Four Offaly winners on the greyhound track this past week

RACING highlights this week include the final of the Juvenile Classic in Tralee, the final of the Midlands Derby and the first round of the Cesarewitch in Mullingar. Additionally we had the first round and quarterfinals of the Brownstown Tango unraced bitch stake in Newbridge providing a super week’s racing.
Early Week Racing
In Newbridge, on Monday, in the first round of the postponed from Friday Brownstown Tango and NTSC Open unraced bitch stake. It was won last year by Chelms Romano for Billy Dunne. Five very competitive heats all won in smart times. Fastest of the quintet was Crafty Bondi who won in 28.34 by nine lengths at 1/2 fav for Peter Divilly.
This Ballymac Bolger-Coolavanny Bondi bitch was bred in Sean Beatty’s kennel in Killeigh and Sean tells me that this dam is in pup again to Bolger and is due to pup in April. Classic breeding here for anyone interested in buying a pup. Next fastest in this stake and showing a super bit of pace was Fairy Footsteps for Carbury owner Mickey Flynn in 28.46 by eleven lengths also at 1/2 fav.
Friday Racing
Kilkenny staged the quarterfinals of the Deadly Kennels McCalmont Cup A1 stake, Rathfalla Hero set the standard in heat three when stopping the clock in 29.17 (40 slow) by one length at 5/2 with David Flanagan training.
The most valuable final of the week was in Tralee, the 2024 Juvenile Classic Open Unraced, the €11k first prize was kept in Kerry as Ballymac Patriot (Ballymac Cashout- Ballymac Wisdom) won for Liam Dowling in 28.44 by three lengths at 2/1. Coolavanny Otto was second for Pat Buckley and received a cheque for €4.6k.
Shelbourne, in the final of the This Runs Deep A5 stake, Callyourbluff (Ballymac Cashout-Jaytee Pearl) won the €1.75 purse in 29.17 by one length at 2/1 for Edenderry owner Keith Duffy with Michael Donnelly training.
Another Offaly winner in the first race as Highview Sasha won an ON2 unraced for Croghan trainer Gerry Merriman in 29.20 by seven lengths at 5/2.
Back to Newbridge for the second round of the Brownstown Tango Open unraced bitch stake, three heats with four qualifying for Fridays semifinals. The Killeigh bred Crafty Bondi won the first for Peter Divilly in 28.32 by four lengths at a very short 2/5 fav. The second heat went to Coolavanny Poppy for Pat Buckley in 28.30 by four lengths at 6/4. Mickey Flynn was back on the winners podium in the third heat as Fairy Footsteps led her rivals a merry dance when winning in 28.43 by seven lengths also at 2/5 fav. This year’s Brownstown is off to the highest standard and undoubtedly there are future champions on show in Fridays semifinals.
Saturday Racing
Curraheen Park held five heats in the first round of the Axel Global Resources Ltd Open Cork Oaks, won last year by the super bitch Maries Wedding for Tamara Butler. Champion trainer Graham Holland won two of the heats with the fastest run on the night going to Castleivy Ginge for Stradbally trainer Karol Ramsbottom in a fast 28.31 by six lengths at 2/1.
One Offaly winner in Mullingar, in the semifinals of an A5 sweepstake, Lahinch Blaze won for Clara owner P.J. Cleary in 29.86 (50 slow) by two lengths at 2/1.
One final of note in Shelbourne was the Book Your Fishing On Swinbooker A2 stake who are a new sponsor and kindly put up €5k to the winner who turned out to be Phoenix Tyson (Grangeview Ten-Fahy Ripley) for Ian Reilly in 28.60 by four lengths at 5/2. Another Offaly connection here as the winner was born and reared in Paddy McCormack's kennels in Croghan for owner Austin Kelly.
Sunday Racing
Six heats of the Time Irish Cesarewitch dominated the matinee meeting in Mullingar, with each winner going through to next Sunday's final.
It's strange to believe that one of the most prestigious stakes in the Irish greyhound racing Calendar can be brought to a two run event.
The Cesarewitch was first run in 1960 in Navan and held there until1998 with top class dogs winning it including the great Bonus Prince who won it three times in a row (1996-1998) for Paraic Campion.In 1999 this classic was moved to Mullingar where once again it took pride and place amongst all the top events on the annual calendar. Some top class dogs and trainers have won this epic event including Pat Guilfoyle who has won it five times with Pat Buckley and local trainer Francie Murray winning it four times. A lot of super and classic winning greyhounds have turned up in Navan previously and now Mullingar to try and win this event However, to now turn this into a two run event seems very disrespectful to the history of this great stake and to the past winners. Should the approach taken to the running of the 2024 stake be the future it certainly doesn’t look bright. Has the IGB sold its soul here moving forward to the SIS meetings. Difficult to comprehend.
Six heats with one qualifying for Sundays final, Pat Buckley had a double with Singalong Dolly fresh from winning the Champion Bitch stake in Thurles last week doing the fastest time in 33.06 (60 slow) by twelve lengths at 2/1.
In the final of the Kilbride Kennels Midlands Derby A2 550, Rough Frankie ( Good News- Bubbly Rose) made all to win by two lengths for Northern Ireland trainer Kurtis Bain in 30.50 (60 slow) by five lengths at 5/2. With €3.3k first prize to the winner, a special thanks must go to the sponsors Frank Seery and David Hanlon who annually sponsor the stake.
One Offaly winner on the supporting card, in an A6 contest Lingrawn Billy had his thirteenth career win for Moneygall owner Mary Jones in 30.45 (60 slow) by a head at a decent 12/1.
Upcoming events
Friday, semifinals of the McCalmont Cup in Kilkenny and semifinals of the Brownstown Tango Unraced in Newbridge.
Saturday, quarterfinals of the Cork Oaks in Curraheen Park and first round of the Bresbet Easter Cup in Shelbourne.
Sunday, final of the Time Irish Cesarewitch Open 600 in Mullingar.
Tribune Offaly dog of the week
Callyourbluff won the final of the This Runs Deep A5 sweepstake in Shelbourne on Friday for Edenderry owner Keith Duffy in a decent 29.17 by one length and is a well deserved winner.
Offaly Winners
Four Offaly winners this week. Congratulations to all involved.