Eight Offaly winners as Tullamore owner wins Midlands Derby

This week has plenty of prize money up for grabs with some brilliant racing up and down the country. A valuable final in Tralee, semifinals and quarterfinals action in Galway and Kilkenny, and more locally, finals of the Midlands Derby and Irish Cesarewitch both in Mullingar where there was a big Offaly interest in both. Curraheen Park staged the first round of the Cork Oaks and in Waterford we had the semifinals of a novice 730 yard stake.

Taking centre stage we had plenty of quality Offaly winners as we approach mid Spring with one standout performance.

Friday Racing

First Offaly winner of the week was in the last race of Mullingar's SIS matinee meeting. In an A6 contest Lahinch Molly won her ninth race for Clara owner P.J. Cleary in 30.01 (50 slow) at 2/1 by three lengths.

Galway, the semifinals of the Kilcolgan Castle Connaught 550 AO Derby were the feature races on a decent card at the College Road venue. Slippery Brian was fastest of the two for Graham Holland, who will now have two in Friday’s final, in 30.03 (10 slow) by three lengths at 2/1. The second semi was won by Tiermana Hunter for Colm Fitzgerald in 30.38 (10 slow) by two lengths at 3/1.

The quarterfinals of the Deadly Kennels McCalmont Cup A1 Stake took pride of place in Kilkenny. Four super heats with Sober Barry clocking the smartest run for Stradbally trainer Karol Ramsbottom in 29.16 (40 slow) by two lengths at 6/5 fav. Next fastest was in heat four as Oriental Prince won in 29.20 (40 slow) for Denise Ryan.

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Offaly dogs won three of the nine races in Newbridge. First up in an S4 Sprint Opera Moment was first over the line for Daingean owner Conor McGrath, in a fast 17.63 by three lengths, at 1/1 fav with Vincent McKenna training. In an S1 Sprint So Its Ranger showed his rivals a clean pair of heels when winning by one length in 17.68 for Birr owner Paul Pardy also at 1/1 fav. The final race on the card an A3 grade was won by Glenlara Dubh, for Ballinagar owner Liam Kirley, in 29.29 by one length at 4/5 fav.

The €10k first prize in the final of the T. Nolan C.V.R.T. Centre Juvenile Classic Open Unraced Stake in Tralee was kept in Kerry as Ballymac Deniro (Ballymac Finn-Ballymac Arminta) won for Ballymacelligott owner/trainer Liam Dowling. A superb winning time of 27.97 (10 fast) was too good for his rivals winning by three lengths at 5/2. Silent Noelle was second for Tim Nolan and Paul Mullins and received a cheque for €3.2k.

Saturday Racing

Curraheen Park, four heats in the first round of the Open Cork Oaks won last year by the Silverhill Freya for Graham Holland. Holland is certainly not giving up this title as he had the fastest heat winner of the four in Bombay Special in a sparkling 28.01 by nine lengths at 5/4 fav.

It was a brilliant Offaly night in Mullingar as Tullamore’s Niall Deegan’s Foulkscourt Cody (Good Cody-Foulkscourt Peg) won the Kilbride Kennels Midlands A2 550 Derby. The sponsors of this stake Kilbride Kennels also have big Offaly connections with the Hanlons of Edenderry and Frank Seery. After finishing third in the final of the Dublin Cup in late January Foulkscourt Cody made no mistake this time in a smooth trap to line victory in 30.41 (50 slow) by three lengths at 6/4 fav. The €3.2k first prize is a great reward for the Tullamore owner who is a regular to the winners enclosure having now recorded 123 winners in his career. Super win. Pat The Doc was second for Brian Reilly and received a cheque for €1.3k.

Two other Offaly winners on the supporting card. In an S5 350 yard sprint Coolree Say had his first win in ten starts for Daingean owner Eugene Glennon in 19.54 (20 slow) by two lengths.

In an A9 race Da Burger came home like the proverbial train after a very slow start to win by three lengths for Tullamore owners Cillian and Oran Martin in 30.24 (50 slow) at 6/4 with David Murray training.

Two finals in Shelbourne both worth €1.75k to the winners and both won by 5/4 favs. In the Tote Betting A1 stake Miami Hyland (Ballymac Cooper-Ballymac Sahara) won for Garry Dempsey in 28.28 by four Lengths. In the conclusion of an AO Stake Boylesports Blue (Ballymac Cashout-Hugh Dream) was on the winners podium for Paul Hennessy and Johnny Boyle in 28.37 winning by one length.

The best two races in Kilcohan Park in Waterford were the semifinals of The Deise Plastering Novice 730 yard stake. Blackstone Cola won the first for David Flanagan in 40.66 by a neck with Lennies Desire the second for Hennessy again in 40.31 by six lengths.

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Sunday Racing

The final of the Time Irish Cesarawitch Open 600 dominated proceedings at the matinee SIS meeting in Mullingar. A super final with another magnificent winner for Pat Buckley who has now won the Westmeath venue top stake of the year for the last four years. Ballinabola Joe (Ballyhimikin Jet-Ballinabola Ruby) won the €10k to the winner classic in 33.34 (50 slow) by one length at 6/5 fav.

Durrow Star was second for Offaly owner Diarmuid O’Neill and received a pot of €3.5k.

One Faithful County winner on the supporting card. In an A3 contest Killeshill Devine won his sixteenth race for Croghan owner Vincent Lynch in 29.86 (50 slow) by six lengths at 7/4 fav.

This was the last Matinee meeting on a Sunday as it has now moved to Wednesday afternoons starting on March 18th.

Upcoming Events

Friday, final of the Kilcolgan Castle Connaught Derby in Galway and semifinals of the Deadly Kennels McCalmont Cup in Kilkenny. Saturday, first round of the Easter Cup in Shelbourne. Semifinals of the Open Cork Oaks and final of The Deise Plastering Novice 730 in Waterford.

Offaly Dog Of The Week

Easy decision this week as Foulkscourt Cody was an easy three length winner of the Kilbride Kennels Midlands Derby for Niall Deegan at a well fancied 6/4 fav. Brilliant win for the Tullamore owner with much more on the horizon for this young dog who just turned two in February. Super win. Super dog.

One For The Notebook.

Da Burger look an interesting prospect for Cillian and Oran Martin when winning in 30.24 (50 slow) in only his second race despite totally missing his break. No doubt when he gets his trapping in order he will fly up through the grades and possibly over a longer distance could be a serious dog to be reckoned with. Fingers crossed.

Offaly Winners.

Eight Offaly winners last week. Congrats to all connections.

DC.