Gone to the dogs: Two Offaly winners as Christmas parties in full swing at the dogs

As Christmas season is now in full swing the party goers were revelling in the festivities around the tracks, witnessing some fantastic racing and having a brilliant time. Big crowds at all the tracks, both Friday and Saturday nights, despite some very unsavoury weather.

Early Week Racing

Monday, six heats in the second round of The Lord Kennels Open Unraced stake in Enniscorthy. For the second week in a row Glengar Kane set the bar highest when stopping the clock in 28.77 by eight lengths at 4/5 fav for Pat Buckley who won two of the six heats. Another to get the crowd talking was Seamount King who won heat one in 28.79 by five lengths at 6/4 co fav for Eoin Mullins.

Thursday, Shelbourne, first round of the December Monthly Novice ON2 stake. Four heats with Danikas Sapphire going fastest of the quartet in 28.94 by seven lengths at 1/1 fav for Stephen Townsley.


Friday Racing

Clonmel, four heats in the AO  Munster Xmas Cup won last year by I’m An Exile for Andrew Lynch. Champion trainer Graham Holland won two of the four heats including the fastest heat winner with Bombay Special in a fine 28.32 by five lengths at 4/6 fav.

No Offaly winner at the matinee SIS meeting in Mullingar where the last three races were cancelled for the safety of the greyhounds due to the heavy rain.

Newbridge, semi-finals of the Time Nutrition and NTSC A3 stake. Gimont Girl won the first for George O’Connor in 28.86 by four lengths at 2/1 with A Charde the second for Vincent McKenna in 28.81 by five lengths at 4/5 fav. First Offaly winner of the week was also at this meeting. In the first round of an ON2/ON3 Unraced stake with three heats, Meleys won heat one for Edenderry trainer Paul Cronin in a smart 29.71 (20 slow) by five lengths at 5/2.

Shelbourne, a decent card at headquarters on a very heavy track where the times recorded matched the conditions. In the first round of the 2025 A1 550 Gold Collar Stake, three heats, won last year by Razldazl Edward for Dolores Ruth. Uncle Keith set the bar highest in 31.16 (80 slow) by two lengths at 1/1 fav for Mark Robinson. In the final of the A2 Dual-Distance stake over the 600 yard trip Kilcolgan Norman (Dromana Bucko-Razldazl Annie) won the €2k purse for Nelius O’Connell in 33.87 (80 slow) by twelve lengths at 4/6 fav. The last race on the card was an A1 contest where Croghan trainer Gerry Merriman provided the winner as Highview Meg won by a head in 29.65 (80 slow) at 4/1.

The best race in Tralee was the final of the Time Nutrition A3 Bitch Stake. The €2k pot here went to Saleen Shannon (Ballyhimikin Jet-Hunters Sophia) for Pat O’Connor in 28.95 (10 slow) by three lengths at 3/1.

Saturday Racing

No Offaly winner on Saturday night with some fancied runners and short priced dogs being beaten.

Curraheen Park, Cork, final of the Born Warrior @ Stud ON2 Unraced Stake. Safe Vision (Ballymac Cashout-Jacinta) won the €1.5k first place prize in 28.98 by four lengths at 5/1 for Michael Walsh and Jordan Moynihan. 

Limerick, first round of the Con Murphy Bookmaker A1 Stake. Five heats with Glengar Blitz going fastest for Buckley again in 28.54 by six lengths at 5/4 fav. 

A cracking card in Shelbourne with plenty of Open class races on display. In the first round of the Bernard Barry AAO Christmas Oaks won last year by Silverhill Freya for Graham Holland. Five heats with Holland totally dominating the stake winning all five. Great training feat. Fastest of his five winners was Ballydoyle Tina in heat two who crossed the whitewash in 28.46 (20 slow) by five lengths at 1/2 fav.  In the final of the Barking Buzz App AO 600 yard stake, the classicly bred  Blue Belle (Droopys Sydney-Susie Sapphire) won the €2k purse for Mullingar trainer Francis Murray in 32.48 (20 slow) by three lengths at 6/1.

Two heats in the Shelbourne Marathon DDO 850 yard stake. The first semi was won by Ashmar Una for Ciaran O’Reilly in 49.11 (40 slow) by one length at 5/2.

The second heat was won in a faster 48.34 (40 slow) by Priceless On Ice for Paul Hennessy by one length also at 5/2.

Sunday Racing

With the matinee SIS meeting in Mullingar being postponed it turned out to another day with no Offaly winners. 


Upcoming Events

Monday, quarter-finals of The Lord Kennels Open Unraced in Enniscorthy.Thursday, Shelbourne, semi-finals of the December Monthly Novice ON2 unraced stake.Friday, semifinals of the Munster Xmas AO Cup in Clonmel, semifinals of the Time Nutrition and NTSC A3 and ON2 Unraced both in Newbridge and semifinals of the 2025 Gold Collar A1 Stake in Shelbourne.

Saturday, quarter-finals of the Con Murphy Bookmaker A1 Stake in Limerick. Final of the 850 Marathon and quarterfinals of the Bernard Barry AAO Christmas Oaks both in Shelbourne. 


Tribune Offaly Dog Of The Week

Highview Gem won an A1 race in Shelbourne on Friday for Gerry Merriman on a very heavy track in a super 29.65 (80 slow). Looks like this young bitch who has just turned two years old could have a bright future over the longer distances. Well deserved. 

One For The Notebook

Meleys looks an interesting prospect for Paul Cronin when coming from behind to win in 29.71 (20 slow) in Newbridge on Friday on debut by five lengths. Looks like this July 24 pup won’t be at her best till also over a longer trip but certainly has a big future ahead of her and worth keeping an eye on. 

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Offaly Winners

There were just two Offaly winners last week. Well done to all involved in any way.