Gone to the dogs: Six Offaly winners as Holland wins record fifth Derby

All roads last Saturday led to Shelbourne for the conclusion of one of the most exciting Boylesports Irish Derbys in years. The packed stadium did not go home disappointed as it turned out to be a brilliant night of racing. In addition to the derby it was a super card in Headquarters with the country's top hounds on display. The Derby consolation final was also of the highest quality as were the Michael Fortune Memorial Derby Plate and numerous other top class valuable races across all distances.

Elsewhere the final of the JAG Building Services Kilkenny A1 Derby, quarterfinals of the Bosco Gleeson Memorial A2 in Newbridge and final of the O’Connor Julian Vets Cashel A2 Tri-Distance Stake in Limerick dominated the fixtures around the country in our annual greatest week of racing. Offaly winners were once again to the fore with some very tasty ones on show.


Early Week Racing

Three finals were up for decision in Shelbourne on Thursday. In an S2 Sprint decider Daring Diamond (Pestana-Daring Roxy) won the €1.5k first prize for Michael Meade in 18.94 by one length at 3/1. In the final of an A5 525 another €1.5k was won by Daithis Millie (Ballymac Cashout-Nothing Gained) in 29.36 by one length at 2/1 with Pat Daly training. The conclusion of an A4 sweepstake saw Harlequin Libby (Ballymac Cashout-Highview Moment) get the €2k purse for Scott Phelan in 28.95 also by one length at 2/1.
Also in Shelbourne, on Thursday we had three heats in the first round of the Open ON1 Unraced Stake, the classicly bred Singalong Polly went fastest of the trio in heat two  for Pat Buckley in 28.63 by two lengths at 5/4 fav.

Friday Racing

In a night of finals in Kilkenny the stand out feature was the JAG Building Services and KGOBA A1 Derby. Lemon Thelma (Jacob Tashadelek-Foyle Lucy) was the surprise 12/1 winner of the €9k first prize for Tom Lennon who took the right night to win his only heat in this competition in 28.96 (20 slow) by two lengths.

Four heats in the second round of the Bosco Gleeson Memorial A2 Stake, Doonanes Murt set the bar highest when winning in 28.63 by five lengths at 1/1 fav for Dennis Smyth.

Shelbourne, final of an A1 Dual-Distance Stake over the 600 yard trip where Innfield Force (Feora Chris-Coolavanny Model) was first over the line in 32.84 by one length at 6/4 fav with a cheque of €2.25k heading to trainer Con Guiney.

Two Offaly winners on the supporting card. In the first round of an A1 Stake Aussie Reward won for Kinnitty trainer Jeanette MacKenzie in 28.71 by five lengths at 6/1. In the Semifinals of the Sporting Press AO stake Breaghmore Dice won for another Kinnitty trainer M.J. Corrigan in 28.63 by three lengths at 2/1 fav. The second semi was won by Droopys Map for Murt Leahy in 28.45 by one length at 4/5 fav.


Saturday Racing

The standout feature in Curraheen Park in Cork was the final of the Davy O’Brien Memorial A2 Stakes where the €1.8k first prize was won by Droopys Freckles (Malachi-Droopys Hunch) for Johnny Linehan in 28.73 by one length at 3/1. 

A new stake in Dundalk came to its conclusion with the running of the Up The Royals A2 Stake. The €4K pot was won by Royal Hotshot (Ballymac Cashout- Aayamza Royale) for Nalin Monerewala in 28.57 by one length.

The final of the O’Connor Julian Vets Cashel A2 Tri-Distance final over the 600 yard trip dominated the card in Limerick. Barefoot Roscoe (Priceless Jet-Priceless Verona) was first over the whitewash with a cheque for €3k going to Winner-R- Grinners Syndicate in 32.79 (10 fast) by two lengths at 3/1.

Two Offaly winners in Mullingar with both over the 400 yard sprint trip. In an S1 dash Parkrun had his eleventh career win for Rhode owner P.J. Cocoman in 21.59 (20 slow) by one length at 2/1.

In an SSO open sprint Killeshill Ranger had his fifteenth win for Croghan owner Vincent Lynch in 21.58 (20 slow) by two lengths at 5/4. Two great money spinners for their kennels and owners.

The two best races in Thurles were the semi-finals of the Kasko Dog Foods ON2 Unraced stake with Goldmine Bono winning the first for Aoife O’Gorman and Francis Tobin in 29.81 by three lengths at 2/1. The second semi was a much faster event as Oriental Cory crossed the winning line in 28.91 by two lengths at 6/4 for the Organised-Chaos- Syndicate.

Boylesports Irish Derby

The biggest night of the year in Irish racing was last Saturday in Shelbourne with the finale of the Irish Derby. Before racing sponsors were quoting Cheap Sandwiches as short as 8/15 favourite to lift the trophy for Graham Holland with English raider Proper Heiress at 9/2 for Mark Wallis. Glengar Silent was 5/1 for Pat Buckley with Magical Mag for Pat Guilfoyle at 10/1. Droopys Deploy was 20/1 for Robert Gleeson with the outsider of the field Barefoot On Song 40/1 for Paul Hennessy.

On the night Cheap Sandwiches amazingly drifted out to 4/5 which in hindsight seemed very generous because as soon as he hit the front coming out of the second bend this quality Derby was put to bed very quickly. Despite not breaking very well the Burgess Bucks- Hearthill Josie bred black avoided a pile up at first bend which put paid to the chances of Magical Mag and Droopys Deploy. Sandwiches soon displayed his massive pace to clear all and win by three lengths in 29.37. This is a well deserved victory as this superstar had finished second in last year’s decider and fourth in this year’s English final. The €125k is a brilliant win for the Bark-Wahlburg-Syndicate. However the kudos of having  their name on the world's most prestigious trophy in greyhound racing would be more important for this bunch of sportsmen who mainly hail from Abbeydorney in Kerry. 

Barefoot On Song ran out of her skin to be second one year after having a litter of pups with €30k going to her trainer Paul Hennessy. An amazing training feat. Glengar Silent was third for Pat Buckley who received €15k. The other three finalists won €10k each. 

For trainer Graham Holland he now writes his name into the record books as the only trainer to have five Derbys under his belt Rural Hawaii in 2016, Lenson Bocko in ‘19, Newinn Taylor in ‘20 and the brilliant Bockos Diamond last year. Two other trainers had won our blue ribbon event four times Gay McKenna and Tom Lynch but Holland's win surpasses the two greats as  first to five. Expect a few more from the champion trainer. Given the right dog there is no better trainer than Graham Holland. Super professional. 

All in all it was another super Derby, probably started slowly with a lot of non runners especially in the second round but once we got to the business end it was as exciting as any previous year and with the best dog winning on the night it proved once again that the Irish Derby on the best track in the world in Shelbourne Park there is no higher bar to cross in the world of Greyhound Racing. Well done again to connections of the brilliant Cheap Sandwiches. Brilliant Derby winner.

Other Derby Night Action. 

In addition to the €125k won by Cheap Sandwiches and the large amount of place prize money there was an array of other valuable races on the night with one race worth €7.5k, two worth €3k and eight worth €2k to the various winners. In total near €300k was won on the night. The €7.5k race was the Michael Fortune Memorial Derby Plate where Magical Major (King Sheeran-Magical Mary) showed blistering speed to come from off the pace to win by two lengths at 11/10 fav in 29.53 for Pat Guilfoyle. Surely a Derby prospect for next year.

The two €3k races were the Derby Consolation Final where Callaway Five won by a neck in 29.77 for Owen McKenna and the open Sprint which was won by Stonepark Browne in a fine  18.51 for Michael O’Donovan. 

Some of the standout performances in the €2k to the winner races were Droopys Faithful in the Open 575 for Daniel O’Rahilly in 30.60, Solo And Go in the Open 525 for Liam Dowling, Cheque For Cash in the Open 550 in 29.50 for Karol Ramsbottom. The Open 600 was won by Coosane Pickles for Michael O’Donovan again in 32.31 and the Open 750 to Born To Perform by nine lengths in 41.28 for Jennifer O’Donnell. There were loads of other very impressive winners on probably the best undercard seen in Shelbourne on Derby night in years. 

Sunday Racing

Two Offaly winners at the matinee SIS meeting in Mullingar. Land Cruiser won an A4 contest for Moneygall owner Liam Jones in 29.77 (50 slow)by two lengths at 3/1. Vincent Lynch was back on the winners podium as Killeshill Milo had his fourteenth career in in an A2 grade in 29.54 (50 slow) by three lengths at 4/1. 


Upcoming Events

Thursday, Semi-finals of ON1 Open Unraced in Shelbourne. Friday, semi-finals of the Bosco Gleeson memorial A2 stake in Newbridge and final of an AO stake in Headquarters.

Saturday, final of the Kasko Dog Foods ON2 in Thurles. 

Next classic on the cards is the Laurels in Cork. Expect most of the dogs who ran Saturday to head Lee-side for another super competition and where another valuable pot is available to be won.

Tribune Offaly Dog Of The Week

Breaghmore Dice gets the nod this week for M.J. Corrigan for winning in the semifinal of an AO sweepstake in Shelbourne on Friday in a smart 28.63 by three lengths. Will have a major say in this final Friday. Top drawer performer. 


One For The Notebook

Aussie Reward looks a prospect for Jeanette MacKenzie after winning the semifinal of an A1 sweepstake in Shelbourne also on Friday in 28.71 by five lengths. With only ten races run so far and three wins in his career Aussie looks like he’s really starting to find his feet and expect to see him in the winners enclosure over the remaining of ‘25 and all of ‘26. 

SEE NEXT: Fixtures released for big Offaly football games

Offaly Winners

Six Offaly winners this week. Well done to all connections.