Gone to the dogs: Eight Offaly winners as Merriman wins Dublin Cup

Feature events of the week's racing were the final of the Dublin Cup in Shelbourne on Saturday where there was a brilliant Offaly winner  and also the final of the Rural Kennels Open Unraced in Clonmel on Sunday.

Mullingar went back to racing three days a week with Shelbourne returning next week to two days so the Offaly dogs should once again stake their place on the winners podium. Last week some of the older Faithful County dogs showed they had lost none of the vigour when getting themselves back in the winners enclosure.

Friday Racing

First Offaly winner of the week was at the matinee SIS meeting in Mullingar. Killeshill Devine won his fourteenth race for Croghan owner Vincent Lynch in an A3 grade in 29.91 (50 slow) by three lengths at 13/8 fav. In the last race on the card in Newbridge Glenlara Blue had his sixteenth win of his career for Geashill owners Liam Kirley and Thomas Garry in an A1 contest. This ultra consistent dog who will be five years old in June won in a smart 28.84 by one length at 2/1. No sign of this top hound stopping any time soon.

Saturday Racing

First Offaly winner on Saturday was in Limerick. In the semifinal on an ON3 unraced stake Michaels Supreme won his heat for Birr owner Michael Pardy in a decent 28.69 by three lengths at 2/1.

SEE NEXT: Offaly hurling manager takes Tipperary defeat on the chin

Mullingar, three year old Killeshill Belle won an A5 contest for Vincent Lynch again in 30.09 (50 slow) by two lengths at 4/1. 

Three finals in Shelbourne with an Offaly dog winning the most valuable race. In the conclusion of the 2026 A2 Dublin Cup Highview Dynasty (Ballymac Cashout-Highview Mission) won the €6k first prize for Croghan trainer Gerry Merriman in 28.52 by four lengths at 3/1. Super win. Also in this final Foulkscourt Cody finished a close third for Tullamore owner Niall Deegan and received a cheque for €1.25k. 

In the final of an A1 Dual-Distance over the 550 yard trip Maireads Diamond (Droopys Sydney-Clona Skye) was first over the line in 29.90. The Frazer Black trained dog won the €2.25k purse by one length at 4/5 fav.  In the final of an AO 525 stake Actindamaggot (Ballymac Cashout-Slippery Diva) won the €2.5k pot for Ian Reilly in 28.43 by three lengths at 5/2.

Sunday Racing

Two Offaly winners at the matinee meeting in Mullingar. Vincent Lynch was back on the winners podium for the third day in a row as Killeshill Messi won an A5 race in 29.86 (50 slow) by five lengths at 15/8 fav. Another veteran winning his eleventh race.

In an A6 grade Horseleap Lucy won for Sean McGuinness in 29.93 (50 slow) by seven lengths at 4/1.

It was a night of finals in Clonmel where four were up for decision. The feature event was the finale of the Rural Kennels Open Unraced Stake. The €6.5k first prize was won by the sponsor of this competition Graham Holland as Gaytime Clyde (Droopys Sydney-Gaytime Tilly) won in 28.60 by six lengths at 11/2.

Skywalker Bruno was second for Michael O’Donovan and got a runners up prize of €2k.

In the final of the Sporting Press Online Edition A1 550 Suir Exile (Broadstrand Bono- Glowing Exile) won the €2.5k pot for Andrew Lynch in 29.99 by four lengths at 4/6 fav. 

A shock in the final of the John White Memorial A3 Guys And Dolls stake. 10/1 winner Whitegate Pest (Pestana- Cloneden Valarie took the honours and the €2.5k purse for William Denn in 28.81 by one length.

The €2k first prize in the conclusion of the Tommy And Mary Bridget Dunford Memorial AO bitch stake was won by Bushpark Mel (Malachi- Please Blossom) again  for Holland in 28.51 by five lengths at 4/6 fav.

One Offaly winner on the supporting card as three and half year old Yorkie Ollie won the AAO Open 575 for Birr owners Michael Hennessy and Adrian Sheils in 31.10 by three lengths at 6/4 co fav. Graham Holland trainer here as well.

Upcoming Events

Friday, Limerick, final of the ON3 unraced. 

Saturday, first round in the open Tote Gold Cup in Shelbourne and first round of the Kilbride Kennels A6 Midlands Derby in Mullingar.

Tribune Offaly Dog Of The Week

Easy decision this week as Highview Dynasty tracked brilliantly to take the lead at the fourth bend as was never in trouble when winning the final of the A2 Dublin Cup in Shelbourne on Saturday. The Gerry Merriman trained black bitch looks to be a  future champion in the making maybe over the longer trips. A fine win for Offaly’s first stake winner of the year. Hopefully plenty more to come.

One For The Notebook

Michaels Supreme looks an interesting prospect when winning in the semifinals of an ON3 unraced in a superb 28.69 on debut for Michael Pardy. This young pup has about seven lengths in hand on the other semifinal winner and looks like barring a mishap this trophy should be going to Birr on Friday. Another future star hopefully.

Offaly Winners

Eight Offaly winners last week. Congrats to all connections.