Gone to the Dogs: Improved week for Offaly greyhounds
Irish dogs still in hunt for English Derby
This week's racing included the quarter-finals of the Star Sports And Orchestrate English Derby, second round of the Sporting Press Irish Oaks, the final of the National Produce Stake in Clonmel, the final of the 1XBet Islandbridge Open Sprint in Shelbourne and the final of the Thurles Champion Bitch Stake. However there was loads of other top class action around the tracks to fulfil another super week of racing. After the low of just two Offaly winners the previous week it was a much better return last week with some certainly catching the eye.
Early Week Racing
Tuesday, final of the Thurles Track Champion Bitch Stake. To the best of my knowledge the only Offaly winner of this prestigious competition was Durrow Abbie for Tullamore owner Willie Delahunty in 2014. On Tuesday Droopys Bundle (Droopys Sydney-Droopys Sweet) was an easy two length winner of the €3k first prize for Robert Gleeson in 28.64 at 11/8 fav. Bundle is no stranger to the winners rostrum having won the valuable Brownstown Tango and NTSC Open unraced bitch stake in Newbridge in March ‘25.Shelbourne, final of the Upcoming Events A4 525 stake. Drumcrow Lemon (Drumcrow Darwin-Lemon Kerrie) won the €2k pot for Northern Ireland trainer Roy Ruddy in 28.48 (20 fast) by seven lengths at 4/1.First Offaly winner of the week was at the SIS meeting in Mullingar on Wednesday. Apache Robin won an A6 race for Clara owner P.J. Cleary in 29.77 (50 slow) by five lengths at 5/1.
Friday Racing
A festival night in Kilkenny for the official opening of their new stand and amenities with all ten races worth €1k or more to the winners. Top class facilities in the Marble City to watch greyhound racing. Long overdue. The most valuable race was the final of the Carl Rotherham Electrical A2 Stake. The €2k purse was won by Ballyhooly Cliff (Orchestrate-Lemon Tilda) for Tom O’Neill in 28.92 (20 slow) by a wide margin of eleven lengths at 13/8 fav.Three heats in the first round of an A3 sweepstake in Newbridge with an Offaly dog being the fastest winner. Edoras won for Edenderry trainer Paul Cronin with Kildare co-owner Mickey Flynn in 29.00 flat by four lengths at 5/2.Tralee, semi-finals of the Lee Strand A3 550 stake were the two best races in Tralee. Music Inthe Air won the first for Pat Guilfoyle in a smart 29.33 (20 fast) by three lengths at 4/7 fav.
Ballymac Charbel won the second semi for Liam Dowling in 29.46 (20 fast) by four lengths at 4/6 fav.The best race of a decent card in Shelbourne was the final of the 1XBet Islandbridge Open Sprint. The €5k first prize was won by Droopys Scampi (Droopys Flytline-Droopys Winifred) for Johnny Linehan in a fine 18.54 by a neck at 5/2. Three Offaly winners on the supporting card. In the semifinal of an A3 sweepstake Carrick Yorkie made it two wins from four starts, for Edenderry owner Thomas Glynn in 28.31, by three lengths at 3/1 with David Murray training. Croghan trainer Gerry Merriman won the other two. Yacht Club won a semifinal of the Two Steps To Victory A1 Dual-Distance 525/550 stake in 28.57 by two lengths at a decent price of 7/1. Brayview Lad had his first win in four starts for Merriman in 28.95 in an A3 contest by four lengths at 3/1.
Saturday Racing
Curraheen Park, Cork. Five heats in the first round of one of the top Open Unraced Stakes of the year where future classic champions are often unveiled. The Denis Linehan Solicitors Open Unraced got underway won last year by Toolmaker King and Robert Gleeson. Droopys Monk set the bar highest for Kinnegad trainer Barry Clancy in 28.42 by seven lengths at 4/6. Looks a prospect.
Also in Cork, semi-finals of the Two Wheel Training Open 750. Lennies Desire won the first for Paul Hennessy in a smart 41.51 by eleven lengths at 2/1 with Squinty Maginty the second for the Nightmare-Four- Syndicate in a slower 42.02 by one length at 3/1.
One final in Limerick. In the conclusion of the Limerick And Clare G.O.B.A. Guys and Dolls A3 stake Kevinfort Trump (Ballymac Cashout-Kevinfort Tiger) won the €2k first prize for Paraic Campion in 28.54 (10 fast) by one length at 4/5 fav.
Two stakes took up the entire card in Shelbourne. Six heats in the first round of the AO Summer Cup and six heats in the second round of the Sporting Press Online Edition Irish Oaks. Six super races in the Summer Cup won last year by Carrick Scholsey for Edenderry owner Thomas Glynn. Shanahee Boomer was fastest of the sextet for Cork trainer Kieran Lynch in 28.28 by five lengths at 11/8 fav.
The Oaks was once again of the highest order. Like last week Ballymac Kamala has a bit in hand on the clock as she again dipped under the 28.00 barrier this time winning for Dowling in 27.90 by seven lengths at 1/2 fav. Some performance. Another to catch the eye was Droopys Bundle who on Tuesday won the Thurles Champion Bitch stake for Robert Gleeson. Her winning time was also of the highest order in 28.24 by four lengths at 8/13 fav. Still baffling why the powers that be ran these two stakes simultaneously. Last week's Offaly Dog Of The Week Highview Carol won heat five for Gerry Merriman in 28.43 by four lengths at 3/1.
English Derby.Twelve of the twenty four dogs in the quarter-finals of the Star Sports and Orchestrate English Derby In Towcester were from this side of the Irish Sea last Saturday. Of the twelve remaining now eight are Irish. Given the quality of the Irish dogs It’s not beyond possibility that all six after this weekend in the final could be from the Emerald Isle.
Of the four quarter-finals last Saturday we won two. Track record holder Epic Ace won his heat in 28.40 for Urlingford owner John Kennedy. Ballymac Deniro was fastest of the four for Liam Dowling in 28.21. The two English winners were Scooby The Lady for Richard Rees in 28.49 and Strike It Skye for Mark Wallis in 28.50. Dowling has four of the twelve remaining, all Ballymac’s, Deniro, Duffle, Ralf and Iroko. Paul Hennessy has two with Lennies Corner and Lennies Tank. Pat Buckley and John Kennedy have one each with Hackney Corner and Epic Ace respectively. Semifinals on Saturday should be amazing. Great racing.
English Derby Betting
Before dogs went to traps In Towcester, on Saturday, leading Irish bookmaker Paddy Power had Ballymac Duffle at 4/1 fav, Epic Ace 5/1, Proper Heiress and Ballymac Ralf at 7/1 with Scooby The Lady 8/1 10/1 bar. On Sunday morning the betting had changed to Epic Ace gone clear favorite at 5/2 for Kennedy. Ballymac Deniro and Ballymac Duffle at 4/1 for Dowling, Scooby The Lady is the only British dog in the top five in the betting at 9/2 with Ballymac Ralf at 7/1. 9/1 bar.
Sunday Racing
€20k was up for grabs in the final of the National Produce Stakes in Clonmel. Last Offaly winner was in 1992 as Glenmoira won for Liam Kirley. Berlin Trilogy (Droopys Sydney- Ballymac Petsy) won the €20k first prize for Michael O’Donovan in 28.20 by two lengths at 13/2. Top class performance. Droopys Winsome was second for Murt Leahy and went home with a cheque for €6k.
Upcoming Events.Friday, semi-finals of an A3 stake in Newbridge, semifinals of A3 Stake in Shelbourne and final of the Lee Strand A3 stake in Tralee.Saturday, semi-finals of the Star Sports and Orchestrate English Derby, quarterfinals of the Denis Linehan Solicitors Open Unraced and final of the Two Wheel Training Open 750 both in Cork. Quarter-finals of the AO Summer Cup and quarterfinals of the Sporting Press Irish Oaks both in Shelbourne.
Tribune Offaly Dog Of The Week
For the second week in a row Highview Carol gets the nod for winning her heat in the second round of the Sporting Press Irish Oaks in Shelbourne last Saturday. Always a big ask to win on a Saturday night in Headquarters but to do it in one of the classic events is no mean achievement. Winning time for Gerry Merriman’s black bitch was 28.43 by four lengths. Top class.
One For The Notebook
Edoras looks an interesting prospect for Paul Cronin and Mickey Flynn when winning his first race from five starts in a heat of an A3 sweepstake in Newbridge on Friday in 29.00. Now that he seems to have his trapping in order expect this Edenderry dog to be in the winners enclosure very often as he seems to possess both starting and finishing abilities. Decent run. Offaly Winners
There were six Offaly winners this week. Congrats to all involved.
D.C.