Gone to the dogs: Heatwave plays havoc as Donal Beatty memorial concludes

The heatwave played havoc with the racing calendar this week. There was some racing on Monday and for dog welfare reasons we had to wait 'till Saturday to see the next dogs going to traps. Some very valuable stakes took place including the conclusion of the Donal Beatty Memorial Corn Cuchalainn in Shelbourne Park. There were also finals in Enniscorthy, Limerick and Waterford. Offaly winners were scarce on the ground with all these meetings being postponed.

Monday Racing

Final of the Wexford GOBA Open Unraced in Enniscorthy. The €2.5k purse was won by Mona Lee Monbeg (Glengar Bale-Monalee Ruth) for Cormac Doyle and Mark Hutton in 29.27 (20 slow) by two lengths at 5/2.

Saturday Racing

The €5k first prize in the final of the West Limerick Treaty Cup Open 350 was won by Tiermana Dream (Ballyhimikin Jet-Tiermana Jetty) in 18.44 by three lengths with Colm Fitzgerald training at odds of 1/1 fav. Also in Limerick the semi-finals of the Time Club A4 Graders Derby were run. Kerryroad Al won the first for Kevin McLean in 28.78 by two lengths at 5/2. The second semi was won by Rossa Shelby for Thomas O’Donovan in 28.85 by one length at 4/1.

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Mullingar semi-finals of the Pat Curtin Memorial A4 Cup. Droopys Riveria won heat one for Ian Reilly in 29.66 (70 slow) by five lengths at 6/4 joint fav. Heat two was won by Supa Mac for Paul Hennessy in 29.40 (70 slow) by six lengths at 1/2 fav.

Thurles, semi-finals of the Centenary Agri Open Tipperary Cup. Oriental King was first home in the first for The Organized-Chaos-Syndicate in 28.71 (40 slow) by three lengths at 9/4 second fav. Bills Harbour won the remaining semi for Battie O’Connor in 29.01 (40 slow) by two lengths at 2/1 fav.

In the final of the Slaneyside Kennels Solution A1 Stake in Waterford Carrigoon Bria (Pestana-Carrigoon Lottie) won the €2.5k first prize for Noel Casey in 28.78 (10 slow) by four lengths at 3/1.

Over €70k was given out in prize money in Shelbourne Park on a tremendous night of racing. In addition to two valuable finals there were six races worth €2k, one worth €1k and one worth €5k to the winners. The big race of the night was the final of the Donal Beatty Memorial Corn Cuchalainn Open 750 in memory of one of Offaly’s great greyhound owner, trainer and breeder. This historical stake was first run in 1962 and is a fitting tribute to the Tullamore (Killeigh) man.

The €10.5k first prize was won by Singalong Polly (Grangeview Ten-Mystical Luna) for Pat Buckley in 41.23 by eight lengths at 4/1 in a fine display of tracking. Ballymac Chantry was second for Liam Dowling and won €4K.

In the final of the Celtic Cooling Refrigeration And Air Conditioning Open Unraced Stake the €12.5k first prize also went to Dowling as Ballymac Pacman (Ballymac Cooper-Ballymac Art) won by four lengths at 6/1 in 28.68.

In an AAO 525 the €5k first prize went to Edenderry owner Thomas Glynn as Carrick Becks won in a superb 28.12 by two lengths at 1/1 fav with Robert Gleeson training.

Upcoming Events

Friday, first round of the Champion Skakes in Shelbourne. Saturday, final of the Time Club Graders A4 Derby in Limerick. Final of the Pat Curtin memorial A4 in Mullingar and final of the Centenary Agri Tipperary Cup in Thurles.

Tribune Offaly Dog Of The Week

Easiest decision ever with only one Offaly winner but it was a special one. Carrick Becks won an open 525 in Shelbourne last Saturday with a winners prize of €5k in a magnificent 28.12. Thomas Glynn has a super hound here and can look forward to the Derby with some enthusiasm.

Offaly Winners

Just the one Offaly winner this week. Better days ahead.