Gone to the dogs: Eight Offaly winners last week

The impact of the poor weather dominated proceedings and sadly lead to the cancellation of Thurles, Waterford and the card in Shelbourne (including the final of the valuable Bresbet Easter Cup).  The torrential rain put paid to these meetings but all three cards are rescheduled to this Saturday.

Early Week Racing

Shelbourne on Thursday, there were two sweepstake finals that have been running over the last few weeks, both finals went to owners who are big patrons of the Mullingar track. In an A4 grade, Shady Magic (Droopys Cain - Kilcowan Kiwi) won in 29.07, by six lengths at 5/2, with the cheque for first prize of €1.5k going to Deirdre Barry. The second stake was worth €1.75 went to Oliver Colgan as Knockmant Mo (Ballymac Best - Blackstone Angie) was a four length winner, in 29.30, at 4/1. Earlier in the card was the first round of an ON2 unraced stake, three heats with Maries Wedding doing the fastest run in 28.96, by three lengths, at 4/5 fav with Dolores Ruth training.

Friday Racing

Kilkenny hosted the quarter-finals of the Ballymac Anton @ Stud A1 McCalmont Cup, four very close heats winners on the clock with Mustang Sam just going fastest in 28.98 (30 slow) by three lengths at 4/1 for Sean Bourke. Also on the card in the Marble City was a final of an ON2 unraced stake, with the €1k purse going to Hare Larey (Laughil Blake - Murlens Madison) in 29.30 (30 slow) by a head at a big price of 6/1. This was a turn up for the books  as this was the only round Larey won having progressed through the rounds being placed. A great night for trainer Thomas Buggy.

In Newbridge, in the quarter-finals of the Brownstown Tango and N.T.S.C. Open unraced bitch stake, Tullymurry Faith set the fastest time in 28.45 for Eamonn McGinn. Forest Diamond was next fastest for Patrick Kehoe in 28.58. Last week's dog of the week winner Cornetto was Offaly’s first winner of the week in heat three in 28.83 for Edenderry owner/trainer David Hanlon.

With the postponement of the Easter Cup the most valuable stake final of the week was the Greyhound and Petworld Juvenile Classic Open Unraced in Tralee. Pat Guilfoyle provided the winner here as Wi Can Dream (Cabra Firmino - Cabra Angel) won the winners cheque for €11k in 28.37 (10 fast) by one length at 9/4. Droopys Edison was second for Robert Gleeson and received a cheque for €5k. What a dog last year’s winner Singalong Sally turned out to be and hopefully we see more of same this year winner Wi Can Dream. The track in Tralee on Friday was certainly flying as two track records went on the night, both winners trained by Pat Buckley, Ballinabola Ed did the clock in an open 525 in 28.03 (10 fast) and Bobsleigh Dream in an open 575 in 30.50 (10 fast) winning by six lengths.

Saturday Racing

Even with the cancellation of the three meetings already mentioned there was still some quality racing around the country. In Curraheen Park, the highlight of a decent card was the first round of the 2022 Cork Oaks, won last year by Cloda Skye for Graham Holland. Four heats with Illnotbeback going fastest in 28.60 (10 fast) for Paul Hennessy by eight lengths at 7/4 fav. Next fastest was Cielo for Owen Mckenna in 28.86 (10 fast) by two lengths at 5/4.

In Galway in the quarter-finals of an A3 stake with a winners purse of €4K, Headford Honey was again fastest as like last week, this time in 29.06 (20 slow) by four lengths with local owner Seamus Leahy at the helm. 

In Mullingar, three Offaly winners, in the semi-finals of an A8 stake, Horseleap Nelly won in 30.10 (70 slow) for Sean McGuinness by five lengths at 1/2 fav. In an S4 400 yard sprint, Liffeyside Mutaz was first past the whitewash in 22.49 (20 slow) by one length at 3/1 for Clara owner P.J. Cleary. In the final race on the card, an A4 525, Weather Snap was a four length winner for Ballycommon owner Peter Raine in 30.12 (70 slow) by four lengths at 4/1.

Sunday Racing

Four Offaly winners at the matinee meeting in Mullingar, first and most important was the final of the Kilbride Kennels Midlands A2 Derby where David Hanlon’s Sanitize (Droopys Jet- Love Honey) was a surprise winner at 7/1, in 31.08, by four lengths. For the winner the €3.5k first prize is a worthy prize as Hanlon and the Kilbride Kennels sponsored this stake. Well done.

Two winners from the Jones’s Kennels in Moneygall, in an A2 contest, Lingrawn Salmon had his eighteenth career win for Liam Jones, in 29.86, by two lengths at 5/1. In an A5 contest, Lingrawn Elody won in 29.94 by two lengths at 7/2 for Mary Jones. Our final winner of the week was Ollys Mary in an A5 grade for Banagher owner Mary Moran in a fast 29.66 by six lengths at 7/4 fav. All races in Mullingar were rated .50 slow. 

Upcoming Events

Thursday, semi-finals of an ON2 unraced stake in Shelbourne. Friday, semi-finals of the McCalmont Cup in Kilkenny and semifinals of the Brownstown Tango unraced bitch stake in Newbridge. Saturday, semi-finals of the Cork Oaks in Curraheen Park, semifinals of the A3 stake in Galway, final of an A8 sweepstake in Mullingar and the big one , Final of the Bresbet Easter Cup in Shelbourne.

Tribune Offaly dog of the week
Sanitize is an obvious choice week for Edenderry trainer David Hanlon, winning the Kilbride Kennels Midlands A2 derby in Mullingar on Sunday. This is the fifth week in a row Hanlon has won dog of week. Congrats. 

Offaly Winners

Eight Offaly winners this week. Congratulations to all involved in any way.