GONE TO THE DOGS: Geashill trainer has first Offaly win of the racing week

Friday Racing

First Offaly winner of the week was in Galway as Geashill trainer Margaret Bolton won with Kelpie on debut in an ON2 race in 29.59 (10 slow) by nine lengths at 5/4 fav.

The most valuable final on Friday was in Newbridge, the €3.1k first prize in the final of the Eamon Wheatley Memorial A4 stake went to Beaming Outlaw (Doolin Duke- Beamingboomerang) in 28.82 by three lengths for Corona Ryan at 9/4.

One Offaly winner on the supporting card, in the final race of the night, an A4 575 Coolree Best had his sixth career win for Daingean owner Eugene Glennon in 31.64 by three lengths at 2/1.

Tralee staged the first round of one of their big stakes of the year, the Juvenile Classic Open Unraced Stake won last year by Ballymac Marina for Liam Dowling. Six heats with a double for Pat Buckley including the fastest heat winner with Coolavanny Otto stopping the clock in a magnificent 28.04 by seven lengths at 6/4 fav.

One final of note in Shelbourne Park, first place in the Regulars A3 Sweepstake went to Burgess Canon (Droopys Sydney-Burgess Helena) in 28.86 by one length at 5/2 with a cheque of €1.75k going to trainer Paraic Campion and owners J.J. Fennelly and Sheila Spillane.

Saturday Racing

Curraheen Park hosted the quarterfinals of the Time Greyhound Nutrition Cork Cup with joint fastest winners on 28.50. In heat one Bambis Lady won by three lengths at 6/4 fav for Breda Boyle and Patrick Sheehy while in heat three Romeo Steel matched the clock also winning by three lengths at 3/1 for champion trainer Graham Holland.

Mullingar staged the first round of one of their biggest events of the year the Kilbride Kennels Midlands Derby A2 550 stake won last year by Vinegar Joe for Seamus Reilly. Eight very closely contested heats with one exception where Hawkfield Abbie smashed the track record in an amazing 30.41 (50 slow) winning by eleven lengths at 1/2 fav for trainer John McGee and Newbridge owner Jerry Connors. Super performance. One Offaly winner in the stake, in heat two Syrax had her twelveth career win for Edenderry owners Paul and Chloe Cronin in 31.02 (50 slow) by two lengths at 1/1 fav.

The highlight of a decent night’s racing in Thurles was the semifinals of the Droopys Stud Champion Open Bitch Stake. Giddyup Maggie won the first for Louise Whall in 28.98 (20 slow) by two lengths at 4/1. The second semi went to Fashion Model for Pat Guilfoyle in 28.85 (20 slow) by two lengths at 3/1. In Saturdays final Guilfoyle and Pat Buckley will both have two representatives and hard to not to see either of these lifting the spoils.

In Shelbourne Park, in the semifinals of the Tote Gold Cup, two big priced winners here. Droopys Style was first home in the first for Michael O’Donovan in 28.44 by one length at 5/1. Boylesports Coco won the second for Dolores Ruth in 28.23 by two lengths also at 5/1. One final on the undercard, the €2k first prize in the Barking Buzz A1 sweepstake went to Avongate Venus (Droopys Sydney-Droopys Ring) for Murt Leahy and owner Rory Hickey in 28.37 by nine lengths at 5/1.

Sunday Racing

One Faithful County winner at the matinee meeting in Mullingar and that was for Moneygall owner Liam Jones as Lingrawn Focus was first back in kennels in an A3 contest in 29.94 (50 slow) by eight lengths at 2/1.

Upcoming Events

Friday, quarterfinals of the Juvenile Classic Open Unraced in Tralee.

Saturday, semifinals of the Cork Cup in Curraheen Park, second round of the Kilbride Kennels Midlands Derby in Mullingar, final of the Droopys Stud Open Bitch Stake in Thurles and final of the Tote Gold Cup in Shelbourne. Loads of top class action to look forward to this week.

Tribune Offaly dog of the week.

Syrax gets the nod this week for winning in the first round of the Kilbride Kennels Midlands Derby in Mullingar on Saturday for Paul and Chloe Cronin in 31.02 (50 slow). Solid performance from this ever consistent Edenderry bitch.

Offaly Winners

Four Offaly winners this week. Congrats to all.

DC.