Gone to the dogs: Two Offaly winners in first round of Midlands Derby

Three stakes that have been a mainstay on the Greyhound calendar for years got underway last week. Six heats in the first round of the Tote Gold Cup Open 525 in Shelbourne, five in the first round of the A1 Cork Cup and five in the first round of the Kilbride Kennels Midlands Derby A2 550 in Mullingar.

Friday Racing

For the second week in a row Killeshill Belle was our first Offaly winner of the week when winning an A5 race at the matinee SIS  meeting in Mullingar. Her winning time was 30.26 (50 slow) by two lengths at 11/4 co fav for Croghan owner Vincent Lynch.
One final at the evening meeting in Galway. In the conclusion of the Fast Trap A5 stake Burkos Breeze (Grangeview Ten-Emmas Dream) won the €1.4K first prize for Amy Burke in 29.54 (10 slow) by six lengths at 5/2. One Offaly winner on the supporting card. In the semifinals of an ON2 Sprint Unraced stake Patch It Up won for Kinnitty owner Michael James Corrigan Jnr with his father M.J. in 19.41 (.05 slow) by three lengths at 5/4 fav.

Saturday Racing

SEE NEXT: Fire-power an issue as much improved Offaly fall to third consecutive defeat

Curraheen Park,  first round of the Time Nutrition A1 Cork Cup, won last year by Mister Myles for the Clonmel-Five- Syndicate. Canavour Bucko set the standard last Saturday for Pat O’Connell in 28.54 by six lengths at 1/1 fav.

Dundalk staged the final of the Time Nutrition A3 stake where the €1.3k pot was won by Ballyhoe Natalee (Jaytee Taylor-Donna Rose) for Mark Connolly in 29.16 (40 slow) by two lengths.

First Faithful County winner on Saturday was in Galway as So Its Flash won an A7 525, for Birr owner Paul Pardy, in 29.62 by four lengths at a well backed 4/7 fav.

Five Heats in the first round of the J.P. And Pauline Ryan Memorial A1 Limerick Oaks. This stake was  won in 2025 by the brilliant Barefoot On Song for Paul Hennessy who in September finished second in the Boylesports Derby Final. Pat Guilfoyle won two of the five heats including the joint fastest winner in Magical Poppet in 28.54 by six lengths with Beaming Zen matching that figure when winning for Corona Ryan by four lengths. The standard is very high.

Five heats also in the first round of the Kilbride Kennels A2 550 Midlands Derby won last spring by Phoenix Charlie for Ian Reilly. Fastest of the five was Pat The Doc for Brian Reilly in 30.79 (50 slow) by two lengths at 3/1. Heat four and five were both Offaly winners. Killeshill Devine won his heat for Vincent Lynch again in 31.07 (50 slow) by two lengths at 4/1 and in the final heat Foulkscourt Cody won for Tullamore owner Niall Deegan in 31.23 (50 slow) by a neck at 3/1.

One final in Thurles. In the decider of the Alpha Drives And Switchgear A6 stake Bogger Bert (Bogger Scooby-Bogger Bonnie) won the €1.5k first prize for Liam Peacock in 29.61 (20 slow) by a head.

Six heats in the first round of the Open AAO Tote Gold Collar won last year by the prolific winner and super greyhound Seven Beach for Jennifer O’Donnell. A double on the night for both Graham Holland and Liam Dowling but it was Crossfield Matt who set the bar highest for Brendan O’Shea when crossing the line in a superb 28.15 by three lengths at 2/1. Two finals were decided on the night. In the finale of the Bet With The Tote A3 stake Droopys Punch (Droopys Addition- Droopys Alyssa) won the €2k purse for Murt Leahy in 28.54 by five lengths at 4/6 fav.  In the conclusion of an A2 Daul-Distance stake where the final was over 575 yards after the first round was 550 Daring Danny (Explosive Boy- Daring Miggie) also won €2k for Garristown trainer Liam O’Rourke in 31.76 by two lengths at 4/1.

Sunday Racing

One Offaly winner at the SIS matinee meeting in Mullingar. For the second week in a row also Horseleap Lucy was on the winners rostrum for Tubber owner Sean McGuinness in an A4 race winning in 29.83 (50 slow) by one length at 11/2.

Upcoming Events

Saturday, all quarter-finals, Tote Gold Collar in Shelbourne, Kilbride Kennels Midlands Derby in Mullingar, Limerick A1 Oaks and A1 The Cork Cup in Curraheen. Cracking weekend of racing approaching us. 


Tribune Offaly Dog Of The Week

Foulkscourt Cody gets the nod this week for winning his heat in the first round of the Kilbride Kennels Midlands Derby in 31.23(50 slow). Although not the fastest time in the first round it was a fine performance considering he finished third previous Saturday in the final of the very competitive Dublin Cup in Shelbourne. Where most dogs in this stake in Mullingar would undoubtedly have had a trial or two around the Westmeath venue the Niall Deegan trained dog did not so expect a lot of improvement from this very talented dog. Could go a long way in this competition. Hopefully.

One For The Notebook

Patch It Up looks an interesting sort for the Corrigan's in Kinnitty when showing a fine bit of early pace to clear the field and win his heat in the second round of an ON2 Unraced Sprint stake in Galway last Friday in 19.41(.05 slow). If he retains or improves his early pace certainly will also take a lot of stopping in this stake at the West of Ireland venue. Fingers crossed.

Offaly Winners

Six Offaly winners this week. Congrats to all connections.