Gone to the dogs: Nine Offaly winners

The semi-finals of the Star Sports and TRC English Derby in Towcester dominated the week's racing where six of the twelve runners were from this side of the Irish Sea it turned out to be another remarkable night for the Irish at the Northumberland track.

On the home front the final of the National Produce stakes in Clonmel and the semi-finals of the Corn Cuchalainn Open 750 in Shelbourne were the feature events in what was an eventful week of racing. Quite the number of Offaly winners once again in the mix.

Early Week Racing

The first final of the week was in Enniscorthy on Monday with the running of the Elite Black @ Stud Open May Unraced stake. The €2.65k first prize went to Blackhill Jack (Burgess Bucks- Black Moll) for Anton Butler in 29.24 (20 slow) by two lengths at 4/1.

Friday Racing

First Offaly winner of the week was in Galway, in an A5 525 Clonkelly Cat was first across the whitewash for Birr owner Gerard Milne in 29.64 (10 slow) by five lengths at 2/1.

The best race in Kilkenny was the final of the Billy and Mary Ramsbottom Memorial ON2 unraced stake where the €1.5k purse went to Hello Diego (Jaytee Yankee-Darver Bridie) in 28.70 (20 slow) by five lengths at 5/4 with Gowran trainer Paul Hennessy at the helm.

Newbridge staged the semi-finals of the NTSC A2 stake with the first going to Dalgan for Ballinagar owners The-Euro-Dollar-Syndicate and Iggy Daly in 28.81 by two lengths at 2/1. The second semi was won by Silverhill Liz for Eugene Buckley in a slower 29.15 by a head at 7/2.

Two Offaly winners in Headquarters with both for Croghan trainer Gerry  Merriman. In an A4 contest Coolemount Trust was first back in kennels in 29.14 by two lengths at 1/1 fav. In the quarterfinals of the This Runs Deep A2 sweepstake Highview Scan won heat three for Gerry in 28.68 by two lengths at 5/2.

Four very exciting races in Thurles with the running of the quarterfinals of the Centenary Agri Open Tipperary Cup with a double for Dolores Ruth and the two remaining heats going to Murt Leahy. Leahy also provided the fastest winner as Tribal Syd stopped the timer in 28.66 (20 slow) by six lengths at 2/1. One Offaly winner on the supporting card as Totos Blue won in an A4 grade for Birr owners Tony McCormack and Denis Fogarty in 29.55 (20 slow) by five lengths at 6/4 fav.

Saturday Racing

Curraheen Park in Cork held the quarterfinals of the Denis Linehan Solicitors Open Unraced Stake with Poldarc going fastest for Kildare owner Eugene Price in 28.50 by one length at 7/2.

Also in Cork they had the final of the Dan and Sheila Buckley Memorial A3 550 with the €2k pot going to Footfield Voilet (Droopys Sydney- Droopys Fia) for Cork specialist John Linehan in a decent 29.74 by a neck at 1/1 fav.

In Limerick, the third round of the Time Greyhound Nutrition A4 Derby where there were six heats with Sir Rodger setting the standard for Michael Keating in 28.66 by three lengths at 7/4. One of Limerick’s oldest stakes also got underway at the Dock Road Venue with the first round of The Treaty Cup Open 350 sprint won last year by Cree Jojo and Owen McKenna. Three heats with champion sprinter Ballinakill Alf going fastest for Graham Holland and setting a new track record in 18.22 by ten lengths at 4/9 fav.

No Offaly winner in Mullingar. However the second round of the Pat Curtin Memorial A4 Cup dominated the card with six heats. Clonfert Annie set the bar highest for Enfield owner John Young in a smart 29.15 (50 slow) by eight lengths at 1/1 fav.

The best two races in Shelbourne were the semi-finals of the Corn Cuchalainn Open 750, the first heat was won by champion stayer Tuono Charlie who was making it ten wins on the spin for trainer Sharon Hunt in 41.22 by three lengths at a short 1/3 fav. The second semi was a slower affair with Droopys Comrade in 41.54 also by  three lengths at 1/1 fav for Rathangan trainer Frazer Black. Three Offaly winners on the undercard, in an A1 575 Glenlara Blue came home with his usual strong finishing pace to win by two lengths at 6/4 fav for Geashill owners Thomas Garry and Liam Kirley in a super 30.99.  In an AO 525 Brayview Jet won for Gerry Merriman in 28.74 by a short head at 4/1.  In an AAO 550 Carrick Keano won in a splendid 29.72 by six lengths at 3/1 for Edenderry owner Thomas Glynn from the  Robert Gleeson kennel.

English Derby

Six of the twelve dogs in the semi-finals of the Star Sports and TRC English Derby on Saturday were from the Emerald Isle and this 50:50 ratio continued into the final as three made it with three being eliminated. 

De Lahdedah won his heat for Liam Dowling with Boylesports Bob third in this heat for Paul Hennessy after finding loads of trouble. Our final dog to make it through to Saturday’s final was Ballymac Gizmo again for Dowling who finished a gallant third behind the English winner Churchfield Syd.

Our three dogs to be eliminated were last year’s winner of the English Derby Gaytime Nemo, last year’s winner of the Irish Derby The other Kobe both for Graham Holland and Ballymac Slick for Dowling. All three were so unlucky in running and on another night we could have ended up with all six in final. Expect to see all these top hounds in Shelbourne for the Irish equivalent which isn’t that far away now.

Before last Saturday's semi-finals leading Irish bookmakers Paddy Powers had installed English dog King Memphis as 9/4 fav to lift their blue ribbon event trophy with the next three in the betting being Irish The Other Kobe at 4/1 and De Lahdedah and Boylesports Bob at 9/2, 9/1 bar, but now for the final the remaining six are priced up at King Memphis for Rab McNair at 11/8 fav, De Lahdedah for Dowling second favourite at a close 7/4, Boylesports for Hennessy at 4/1, Churchfield Syd at 6/1 for Richard Rees, Ballymac Gizmo again for Dowling at 20/1 with the outsider of the field Whyaye Man for Mark Wallis at 25/1. Plenty of value there, here’s hoping for another Irish success.

Sunday Racing

One Faithful County winner at the matinee meeting in Mullingar. Lingrawn Aoife had her fifteenth career win for Moneygall owner Liam Jones in an A2 contest in 29.59 (50 slow) by one length at 5/1.

At the evening meeting in Clonmel they held the final of their biggest night of the year The Kasco National Produce Stakes. A huge crowd in attendance to witness Pat Buckley win the €20k first prize purse with Unanimouspanther (Droopys Sydney-Mystical Moll) in 28.38 by three lengths at 9/4. In Good Time was second for Brendan Maunsell and received a cheque for €6k.

Upcoming Events

Friday, final of the NTSC A2 in Newbridge and semifinals of the This Runs Deep A2 stake in Shelbourne.

Saturday, semi-finals of the Centenary Agri Tipperary Cup in Thurles, semi-finals of the Denis Linehan Solicitors Open Unraced in Cork, quarterfinals of the Time Greyhound Nutrition A4 Derby and semi-finals of the Treaty Cup Open Sprint both in Limerick, final of the Corn Cuchalainn Open 750 and the final of the Star Sports and TRC English Derby in Towcester.

Tribune Offaly Dog Of The Week

Carrick Keano gets the nod this week for winning an Open 550 in Shelbourne on Saturday night which is never an easy task, in  29.72 by six lengths, for Thomas Glynn. Fine performance.

Offaly Winners

Nine  Offaly winners this week, congratulations to all connections.