Gone to the dogs: Epic racing for Offaly greyhounds

Another epic week of racing with the Offaly winners once again pouring in. The second round of the Con and Annie Kirby Memorial in Limerick, final of the Brownstown Tango Open Unraced Bitch Stake in Newbridge, and, semifinals of the Easter Cup in Shelbourne dominated the week’s racing.  Numerous other stakes and top class runs also shone through.

Early Week Racing

Monday, Enniscorthy, quarter-finals of the Future Champion and Michael Fortune Memorial Open Unraced Stake. Ballyroe Bongo was fastest of the heats in a fine 29.17, for owner Colm O’Neill with Patrick Whelan training, winning by two lengths in 5/4 fav. Looks the one they will all have to beat in this very competitive competition.

First Offaly winner of the week was in Shelbourne on Tuesday. In the first round of an A4 stake Aussie Asset won for Kinnitty owner Jeanette MacKenzie in 29.13 by one length at 5/2.

Thursday, Galway, another Kinnitty owner was in the winners enclosure as M.J. Corrigan’s Breaghmore Tilly won an A4 525 in 29.24 by eight lengths at 3/1.

SEE NEXT: Parlon issues stark warning on challenges facing Offaly club landscape at Tullamore GAA dinner dance

Friday Racing

First Offaly winner of the weekend was at the Matinee SIS in Mullingar. In an A4 grade Killeshill Callie had his fifteenth career win for Vincent Lynch in 30.02 (50 slow) by one length at 4/1.

In the semi-final of an A5 sweepstake in Dundalk Carrick Coley was easily the fastest of the two heats for Edenderry owner Thomas Glynn, in 28.96 by six lengths, with David Murray training.

Five heats in the first round of an ON2 Unraced 350 Sprint with Clonearl Flyer going fastest of the five for Daingean owner Conor McGrath in 19.24 (.05 slow) by two lengths at 9/10 fav with Vincent McKenna training.

Six heats in the first round of the George Leahy Memorial A3 stake in Kilkenny won last year by Lemon Hidalgo for Tom Lennon who on Saturday finished second in the semifinals of this years Easter Cup in Shelbourne. Fastest of the sextet was Lemon Paris for local trainer Lennon again in 29.15 (30 slow) by five lengths, at 9/2.

The most valuable final on Friday was the staging of the Brownstown Tango and NTSC Open Bitch in Newbridge. Droopys Crispy (Droopys Addition-Droopys Alyssa) won the €6.5k first prize in super fashion for Kinnegad trainer Barry Clancy with co owner Graham Ashe in 28.94 by two lengths at 3/1. Crispy a deserved winner here as she won all three rounds convincingly. Second was Dapper Daffy for Samual McQuade and received a cheque for €3k.

Two Offaly winners on the supporting card. In an A4 550 contest Meleys was a decent five length winner for Edenderry trainer Paul Cronin in 30.39 at 2/1. In an S1 Sprint, So Its Ranger won his fifth of his last six starts and ninth in total for Birr owner Paul Pardy, in 17.92 by one length, at 1/1 fav.

Two finals of note in Shelbourne. In the conclusion of the Two Steps To Victory A2 Daul Distance over the 575 trip Jaypees Cooper (King Elvis-Ballymac Merkle) won the €1.75k pot for Shaun Conway in 31.53 by two lengths at 5/1. In the finale of the Guys And Dolls A2 525 Knockduff Diva (Pestana-Ballymac Orna) was first across the line and received a purse of €2k for Patrick and Aodhan Doyle, in 28.60 by five lengths, at 6/4 fav.

One final on Friday in Tralee. After three rounds in the Mount Brandon Hostel A3 stake Ardfert Sam (Ballymac Cashout-Ardfert Josie) came out on top by three lengths at 4/5 fav in 28.55 with a first prize of €2.6k heading to trainer Brendan Maunsell.


Saturday Racing

No Offaly winner around the tracks on Saturday which is a rarity.

Curraheen Park, four heats in the first round of the 1XBet Supersprint Open 330 won last year by Born Racer for Jennifer O’Donnell. €5k is the first prize for the winner of this three run competition in Cork over the sprint distance. Stonepark Brownie went fastest of the four when stopping the clock in 17.65 by one length at 1/1 fav for Michael O’Donovan. 

Limerick, eight heats in the second round of the Con And Annie Kirby Memorial Open 525. A treble on the night for Graham Holland with a double for O’Donovan. Two winners went under the magical 28.00 mark, Ballydoyle Tina for Holland in 27.87 by nine lengths, and Bouncing Monarch for O’Donovan in 27.98 by four lengths. Sadly no Offaly dog in the draw for the quarterfinals, hopefully next year.

The two standout races in Headquarters were the semifinals of the Shelbourne Park Bookmakers Easter Cup Open 550. Callaway Knagare was a 6/1 winner of the first for Owen McKenna in 29.33 (10 fast) by six lengths. Droopys Faithful won the second for Daniel O’Rahilly in a slower 29.58 (10 fast) by two lengths at 2/1. One final on the night. In the conclusion of the Barking Buzz A1 stake Scooby Marquess (Grangeview Ten-Scooby Duchess) won the €1.75k first prize for Jennifer O’Donnell in a fine 28.12 (10 fast) by four lengths at 4/5 fav.

Sunday Racing

Nothing of note regarding any Offaly dogs at the two Sunday meetings in Clonmel and Lifford.

Upcoming Events.
Monday, semi-finals of the Future Champion and Michael Fortune Memorial Unraced in Enniscorthy. Tuesday, semi-finals of an A4 sweepstake in Shelbourne. Friday, final of an A5 stake in Dundalk, quarter-finals of the ON2 unraced 350 in Galway, all with a big Offaly interest and quarter-finals of George Leahy Memorial A3 in Kilkenny. Saturday,semifinals of the 1XBet Supersprint in Cork, quarter-finals of the Con And Annie Kirby Memorial in Limerick and final of the Shelbourne Park Bookmakers Easter Cup. Loads of top class action around the tracks to look forward to this week. 


Tribune Offaly Dog Of The Week

So Its Ranger has been a model of consistency for owner Paul Pardy and on Friday in Newbridge made it three wins on the bounce, in a tough S1 sprint, when coming from off the pace to win by one length in 17.92. Fine display of tracking. Super display. 

One For The Notebook

Clonearl Flyer certainly caught the eye when posting the fastest time in the first round of five heats in an ON2 unraced in Galway on Friday for Conor McGrath winning by two lengths. No stranger to the winners enclosure Conor looks to have unearthed another here with a bright future ahead. Finger crossed. 


Offaly Winners

Seven Offaly winners this week. Well done to all concerned.