Gone to the dogs: Improved week for Offaly greyhounds

It was a more sucessful week for Offaly dogs after an unsuccessful week with no Offaly winners to report on in last weeks edition.  The semifinals of the Rural Kennels Open Unraced stake in Clonmel and the final of the Astra Kennels A1 Stake in Tralee dominated proceedings in a curtailed week of racing.

Early Week Racing

Nothing to report for the first four days and expect this to continue well into February as most tracks are only racing in the latter half of the week.

Friday Racing

First Offaly winner of the week was in Mullingar at the SIS matinee meeting. In an A4 grade Apache Gem won his twelfth career race for Clara owner P.J. Cleary in 30.06 (50 slow) by six lengths at 15/8 fav.

A new valuable final added to the calendar was the conclusion of the Astra Kennels A1 stakes in Tralee. The €4K first prize was won by Labana Cody (Droopys Sydney-Homegrown Honey) for Batt O’Shea, in a superb 28.39 by three lengths, at 4/1. Daleroad Best was second for John O’Keeffe winning a pot of €1.5k.

It was a night of semifinal action in a very wet and rainy Clonmel. Five stakes were at the semifinals stages with the track getting slower as the night progressed. The semifinals of the Rural Kennels Open Unraced Stake were the main events. Vivaro Warrior won the first for Kenneth Busteed, in 29.00 (40 slow) by five lengths, at 6/4 2nd fav. The second semi was a faster contest as Newinn Spot stopped the timer in 28.60 (40 slow) and remains the only unbeaten dog in this stake for Graham Holland winning by five lengths at 1/2 fav.

The first stake on the card was the Sporting Press Online Edition A1 550. Canavour Bucko won the first heat for Pat O’Connell in 30.30 (10 slow) by three lengths at 5/4 fav with Suir Exile the second for Andrew Lynch in 30.11 (10 slow) by six lengths at 5/4 fav.

In the semi-finals of the John White Memorial A3 Guys And Dolls Stake Jacktavern Turbo was first home in the first semi for David Byrne in 28.63 (40 slow) by nine lengths at 2/5 fav. The remaining semi was won by Arrow Twirl for Andrew Lawlor in 29.12 (40 slow) by three lengths at 3/1.

SEE NEXT: Understrength Offaly lose out in excellent, high stakes opening round shootout

Saturday Racing

Alas a quality card in Shelbourne had to be postponed due to a waterlogged track. This card has been rescheduled to run this Saturday.

With no racing in Mullingar on Saturday Offaly winners were thin on the ground however there were two in Limerick. In an A6 contest Kitmans Kate won for Banagher owner Kieran White in 29.34 (10 fast) by five lengths at 2/1 fav with John Byrne training.  In an A5 grade Fast Fit Holly was first over the line for Rahan owner Kate Cantwell with co owner her grandfather John Quinn in 29.18 (10 fast) by three lengths also at 2/1 fav.

Sunday Racing

One Offaly winner at the matinee meeting in Mullingar. In an A5 grade Killeshill Messi won his tenth race for Croghan trainer Vincent Lynch in 30.28 (50 slow) by three lengths at 7/2. 

Upcoming Events

Friday, final of the McCalmont Cup A2 in Kilkenny. Finals of the Rural Kennels Open Unraced, final of the Sporting Press Online Edition A1 550 and final of the John White Memorial A3 Stake all in Clonmel.
Saturday, final  of the deferred Dublin Cup in Shelbourne. 

Tribune Offaly Dog Of The Week

Apache Gem has been ultra consistent for P.J. Cleary winning his twelfth race in Mullingar on Friday in 30.06 (50 slow) by six lengths. This two year old dog will undoubtedly be in the winners enclosure on numerous times over the next twelve months. Fantastic money spinner for Cleary. 


One For The Notebook

Kitmans Kate looks an interesting prospect when winning an A6 race in Limerick in only her second race by five lengths in 29.34 (10 fast) for Kieran White. Expect more improvement in this exciting young pup and watch her rise through the grade. Fine performance. 

Offaly Winners

There were four Offaly winners last week. Congrats to all connections.