Gone to the dogs: Good week for Offaly greyhounds

The final classic of the year, the Bar One Racing Irish Laurels, started its first round in Cork and dominated the week’s proceedings. A quality night of racing in Ireland’s second city where most of the dogs who ran in the Boylesports Irish Derby once again went toe to toe all vying for a winners prize of €30k.

Elsewhere the final of the Bosco Gleeson Memorial A2 stake in Newbridge, semi-finals of the Kennedy Cup in Limerick and first round of the Paddy Merriman Memorial A1 in Shelbourne on Friday were the other main features around the country. After last week's low return of just two Offaly winners this week's racing brought better returns with Mullingar once again returning the majority of our winners.

Early Week Racing

Monday, Enniscorthy, quarter-finals of the Kiltrea Kennels Open Unraced stake where first round fastest winner Glengar Star once again set the standard when winning by a staggering nineteen lengths despite missing his break in 28.98 at 1/4 fav for Pat and Emma Buckley. Next fastest of the four was Alacha for Rhys Fortune and Charles Delaney in 29.46 by four lengths at 4/1.

Thursday, Shelbourne, final of the October Monthly Novice ON2 where Button It (Droopys Flytline-Up The Style) won the €1.75k first prize for Robert Gleeson in 28.71 by four lengths at 3/1. Also on Thursday, again in Enniscorthy, the final of the Time Club A2 Tri-Distance Stake over the 575 yard trip Misterin Sam (Droopys Sydney- Ballinabola Rum) won by one length for Michael Galway in 32.01.

Friday Racing

First Offaly winner of the week was at the matinee SIS meeting in Mullingar. In an A5 race Lahinch Toby had his eighth career win for Clara owner P.J. Cleary in 30.66 (60 slow) by one length at 11/8 fav. 

The best race in of a decent card in Newbridge was the final of the Bosco Gleeson memorial A2 Stake with the €2.6k pot going to Sassy Suzy (Burgess Bucks-Droopys Cutey) for Michael Brennan. The winning time was a smart 28.57 by three lengths at 3/1. 

Six heats in the first round of the Paddy Merriman Memorial A1 stake dominated the card in Shelbourne Park. This stake was won in 2024 by Stonepark Hoffa for Michael O’Donovan. Fastest of the sextet was Ello Ello for Brendan Mathews in 28.53 by four lengths at 4/6 fav.

Two finals also at the same meeting. In the conclusion of an A4 stake Amigo Star (Good Cody-Deelish Oreo) won by five lengths in 28.63 at 4/5 fav with a winners cheque of €2k  going to Maria and John Kennedy.  In the finale of an A1 stake the €3k purse was won by the GDG Syndicate as Beechwood Moss (Ballymac Bolger-Beechwood Sandy) proved too strong for his rivals in 28.77 by one length at at 2/1 co fav.

Saturday Racing

Three Offaly winners in Mullingar. In the semi-finals of the October ON2 Unraced stake both winners were from the Faithful County. Horseleap Billy won the first for Sean McGuinness, in 30.47 (50 slow) by eleven lengths, at 4/1. The remaining semi was a much faster affair as Optic Helmet won for Edenderry trainer David Hanlon by seven lengths at 1/2 fav in 29.61 (50 slow). In the final race on the card an SSO Open 400 yard Sprint Killeshill Ranger proved too strong for his rivals when winning in 21.45 (20 slow) by three lengths at 1/1 fav for Croghan owner Vincent Lynch.

Two more Offaly winners in Galway. In an A7 contest Clonkelly Cat won for Birr owner Gerard Milne in 29.51 by five lengths at 6/4 fav.

In an A3 grade Opera Moment was first back in kennels for Daingean owner Conor McGrath in 29.06 by one length at 5/2 with Vincent McKenna training.

The two feature races in Limerick were the semifinals of The Gammell Car Sales A3 Kennedy Cup. Bright Morgan won the first for Mary Lynch in 28.88 by one length at 4/1. The second heat had Ballycowen Frank on the winners podium for Dean Harpur in a faster 28.35 by three lengths at 6/4 co fav. 

Four heats in the first round of the Yvonne Barry Track Bookmaker Open 600 yard stake in Shelbourne won last year by Ballinabola Jim for Brendan Murphy. It was another Ballinabola who set the standard on Saturday but Joe this time in 32.08 by five lengths at 1/1 fav with Pat Buckley training.

One final on the night. In the Ballymac Patriot @ Stud Open Unraced Bitch stake the €4K first prize pot was won by Good Katie (Dromana Bucko-Hugh Dream) for John Kennedy Jnr in 28.37 by a head at 4/6 fav. Ballymac Gwennie was second for the sponsor Liam Dowling with a runners up cheque of €2k going his way.

Irish Laurels

The final major of the year commenced in Cork last Saturday with the first round of the Bar One Racing Irish Laurels Open 525. The final of this stake with a winner's pot of €30k and over €60k in total will be divided on November 8th. First run in Cork's old track on the Western Road in 1944  where Robeen Printer was the winner until it moved to the new premises of Curraheen Park in the west of the city in Bishopstown in 1999 where Tigers Eye and Lumbar Boss dead heated. Some magnificent dogs have won this stake, including the likes of Spanish Battleship in 1955, Knockrour Slave in 1979 and ‘80. Ardaville Bridge in ‘90, Sonic Flight in 2001 and Tyrur Ted in 2005 just to mention a few. Crafty Shivoo was victorious last year for Pat Norris.

All the top trainers have been on the winners podium in this competition, including the great Ger McKenna who won it eight times, Graham Holland has won on five occasions, Paul Hennessy four times and another from a while back Paddy Keane who was victorious three times. Eleven very eventful heats on Saturday where all the major trainers had a winner each with the exception of Jennifer O’Donnell and Liam Dowling who both had a double. Dowling supplied the fastest heat winner as Ballymac Setanta stopped the timer in a superb 27.94 winning by four lengths at 4/5 fav. Another to go below the 28.00 marker was Droopys Patriot for Robert Gleeson who flew around in 27.99 winning by three lengths at 5/2. Long way to go in this classic yet but expect these two to be there at the business end of things.

Sunday Racing

Two Offaly winners at the matinee meeting in Mullingar. In an A5 event Sean McGuinness was back in the winners circle, for the second time in a week, as Horseleap Amy won in 30.63 (50 slow) by two lengths at 4/1.

In an A2 race Killeshill Milo won in 29.51 (50 slow) by three lengths at 5/1 also recording Vincent Lynchs second win of the week.

Upcoming Events.

Monday, Enniscorthy, semi-finals of the Kiltrea Kennels Open Unraced stake.
Friday, quarter-finals of the Paddy Merriman Memorial A1 Stake in Shelbourne. 

Saturday, second round of the Bar One Racing Irish Laurels in Cork. Final of The Gammell Car Sales A3 Kennedy Cup in Limerick. Semifinals of the Yvonne Barry Track Bookmaker Open 600 and final of the October ON2 Unraced in Mullingar. Loads of top class action to look forward to this week.

Tribune Offaly Dog Of The Week

Killeshill Ranger gets the nod this week for his ultra consistent tracking over the last eighteen months. On Saturday he won the SSO Open Sprint in Mullingar and in doing so recorded his sixteenth career win in a fine 21.45 (20 slow) for Vincent Lynch. Super greyhound. Well deserved. 

One For The Notebook

David Hanlon seems to have unearthed another decent pup with Optic Helmet on Saturday when winning in the semi-finals of the  October ON2 Unraced stake in Mullingar in the fastest time of the night on debut in 29.61 (50 slow) by seven lengths. With good luck and a little improvement the sky could be the limit for this January ‘24 pup. Another super prospect Hanlon has on his hands here.

SEE NEXT: Fixtures made for last of Offaly GAA championships

Offaly Winners

There were eight Offaly winners last week, well done to all involved.