Gone to the dogs: Four Offaly winners in the last week

Quarter-finals of the Irish St. Leger in Limerick, the first round of the Galway Oaks and the first round of the Deadly Kennels A2 stake in Kilkenny dominated the weeks racing with some very classy winners. Offaly dogs to the fore, once again, around the tracks.

Early week racing

Thursday, Shelbourne, in the final of the RCETS A4 stake, Beechview Pippa (Droopys Jet-Swallow) won the €1.75k first prize for May Kearns in 28.95 by one length at a decent 6/1.

Friday racing

The first round of the Fonez Galway Oaks was the highlight of a decent card in the west, with this stake growing in stature every year no doubt helped by last years winner, National Oaks champion and 2022 bitch of the year Rafa Mofo winning. Four heats this time all won by serious hounds. Droopys Mandolin won the first for Robert Gleeson in 28.49 (10 slow) by seven lengths at 4/7 fav fresh from winning the RCETS Open unraced in Shelbourne in August.

The second heat went to last week’s winner of the Puppy Oaks in Shelbourne Singalong Dolly for Pat Buckley in 28.71 (10 slow) by three lengths at 4/6 fav. Heat three went to Newport Pier who won the Arachas Corporate Brokers A1 600 in Limerick last month for the Mullins-Curtin Syndicate and on Friday won her heat in 28.66 (10 slow) by three lengths at 4/1. The final heat went also to Buckley as Glengar Martha won in 28.63 (10 slow), by two lengths, at 2/1. A really high standard this year and the semi-finals Friday should be interesting.

In Kilkenny, in the first round of the Deadly Kennels A2 525, six heats all won by different trainers. This stake was won last year by Cheque For Sir, for Karol Ramsbottom, who was back to defend his title and duly won his heat on Friday in 29.20 (20 slow) by one length. Fastest of the six contests was Sassy Sonny for Brian Kirwan in 28.95 (20 slow) by five lengths at 6/1. Another to catch the eye was Black Bell for Thomas Norton and Sean Leahy in 29.12 (20 slow) by one length at 5/1.

In Shelbourne, in the semi-finals of the Gold Collar A1 550 yard stake, Catunda Ciaran won the first in 30.01 for owner Michael Byrne with Scott Phelan training by two lengths at 7/1. The second semi was won in a faster 29.74 as Fernandes was never troubled when winning by seven lengths at 2/5 fav for County Down trainer Brendan Mathews.

Saturday racing

First Offaly winner of the week was in Dundalk in an S5 400 yard race. Laughil Bono won for Kilcormac owners Mary and Paul Jennings in 21.73 by a neck with David Murray at the helm.

In Headquarters, in an AO 525, My Man Sam won for Edenderry owner Jimmy Dolan in a career best 28.72 by one length at 2/1.

Limerick staged the quarter-finals of the Willwego.com Irish St. Leger, four fantastic winners,  all previous winners of multiple amounts of money. The first heat went to the Derby Quarterfinalist this year Mr. Chelms for Peter Cronin in 29.60 by two lengths at 9/2. The second heat went to 2022 Con and Annie Kirby Memorial winner Swords Rex who won in the fastest time of the four in 29.35, by three lengths at 1/1 fav, for Graham Holland. The penultimate heat went to last year's winner of this most prestigious stake as Bobsleigh Dream stopped the clock in 29.64, by two lengths, at 9/4.

Offaly’s remaining dog in this event Trinity Junior was second here for Edenderry owner Timmy Slevin and is certainly well in the frame heading into Saturday’s semi-finals. The remaining heat went to this year's Con and Annie Kirby Memorial winner Clonbrien Treaty for Holland again in 29.38 by five lengths at 4/5 fav. Of the remaining twelve dogs left, Holland has three with two each for Peter Cronin and Pat Buckley. Five other trainers have one each.

Sunday racing

Two Offaly winners at the matinee meeting in Mullingar. In an A6 grade Weathervane won for Ballycommon owner Peter Raine in 30.16 (60 slow) by four lengths at a generous 8/1. In an A7 race Lingrawn Edel won for Moneygall owner Liam Jones in 30.20 (60 slow) two lengths at 3/1.

The evening meeting in Clonmel hosted the semifinals of the Riverside Stud Munster Juvenile Cup AO stake. The first heat went to Graham Holland as Faypoint Harvey was first over the whitewash in 28.41 (10 slow) by six lengths. The second semi went to Annual Coco for Shane O’Gorman in 28.55 (10 slow) by four lengths. Of the six finalists  Sunday champion trainer Holland has three of them and surely holds all the aces.

Upcoming events

Friday, semi-finals of the Fonez Galway Oaks, quarterfinals of the Deadly Kennels A2 stake in Kilkenny and final of the Gold Collar A1 550 in Shelbourne. Saturday, semifinals of the Willwego.com Irish St. Leger in Limerick.  Sunday, final of the Riverside Stud Munster Juvenile cup in Clonmel.

Tribune Offaly dog of the week

My Man Sam gets the nod this week for winning in Shelbourne, on Saturday night for Edenderry owner Jimmy Dolan, in 28.72 by one length. Big run