Gone to the dogs: Great week for Offaly greyhounds

After the postponement of the final of the country’s oldest classic last week due to torrential rain, the final of the Bresbet Easter Cup was run on Saturday and with a huge crowd in festival atmosphere, no one was let down as we were treated to another vintage final. Add in some top quality annual stakes that got under way, plus the Offaly winners were pouring in all week, it turned out to be another super week of racing.

Early week racing

Curraheen Park, Cork, Tuesday, the first round of one IRGT ON3 unraced stake went to traps, four heats, with Droopys Request going fastest for Rathangan trainer Robert Gleeson in a fast 28.66 (10 fast) by one length at 6/4 with Sean Dunphy owning.

Enniscorthy, Thursday, in the first round of one of the country’s top unraced stake, The Future Champion And Micheal Fortune Memorial Open got underway. This stake, as its name suggests, always produces future stars and last year after the first round, Thorn Falcon was sold for a large sum and went on to take the spoils in the English Derby. The winner last year was Son Of Sons for local owner Joe Devlin. The stake was originally set for forty eight dogs but was over subscribed with sixty six dogs going to the boxes in eleven heats for the first round. Fastest on the night was Front Pasha, again for Gleeson in 28.79, next two fastest on the clock were Roanna Storm for Adrian Maher and Robbie O’Neill and Ballymac Run for Liam Dowling in 28.81. All races in Enniscorthy were rated  .20 slow. Long way to go in this stake yet.

Also Thursday, four Offaly winners in Shelbourne, in the semifinals of an ON2 unraced stake, both were won by Faithful County dogs, Highview Venture for Croghan trainer Gerry Merriman in 29.03 by three lengths at 4/1 and Carmullen Flyer for Edenderry owner Thomas Glynn in 29.04 by one length at 3/1 with David Murray training. In an A4 contest, Coolemount Raven crossed the line in first place in 29.52 by one length at 5/2, again with Merriman at the helm. Earlier in the evening, in an S2 sprint, Laughil Gordon won in 18.97 by three lengths at 4/6 fav for Kilcormac owners Mary and Paul Jennings, again with Murray training.

Friday racing

Galway provided our first Offaly winner of the weekend, in an S4 sprint, Killeshill Jet won for Vincent Lynch in 19.23 (10 slow) by two lengths at 5/2.

Kilkenny hosted the semi-finals of the Ballymac Anton @ McCalmont Cup A1 stake, Mustang Sam won the first in 29.30 (40 slow) by three lengths at 5/4 for Sean Bourke and remains the only unbeaten dog in the the competition. Coolanga Lady won the second for Micheal Lowry in 29.09 (40 slow) at 6/1.

In Newbridge, the semi-finals of the Brownstown Tango and NTSC open unraced bitch stake was the highlight of a decent card, Burgess Josie won the first for Shiela Spillane and J.J. Fennelly, in 28.82, by one length at 7/2. Ballymac Snazzy won the second in a faster 28.49 by one length at 3/1 for Kerry trainer Liam Dowling.

In Shelbourne Park, in the semi-finals of an A3 sweepstake, Shady Gigi was first past the line in the first for Mullingar trainer Deirdre Barry, in 28.99, by three lengths at 2/1. Costa Candy won the second for the Costalot Syndicate and Gerry Melia in 29.21 at 4/1. One Offaly winner earlier in the card here, in an A2 contest, Laughil Flash won by one length, at 6/4, in 28.63 for the Jennings’s and Murray again.

Saturday racing

Curraheen Park held the semi-finals of the 2022 Cork Oaks, both won in identical times of 28.47 (10 fast), Millbank Chosen the first for Graham Holland by six lengths at 6/4 fav and Cielo the second for Owen McKenna by two lengths at 9/4. Should be an exciting final on Saturday.

Galway, semi-finals of an A3 sweepstake that has been going on for last couple of weeks, again very tight on clock between the two winners, Headford Honey in 28.95 (20 slow) by four lengths at 1/2 fav for Seamus Leahy and Drombeg Ten the second for Evan Mcauliffe in 28.86 (20 slow) by nine lengths at 5/2. Drombeg looks an interesting sort as he’s probably one of the first pups to run from his sire and prolific winner Grangeview Ten.

Limerick, the best race on the card in the Treaty City was the final of the Ryans Timber Machinist and Upvc Supplies A4 tri-distance stake.  Anglesey Away (Vulturi- Amanita Chic) was first home in 32.09 by one length at 5/2 with the €1.5k purse going to Paul Dowdeswell.

Three Offaly winners in Mullingar, in the semi-final of an ON3 unraced stake, Nailbar got his first win for Edenderry owner Paul Cronin in 30.57 by one length at 4/6 fav. In an A8 525 final, Horseleap Nelly (Ballymac Best - Horseleap Deal) justified her odds of 1/2 fav to win the €400 first prize in 30.02 by ten lengths for Sean McGuinness. The best race on the card was an A3 grade, won by Hear It Babe for Clara owner Bernard (Sonny) Walsh in a fast 29.58 by seven lengths at even money. All races in Mullingar were rated  .70 slow.

Kilcohan Park in Waterford had the first round of its most valuable stake of the year, The Waterford Select Stakes. Three heats with the top two going into Saturday’s final with a first prize of over €9k. Always attracts a real decent line up. The first of the heat winners was Skywalker Barry who was back to defend this title he won  last year for Micheal O’Donovan, in 28.74 by three lengths at 2/5 fav. O’Donovan also won heat two with Serene Ace stopping the clock in 28.76 by one length at 1/2 fav. The fastest heat winner was last years Produce Stake winner Explosive Boy for Pat Guilfoyle in 28.34 by four lengths at 1/3 fav. All races in Waterford were rated  .10 fast.

The first big money final of the year was in Shelbourne Park, the 2022 Bresbet Easter Cup. A brilliant line up to see who would take the crown from last years winner Knocknaboul Syd. As soon as the traps lifted it was never in doubt that last years, Derby, Oaks and Puppy Oaks winner, Susie Sapphire (Droopys Jet- Jetstream Lynx) had this in the bag as she scorched from traps to win by a comfortable five lengths at odds of 1/3 fav. The €25k first prize has now brought her career earnings to over €183k. Another fine bit of training for Owen McKenna. Interesting to see now where this once in a lifetime greyhound goes defending her Derby title will be her long term objective however she might defend her Oaks title too. For her owner Peter Comerford, who has put a lifetime and his money down this must surely be a dream come through. Brilliant for all connections. Congrats.

Sunday racing

At the matinee meeting we had another three Offaly winners in Mullingar. In an A5 grade Weather Maker had his twentieth career win for Ballycommon owner Peter Raine, in 30.52, by ten lengths at 5/1. Our next winner was Shady Jen for Daingean owner Oliver Etches in an A4 grade, in 29.91, by three lengths at 2/1. Our final winner of the week was also in an A4 race as Lingrawn Billy won for Mary Jones, in 30.01 by three lengths, at 9/2. All races in Mullingar on Sunday were rated  .80 slow.

Upcoming events

Thursday, final of an ON3 unraced in Shelbourne and second round of the Future Champion and Micheal Fortune Memorial open unraced in Enniscorthy. Friday, kilkenny,final of the McCalmont Cup, Newbridge, final of the Brownstown Tango unraced bitch, Shelbourne, ,the final of an A3 sweepstake. Saturday, final of the Cork Oaks in Curraheen Park, final of the A3 stake in Galway, final of an ON3 unraced in Mullingar and the final of the Select Stakes in Waterford. Busy and exciting week ahead.

Tribune Offaly dog of the week

On Friday in Shelbourne Park, Laughil Flash won an A2 race in a fast 28.63 for Mary and Paul Jennings, by one length at 6/4, and is a well deserved winner this week.

Offaly winners

A great week for the Faithful winners with twelve in all. Congratulations to all involved in any way.

D.C.