Gone to the dogs: Eight Offaly winners

The twelve best dogs remaining in the Boylesports Irish Derby went to traps on Saturday all seeking to reach a lifetime ambition of reaching the final of the best Derby in the world bar none. The huge crowd in attendance weren’t left disappointed as both heats brought up many talking points.

Virgin Media did a super job on Saturday showing both semi-finals and all that's good about Greyhound racing. It's clear to see that this once very popular sport is now gaining traction once again.
In addition to the Derby there was some super racing both on the undercard in Shelbourne and around all the provincial circuits with some magical performances.

Early Week Racing

First Offaly winner of the week was in Enniscorthy on Thursday as Rubys Trinity won an A3 contest for Edenderry owner Timmy Slevin with Wexford native Conor Hyland in 28.79 which was the fastest time of the night, by six lengths, at 2/1.
On Thursday, also In Shelbourne Park, in the final of the Ballyhimikin Jet @ Stud ON2 Unraced stake the €2.25k first prize went to Catunda Romeo (Ballymac Cashout- Dunquin Anna) for north Dublin owner Michael Byrne with Scott Phelan training in 28.57 (15 fast) by six lengths at 4/1.

Friday Racing

The only two Offaly winners on Friday were in Galway. In the first race on the card Crinkle Noel won an S8 sprint for Birr owner Gerard Milne in 19.53 (.05 slow) by three lengths at 6/4. In an A5 525 Meet More Often was a comfortable six lengths winner for Geashill trainer Margaret Bolton in 29.55 (10 slow).
The best three races in Newbridge were the semi-finals of the Time Greyhound Nutrition and NTSC A3 stake with two qualifying from each for Fridays final. First heat went to Kates Angel for Catherine Downey in 28.94 by four lengths at 4/1. The second semi was won by Doonanes Franco for Dennis Smyth in 29.18 also by four lengths at 5/4 fav. The remaining heat went to Freffans Bond for Johnny Hegarty also in 29.18 by three lengths at 3/1.
The most valuable stake final on Friday was in Tralee, the €2.75k first prize in the Timmy Ward Memorial A1 stake went to College Troy (Explosive Boy-College Enable) for local Kerry trainer Brendan Maunsell in 28.69 (10 fast) by two lengths by a short head at 2/1 co fav.

Saturday Racing

Two Offaly winners in Mullingar, in the final of the November ON2 Unraced Stake,  Crokers Faye (Dorotas Wildcat-Crokers Ruby) won the €1k first prize in convincing style by ten lengths for Edenderry trainer David Hanlon and Ballinasloe owner John Croke in 29.67 (60 slow) at 6/4.

In the semi-finals of an A4 Bitch stake Lahinch Lilly won the first for Clara owner P.J. Cleary in 29.64 (60 slow) by two lengths at 1/1 fav.

In the final race on the card in Galway She Did It won for Kinnitty owner M.J. Corrigan in an A3 grade in 29.20 (10 slow) by two lengths at 2/1.

Besides the Derby there was plenty of other action at a great nights racing in Shelbourne. In the final of the Gourmet Island Puppy Oaks last weeks track record breaker Droopys Kathleen (Droopys Sydney-Droopys Dancer) made no mistake in a tricky contest in winning the €10k first prize, in a super 28.05 by three lengths at an unbackable 1/10 fav, with Robert Gleeson at the helm. Unanimous Roxy was second for Pat Buckley and received a cheque for €3k.

In the semi-finals of the Michael Fortune Memorial Derby Plate this year’s winner of the Con And Annie Kirby Memorial in Limerick Knockeen Dazzler was back to his brilliant best when stopping the timer in 29.29 by six lengths at 4/1 for trainer Pat Guilfoyle and owner Daniel O’Rahilly. The second semifinal was won by Faypoint Harvey in 29.56 for Graham Holland in by a short head at 11/4.

Boylesports Irish Derby

Both Graham Holland’s two top hounds Bockos Diamond and Cheap Sandwiches were in top form with both delivering exceptional performances. The only danger before racing was the trap draw with both having wide seeds on them and both drawing trap three. For both when the lids went up this was put to bed after three strides as they hit the ground running to open up big gaps by the first bend. Bockos was the undoubtedly the star as he blitzed a quality field to win by six lengths equaling his own track record of 28.94 at a very backable 8/13 fav. Callaway Knegare was second Owen McKenna with A Lucky Julie third for Jerry Melia.

Like the first semi Sandwiches also pinged the lids and was never in trouble winning by four lengths at 3/1 in 29.13. Singalong Dolly was second for Pat Buckley with Boylesports Bob third for Paul Hennessy. Normally this time of 29.13 would be way ahead on the clock but the class of Bockos leaves Sandwiches with two lengths to find  with the others  a lot more. On paper this final is already decided but it’s not run on paper and on Derby night with the famous Derby roar anything can happen. Should be a cracker. Can’t wait.

Derby Stats

Two bitches out of the six remain  in the competition A Lucky Julie and Singalong Dolly. The offspring of these magnificent females will be valuable commodities in the coming years. Champion trainer Graham Holland has two remaining in this years blue ribbon event with one each for Pat Buckley, Owen McKenna, Jerry Melia and Paul Hennessy. 

Holland is vying for his fourth derby with McKenna looking for his third. Buckley and Hennessy already have one each with Jerry Melia still waiting for his first.

Both Holland’s dogs are the youngest in the final both being whelped in September ‘22 with the oldest dog being Boylesports Bob being an October ‘21.

Derby Betting

Before the semi-finals on Saturday sponsors Boylesports were quoting favourite Bockos Diamond as short as 5/4 to lift the trophy with Bombay Pat at 8/1 second fav. There was 10/1 on three dogs Carrick Aldo, Boylesports Bob and Cheap Sandwiches 12/1 bar but for the final Saturday the six remaining dogs are priced up as Bockos Diamond probably the shortest favourite ever at 3/10, Cheap Sandwiches at 11/2, Callaway Knegare and Boylesports Bob at 12/1, Singalong Dolly at 20/1 with A Lucky Julie the outsider at 25/1. Plenty of value there but taking on this favourite seems biggest gamble of all.

Offaly Dogs in Derby

Our remaining Offaly dog in the derby sadly existed the competition in the unluckiest of circumstances on Saturday. Being drawn in the hardest of the two heats Carrick Aldo ran a smasher when second down the back straight behind the flying Bockos Diamond only to be beaten by two shortest of heads into fifth and just missing out on a place in Saturday's final. A semi-final of an Irish Derby is no mean feat and when you add this to his National Sprint win in 2023 he has proved once again to be the fastest dog in Offaly for many’s a year for Edenderry owner Thomas Glynn.

Sunday Racing

Two Offaly winners at the matinee meeting in Mullingar, in an A7 grade. Horseleap Mandy won for Sean McGuinness and had her second career win in 29.96 (50 slow) by nine lengths at 15/8 fav.

Our last winner of the week was in an A4 grade as Foyle Con won by three lengths at 7/2 for Moneygall owner Liam Jones in 29.60 (50 slow).

Upcoming Events

Friday, final of the Time Greyhound Nutrition and NTSC A3 stake in Newbridge.
Saturday, only one place to be this weekend for all Greyhound enthusiasts with all road leading to Shelbourne Park for the final of the 2024 Boylesports Irish Derby and Michael Fortune Memorial Derby Plate. 


Tribune Offaly Dog Of The Week

Crokers Faye gets the nod this week for winning the final of the November ON2 Unraced Stake in Mullingar on Saturday in a decent 29.67 (60 slow) by ten lengths for Edenderry trainer David Hanlon. Fine performance. 


Offaly Winners

Eight Offaly dogs on the winners rostrum this week, well done to all involved.