was in the final race on this card as Yorkie Ollie won an open 575 by five lengths at 31.50 (30 slow) at 2/1.
The Graham Holland trained white and black dog is now really showing the potential he showed as a pup for Birr owners Michael Hennessy and Adrian Sheils. Super hound.

Sunday Racing
No Offaly winner at the Matinee SIS meeting in Mullingar nor in the evening meetings in Clonmel and Lifford.

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Upcoming Events

Friday, quarterfinals of the Kilcolgan Castle Connaught Derby in Galway, semifinals of the This Runs Deep A2 Stake in Newbridge and semifinals of the T. Nolan CVRT Centre Juvenile Classic Unraced in Tralee.
Saturday, finals of the Cork Cup in Curraheen Park, J.P and Pauline Ryan Memorial Limerick Oaks and Tote Gold Cup in Shelbourne.
Semifinals of the Kilbride Kennels Midlands Derby and final of the Talking Dogs ON2 unraced both in Mullingar. Super weekend of racing ahead. Please try and get along and support your local track.

Tribune Offaly Dog Of The Week

Easy decision this week as Yorkie Ollie won in Shelbourne on Saturday, in an Open 575 against the toughest of opposition, by five lengths in a sensational 31.50 (30 slow) for Michael Hennessy and Adrian Sheils.
Fine run again from Offaly's fastest dog at the moment.

One For The Notebook

Kirk Michael looks an interesting prospect when winning an Open 400 Sprint in Dundalk on debut for M.J. Corrigan.
His winning time of 21.55 (10 slow) certainly catches the eye and with any improvement expect big things from this youngster.

Offaly Winners

There were seven Offaly winners last week. Congrats to all connections.

DC.