Gone to the dogs: Eight winners in magnificent week for Offaly greyhounds

After last week's racing was impacted by storms, leaving just two Offaly winners, this week thankfully was a much more productive one with numerous Faithful County dogs on the winners rostrums. Loads of exciting sweepstakes action which certain whetted the appetite of all the party revellers nationwide.

Early Week Racing

Thursday, Enniscorthy, quarter-finals of the Lord Kennels Open Unraced stake, Glengar Kane remains undefeated in the competition and also set the fastest time for the third week in a row when winning in 28.83 (20 slow) by eight lengths at 2/5 fav. Seamount King also remains unbeaten when winning heat three for Eoin Mullins in 29.01 (20 slow) by a neck at 4/5 fav. 

Shelbourne, also Thursday, the feature event was the final of the Shelbourne Park Museum A6 stake where the €1.5k first prize went to Train Blossom (Malachi-Zoos Sophie) in 29.88 by four lengths at 7/4 for Rian Talbot. In the semifinals of the December Novice ON2 Unraced stake, Rolo Kate won the first for Kinnegad trainer Barry Clancy in 29.73 by one length at 2/1. The second semi was won by Ardera Harvey in a faster 29.38 by five lengths at 5/2 for Dale Deakin. First Offaly winner of the week was at this meeting, in the final race on the card, Aussie Alert won an A2 contest for Kinnitty owner Jeannette Mackenzie in 29.73 by one length at 5/1.

Friday Racing

First Faithful County winner of the weekend was at the matinee SIS meeting in Mullingar as Lahinch Ayda won an A7 race for Clara owner P.J. Cleary in 30.52 (50 slow) by two lengths at 5/2.

Clonmel, semi-finals of The Munster Christmas AO Cup, Slippery Brian won the first for Graham Holland in 28.43 by seven lengths 4/5 fav. The second semi was won by Jerrivee De Meg for Gowran trainer Paul Hennessy in 28.58 by two lengths at 2/1.

Galway, the best race on the card was the final of the Paddy O’Gorman A3 stake where Flyers Swiftly (Ballyhimikin Jet-Millridge Dolly took the spoils and the cheque for €2k for Colm Fitzgerald in 28.91 by two lengths at 3/1.

The best race of a decent card in Newbridge was the final of the Time Nutrition and NTSC A3 Stake. The €2.5k pot was won by A Charde (Orchestrate- Highview Moment) for Vincent McKenna in 28.87 by three lengths at 4/5 fav. Three Offaly winners at this meeting. In an S5 sprint Clonearl Mist won for Daingean owner Eugene Glennon in a smart 17.81 by one length at 3/1.

In the semi-final of the Nollaig Shona ON2 Unraced stake last week's winner of One For The Notebook Meleys won his heat for Edenderry trainer Paul Cronin in a fine 29.42 by one length at 5/4 joint fav. In an SO semi-open sprint Parkrun had his twelfth career win for Rhode owner P.J. Cocoman in 17.79, by two lengths, at 3/1.

The two best races at Headquarters were the semifinals of the A1 Gold Collar 550, Razldazl Kamaria won the first for Dolores Ruth in 30.25 (20 slow) by a head at 6/4 fav. The second semi was won in near identical time of 30.26 (20 slow) for Vincent McKenna by four lengths at 4/1. Last Offaly winner on Friday was in the first race at this meeting as Aussie Reward won in an A2 grade for Jeanette Mackenzie again in 28.77 (20 slow) by one length at 3/1.

Three semi-finals in the Eric Browne Memorial Open Kingdom Derby with two qualifying from each heat for Friday’s final. This stake was won last year by Ballymac Briar for local Kerry trainer Liam Dowling who is putting up a great fight to retain the trophy as he won two of the three heats. Solo And Go won his first in 28.21 by a head at 4/6 fav with Ballymac Tibet his second winner in 28.31 by three lengths at 6/4 fav. The final heat was also won by a favorite as Crossfield Matt won for Brendan O’Shea in the fastest of the three heats in 28.16 by on length at 6/4 fav.

Saturday Racing

Curraheen Park, Cork, three heats in the first round of the Elite Contracting Design Open 575 won last year by Ballyhimikin Rex for John and Billy Dunne. A double for Holland again including the fastest of the trio in Bartlemy Mainoo in 31.13 by a head at 3/1. 

Edenderry owner Timmy Slevin made the long journey to Lifford with Innfield Trinity and trainer Barry Clancy and won in the first round of the Shay Rooney Memorial A2 525 where there were six heats. His winning time of 29.25 was the second fastest of the six winning by three lengths. Decent performance.

Killeshill Milo was back on the winners podium for the sixteenth time for Croghan trainer Vincent Lynch in an A2 contest in Mullingar in 29.46 (50 slow) by seven lengths at 6/4 joint fav.

A great night's racing in Shelbourne in front of a huge Christmas party crowd all enjoying the great atmosphere that can only be got while watching the rapid action of dog racing. In the second round of the Bernard Barry Christmas Oaks Ballydoyle Tina once again set the standard proving to be one of the fastest hounds in training when stopping the clock on a very slow track in 28.26 (20 slow) by two lengths at 4/5 fav for Holland.

In the final of the Shelbourne Marathon DDO 850 yards stake, the €4K first prize was won by Priceless On Ice (Pat C Sabbath- Highview Jayne) for Paul Hennessy in 48.71 (50 slow) by three lengths at 7/4 fav.

Sunday Racing

No Offaly winner at the matinee meeting in Mullingar or the evening meetings in Clonmel or Lifford.

Upcoming Events

Thursday, semi-finals of the Lord Kennels Open Unraced in Enniscorthy and final of the December Novice ON2 Unraced in Shelbourne. Friday, final of the Munster Christmas AO Cup in Clonmel, final of the Nollaig Shona ON2 Unraced, final of the Gold Collar A1 550 in Shelbourne and final of the Eric Browne Memorial Open Kingdom Derby in Tralee.
Saturday, semifinals of the Elite Contracting Design Open 575 in Cork. Quarterfinals of the Shay Rooney Memorial A2 in Lifford and semifinals of the Bernard Barry Christmas Oaks in Shelbourne.

Tribune Offaly Dog Of The Week

Killeshill Milo gets the vote this week  for the second time, for winning his sixteenth race for Vincent Lynch in Mullingar on Saturday night, in a sharp 29.46 (50 slow) by seven lengths. Absolute tremendous money spinner for his owner for this ultra consistent hound. Well deserved. 


One For The Notebook

For the second week in a row Meleys gets the nod when winning in the semifinal of the Nollaig Shona ON2 unraced and improving 30 spots on the clock from last week’s win for Paul Cronin in 29.42. Certainly a very young dog going in the right direction. Hopefully his luck continues and he'll win this stake on Friday.

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Offaly Winners

Eight Offaly winners last week  Well done to all involved in any way.

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