Gone to the dogs: Twelve Offaly winners as Daingean dog wins Fair Warrior

After the highs of the conclusion of Laurels in Cork last Saturday it was a more sedate week this time. However some great racing was held around numerous tracks.

The highlights were the final of the Puppy Oaks and semifinals of the IGOBF National Puppy Stakes both in Shelbourne. Final of the Liam Brussels Memorial A4 Stake in Galway and the final of the Pat Doran Memorial Open 400 Fair Warrior in Mullingar all on Saturday. A decent return of Offaly winners to boot in another fine week of racing despite some not so decent weather.

Early Week Racing

Thursday, Shelbourne, first round of the November Monthly Novice ON2 Unraced. Three heats with Unassuming setting the standard in heat two for Newry trainer Brendan Mathews by two lengths in 28.76 at 4/6 fav. Heat three provided us with the first Offaly winner of the week as Highview Carol won for Croghan trainer Gerry Merriman in 29.08 by a head at 5/1.

Enniscorthy, also on Thursday, second Faithful County winner as Rubys Trinity won an A2 contest for Edenderry owner Timmy Slevin with local Wexford co-owner Conor Doyle in 29.06 by a neck at 3/1.

Friday Racing

First two Offaly winners of the weekend were at the matinee SIS meeting in Mullingar. In an A5 grade Fahy Shop won for Paddy McCormack in 29.80 (50 slow) by five lengths at 2/1 fav. In an A3 grade Killeshill Devine won for Croghan owner Vincent lynch in 29.61 (50 slow) by one length at 11/4.

Kilkenny, in the semi-finals of the Boylesports A3 Bitch Stake Sliabh Bladhma won the first for Liam Ramsbottom in 29.53 (50 slow) by four lengths at 9/2. The second semi was won by Twenty Benson in 29.58 (50 slow) also by four lengths at 4/9 fav with Michael Donnelly at the helm.

Two finals of note in Shelbourne. In the Upcoming Bernard Barry Xmas Oaks A2 Finale, Bombay Special (Dromano Bucko-Tory Aria) won the €1.75k first prize for Graham Holland in 28.95 (30 slow) by four lengths at 2/1. In the final of the Upcoming Winter Festival A1 stake Gallant Princess (Ballymac Cashout- Slippery Diva) was first home, and received a cheque for €2k for Oliver Bray, in 29.06 (30 slow) by seven lengths at 1/1 fav. Loads of other semifinals of stakes with the finals on both Friday and Saturday at the Winter Festival of Racing.

Saturday Racing

The best race in Galway was the final of the Liam Brussels Memorial A4 Stake. The €1.7k pot was won by Hollywell Merlin (Ballymac Bolger- O Mahoney) for Alison Coxon in 29.05 (10 slow), by two lengths at 5/2, going through this stake unbeaten. 

It was a great night in Mullingar for the Offaly trained dogs. The Westmeath track has two major stakes annually, the Cesarawitch and the Fair Warrior. Last Saturday the latter was won by a Daingean owned bitch. The classicly bred Gem Friendly (Droopys Sydney-Susie Sapphire) proved too good for her rivals for Conor McGrath in a super 21.11 (20 slow) at 1/1 fav winning by four lengths. While the €5k first prize is always welcome to any owner but for Conor to have this bitch in the breeding paddocks must be something amazing to look forward to. Definitely Conor’s and trainer Vincent McKenna’s greatest night at the dog tracks. Valderrama was second for Rathkenny trainer Martin Lanney and received a cheque for €2k. 

Two other Offaly winners on the supporting card. In an A7 race Cappanealepickup won for Birr owners Bill and Michael Pardy in 29.93 (50 slow) by three lengths at a well backed 2/5 fav.  In an A3 contest Paddy McCormack was back on the winners podium as Bailie Boy won in a fine 29.38 (50 slow) by three lengths at 5/4 joint fav.

Shelbourne Park, the €10k in the final of the Gourmet Island Puppy Oaks was won by Ballydoyle Tina (Ballymac Kingdom-Ballydoyle Rossa) for Graham Holland in 28.13 by four lengths at 7/4 fav. Ballymac Altobel was second for Liam Dowling and received a prize of €3k.

In the semi-finals of the IGOBF National Puppy Open Stakes with both won in identical times of 28.24. Sawdust Barry won the first for Murt Leahy by one length at 4/1 with Holland the second as Shotgun Dez also won by one length at 4/5 fav. Both Holland and Leahy have two in Saturday’s final. Should be an interesting decider.

Sunday Racing

Five brilliant Offaly winners at the matinee meeting in Mullingar. Two for Sean McGuinness with both in the A4 grade. Firstly Horseleap Paddy won in 29.58 by five lengths at 3/1 then Horseleap Amy won in 30.02 by one length at 4/1. In an A5 contest Lemon Arnold won  Moneygall owner Liam Jones in 30.18 by two lengths at 2/1 fav.

The best race on the card was in an A1 grade with Shear Bear winning for Rhode owner Sean Cocoman in 30.09 by one length at 5/4 fav.

Our final winner of the week was in an A5 grade as Apache Gem won for Clara owner P.J. Cleary in 29.91 by eight lengths at 7/4fav. All races in Mullingar were rated  .50 slow.

Upcoming Events

Thursday, semi-finals of the November Monthly Novice ON2 in Shelbourne.
Friday, final of the Boylesports A3 Bitch Stake in Kilkenny. 

Friday and Saturday two bumper nights of racing in Shelbourne at the Winter Festival Of Racing.

Tribune Offaly Dog Of The Week

Very easy decision this week as Gem Friendly was a super Offaly winner of the Pat Doran Memorial Fair Warrior Open Sprint Stake in Mullingar last Saturday in a brilliant 21.11 (20 slow) by four lengths. Brilliant night for Offaly dogs and owner Conor McGrath. Magnificent achievement.

One For The Notebook

Cappanealepickup looks an interesting sort for Bill and Michael Pardy. Winning her first race from three starts in Mullingar last Saturday in an eye catching 29.93 (50 slow) by three lengths. Another bitch that has top class bloodlines and expect to see her in the winners enclosure quite a lot and going up through the grades rapidly. Probably Shelbourne next. 

SEE NEXT: Impressive Tullamore hold off late The Downs rally for deserved win

Offaly Winners

Twelve Offaly winners this week, well done to all involved.