Quality Offaly winners feature in a great week of greyhound racing across the country
Offaly winners coming from some kennels we haven't heard from recently
A great week of racing this week which included two rounds of the Juvenile Classic unraced in Tralee, with Kilkenny also hosting the first round of one of their big events of the year, the final of the Cork Cup and semifinals of the Midlands Derby dominated a fantastic weeks racing. Some quality Offaly winners in the mix this week with winners coming from some kennels we haven't heard from recently.
Early Week Racing
Monday, Tralee, in the quarterfinals of the Juvenile Classic Open Unraced Stake, four very competitive heats with a double for champion trainer Graham Holland with one each winner for both Pat Buckley and Liam Dowling. Local Kerry trainer Dowling also had the fastest winner when Ballymac Patriot stopped the clock in 28.22 by five lengths at 6/4 fav.
Thursday, in Galway, on leap year day February 29th, there were four Offaly winners. In the first race on the card, an ON2 unraced Kitmins Ellen won for Banagher owner Kieran White in 30.60 by three lengths at 2/1. The next two Faithful County winners were for Birr owner Gerard Milne, in an S7 325 sprint Crinkle Denis won in 18.08 by three lengths at 2/1, and in an S5 sprint Crinkle Ranger crossed the whitewash by two lengths at 3/1 in 18.04. In the final race on the card, an A5 contest Meteoric Moon won for the second week in a row for Geashill trainer Margaret Bolton in 29.68 by a neck at 3/1.
Friday Racing
Both the afternoon meeting in Mullingar and evening meeting in Newbridge were cancelled due to the inclement weather conditions.
Kilkenny staged the first round of one of their big events of the year The Deadly Kennels A1 McMalmont Cup won last year by Lynchys Boy and Paraic Campion. Seven Heats with a double for local trainer Murt Leahy who also provided the fastest winner of the night in Sawdust Storm in 29.06 (40 slow) by seven lengths at 5/2.
Back to Tralee for the semifinals of the Juvenile Classic Open unraced stake. Once again Ballymac Patriot went fastest for Liam Dowling in 28.21 by four lengths at 4/6 fav. The second semi was won by Kerogue Lady for Patrick O’Connor in 28.43 by one length at 3/1.
Two finals of note in Shelbourne Park both worth €1.75k to the winners. The first being the Retired Greyhound Trust A2 stake and the trophy here went to Hes Made It (Good News-Shes Made It) who was winning his eleventh career race for in form trainer Shaun Conway on a very slow track in 30.41 (1.20 slow) by nine lengths at 5/4 fav. The second final was the Barking Buzz A1 stake with the winners prize going to the classicly bred Maireads Prince (Droopys Sydney-Clona Blaze) in 30.56 (1.20 slow) for Rathangan trainer Frazer Black by five lengths at 4/7 fav.
Saturday Racing
The most valuable final of the week was in Curraheen Park in the Time Greyhound Nutrition A1 Cork Cup. The €5k first prize went to Bambis Lady (Droopys Sydney-Ballybrack Gem) in 28.81 by one length at 6/4 fav for Breda Boyle and Patrick Sheehy who was a well deserved winner having being on the winners podium on four of the five rounds. Faypoint Susie was second for Holland and received a cheque for €2k.
The highlights of a decent card in Mullingar were the semifinals of the Kilbride Kennels Midlands A2 550 derby. Track record holder over this trip Hawkfield Abbie won the first in 30.57 (60 slow) for Ginger McGee by two lengths at 1/2 fav. The second semi went to Rough Frankie for Kurtis Bain in 30.75 (60 slow) by one length at 4/5 fav. Two Offaly dogs have made Saturdays final, Dark Design for Rhode owner Sean Cocoman and Syrax for Edenderry trainer Paul Cronin. One Offaly winner on the evenings card, in the first round of an A5 sweepstakes Lahinch Blaze won for Clara owner P.J. Cleary in 29.70 (60 slow) by a neck at 4/1.
In Shelbourne Park, in the semifinals of an A2 stake with a winner prize to the eventual winner of €5k, Elite Josh won the first for Myles Ronan in 28.90 (20 slow) by two lengths at 4/1. The second heat went to Phoenix Tyson for Ian Reilly in 29.22 (20 slow) by two lengths at 6/4 fav. Another Faithful County winner earlier on the card as Brayview Picture won an A2 race for Croghan trainer Gerry Merriman in 29.25 (20 slow) by two lengths also at 6/4 fav.
Two finals of note in Thurles, in the Dinny Mackey Memorial A3 stake, the €2k first prize went to Bull Run Buggy (Magical Bale- Bull Run Ballad) for James Quinlan in 29.06 (20 slow) by three lengths at 6/4 fav. In the final of The Pa’s Bar Upperchurch A5 stake, the €1.6k pot went to Carneys Goldmine (Cabra Firmino-Goldmine Lily) and Richard Purcell in 29.02 (20 slow) by two lengths at 5/4 fav.
Sunday Racing
No Offaly winners at the matinee in Mullingar which is a rarity.
Upcoming Events
Friday, second round of the Deadly Kennels McCalmont Cup in Kilkenny and final of the Juvenile Classic Open Unraced in Tralee.
Saturday, final of the Kilbride Kennels Midlands Derby in Mullingar and final of the A2 stake in Shelbourne.
Tribune Offaly dog of the week
Brayview Picture winning an A2 race in Shelbourne on Saturday evening in 29.25 (20 slow) for Gerry Merriman by two lengths at 6/4 fav was the best of our winners this week.
Offaly Winners
Six Offaly winners this week well done to all connections.
DC