Gone to the dogs: Good week for Offaly greyhounds
Edenderry man's greyhound shows promise
After the highs of the Con And Annie Kirby Memorial last week, where over €150k was dished out in Limerick, it was a much more sedate week of racing however there were still a few valuable stakes up for grabs with a big Offaly interest. The final of the Kilkenny Champion Open Unraced where there a big Offaly interest, the final of the Suncroft Festival Puppy Oaks, semifinals of the Shelbourne Open 600 and semifinals of the Select Stakes in Waterford were the standout features over the last seven days. Some decent Faithful County winners around various tracks.
Early Week Racing
Monday, second open unraced stake of the year commenced in Enniscorthy with the first round of the Time Greyhound Nutrition Unraced won last year by Flashing Saffron for Pat Buckley. Five Heats with Lisnakill Rossa setting the fastest clock for Michael O’Keeffe in 29.09 by five lengths at 6/4 2nd fav.
One final in Shelbourne on Tuesday. In the finale of the Two Steps To Victory A2 550/575 stake Old Road Villian (Droopys Flytline-Noirs Lottie) won the €1.85k first prize pot for the Sunny-South-East-Syndicate in 31.63 by four lengths at 2/1.
After six weeks of SIS Racing in Mullingar on Wednesday evenings we finally got our first Offaly winner. In an A2 contest Bailie Boy won for Paddy McCormack in 29.53 (50 slow) by one length at 9/2.
Friday Racing
At the SIS matinee meeting in Mullingar last week's One For The Notebook winner Lahinch Charlie was quickly back in the winners enclosure when winning an A6 race, jumping three grades in 30.10 (50 slow) by a neck, at 100/30 for Clara owner P.J. Cleary.
Clonmel, semi-finals of the Sorley O’Dornan Memorial A3 Guys and Dolls Stake. Taylors Tipple won the first for Paul Hennessy in 29.11 by one length at 5/1. The second semi was a faster affair as Knocknadoguestar stopped the clock in 28.63 by four lengths at 11/10 fav for The-Don’t-know-Syndicate.
The best race in Newbridge was the final of the 1XBET Tour Series A3 Stake. The €2.5k purse was won by Sandyhill Pearl (Sober Glory-Pennys Baccata) for Timahoe trainer Liam Ramsbottom in 28.77 by two lengths at 3/1. One Offaly winner on the undercard. In an S1 325 yard sprint So Its Ranger had his tenth win from eighteen starts in 17.70 by one length at 1/1 fav for Birr owner Paul Pardy.
One final of note in Shelbourne Park. In the conclusion of the Upcoming Irish Oaks A2 bitch stake Ballinahow Hope (Ballymac Cashout-Ballinahowtriona) won the €2k first prize by one length at 2/1 fav for Rathangan trainer Frazer Black in a time of 28.58 (20 fast). The first two races on the supporting card were won by Offaly dogs. In an A4 575 yard race Highview Found won for Croghan trainer Gerry Merriman in 31.37 (20 fast) by four lengths at 5/2. In an A2 grade Amidus Hulk showed a quality field a clean pair of heels when winning his first race in three starts in a smart 28.57 (20 fast) by two lengths at 6/4 fav for the Cappincur owners The Glafo Syndicate and Charlie Colgan.
Tralee, first round of the Kasco A2 Stakes won last year by Charlie And Ben for Jack Kennelly. Six heats with Fun Time Frankie going fastest for Mickey O’Donovan in 28.34 (20 fast) by two lengths at 4/6 fav.
Saturday Racing
Four Heats in the first round of the Tara Brickwork And The Fast Trap Greyhound Supplies A4 600 in Mullingar with Offaly dogs winning three of the heats. Towns Pride won heat one for Edenderry owners Fortune- Favours-The-Brave-Syndicate in 33.86 (50 slow) by one length at 4/5 fav with David Murray training. Killeshill Belle won heat two for Croghan owner Vincent Lynch in an identical time by five lengths at 2/1. Our final winner on Saturday was in the concluding heat in this stake as Apache Gem crossed the whitewash in 34.19 (50 slow) by one length at 3/1 for Clara owner Cleary again.
Three semi-finals in the valuable Droopys Stud Select Stakes with two from each qualifying for Saturdays final. €10k to the winner of this two run event won last year by Seven Beach for Jennifer O’Donnell. Magical Luka won heat one for Pat Guilfoyle in 28.36 by two lengths. Heat two was won by Beanos Yank for Graham Holland in 28.26 by one length with Microchip the final heat for Mary Clarke in 28.47 by one length. Should be a decent final.
The final of the Suncroft Festival Puppy Oaks was the standout race on a very good card in Shelbourne. The €10K first pot was won by Ballymac Lix (Ballymac Kingdom-Ballymac Pete) in a messy race in a modest time of 28.87 by a head at 4/1. Glengar Blitz was second for Pat Buckley and received a cheque for €3k. Two semi-finals in the Shelbourne Open 600 stake. Lemon Orla won the first for Tom O’Neill in a smart 32.30 by three lengths at 3/1. The remaining semi was won in a slower 32.46 as Grouchos Gregor won for Buckley by one length at 4/7 fav.
Sunday Racing
A fine attendance in the Marble City Track for the final of the Kilkenny Track ON1 Open unraced stake. What a win for Offaly dog Carrick Becks (Doolin Duke- Droopys Beaufort) with Edenderry owner Thomas Glynn and Robert Gleeson training - who won by three lengths, in 28.73( 20 slow) at 9/4, and went home with a cheque for €13k.Not the first time the North Offaly owner Glynn has won this prestigious stake. In ‘23 he also won it with Carrick Fergie. Brilliant win for this ever improving dog and with Gleeson training the sky is the limit.
Upcoming Events
Monday, quarter-finals of the Time Greyhound Nutrition Open Unraced in Enniscorthy. Friday, final of the Sorley O’Dornan Memorial A3 in Clonmel and quarterfinals of the Kasco A2 Stakes in Tralee. Saturday, semifinals of the Select Stakes in Waterford, semifinals of the Tara Brickwork and The Fast Trap Greyhound Supplies A4 600 in Mullingar and final of the Shelbourne.
Tribune Offaly Dog Of The Week
Easy decision this week as Carrick Becks won the final of the Kilkenny Track Champion Open Unraced Stake for Thomas Glynn in a cracking 28.73(20 slow) by three lengths on Sunday evening at 9/4. Super win for this young dog with a very bright future.
One For The Notebook
Amidus Hulk looks a prospect for the Glafo Syndicate when winning on Friday night in Shelbourne in a decent 28.57 (20 fast) by two lengths on only his third start. With his fine early pace expect this Cappincur trained dog to be contesting all the major events over the coming season. Fine performance.
Offaly Winners.
Nine Offaly winners this week. Congrats to all connections.