Gone to the dogs: Offaly bred dog progresses in Derby
Two Offaly winners
The obvious place to be from a greyhound supporter point of view was in Shelbourne last Saturday for the third round of the Boylesports Irish Derby. A huge crowd witnessed some magnificent racing with favourites winning and a few fancied runners expecting the best racing competition in the world.Plenty of action nationwide including the Michael Fortune Memorial Derby Plate in Shelbourne and finals of the valuable Boylesports A3 Bitch stake in Kilkenny and Munster Oaks in Waterford. Offaly winners were thin on the ground this week but better days ahead.
Early Week Racing
Monday, Enniscorthy, first round of another open unraced stake which the Wexford track specialise in. Annually they run six or seven of these events where future champions debut and go on to a lot greater things. Five heats on Monday with Doon (Limerick) trainer Pat Buckley winning three of them including the fastest winner. Singalong Magic looks to be special when winning by nine lengths in 28.87 (20 slow) at short odds of 1/3 fav. Remember the name.
Tuesday, Shelbourne, final of the Go Greyhound Racing A1 stake. Corcass Lodge (Good News-Corcass Hope) won the €3k first prize for Garristown trainer Liam O’Rourke in 28.44 (20 fast)by one length at 5/1.Friday Racing
First Offaly winner of the week was in Galway. Crinkle Bobby won an S6 sprint for Birr owner Gerard Milne in 19.58 (10 slow) by a short head at 10/3.Kilkenny, final of the Boylesports A3 Bitch Stake. The class hound in the competition took the spoils here as Glengar Robin (Shima Shine- Newinn Liz) won the €4.5k for Buckley again in 28.61 (30 slow) by eight lengths at 4/7 fav.
Newbridge, three heats in the first round of the Upcoming Events A4 stake. Glenquain Cha was our second Offaly winner for Liam Kirley and Damien Cunningham when winning in the fastest time of the heats in 28.94 (20 slow) by one length at 2/1.
Shelbourne, eight heats in the first round of the Michael Fortune Memorial Derby Plate Open 550 won last year by Magical Major for Pat Guilfoyle. There was a double for Graham Holland however a treble for Liam Dowling including the fastest heat winner in Ballymac Setanta in a sensational 29.19 by six lengths at 2/5 fav.Saturday Racing
The most valuable final of the week was held in Kilcohan Park in Waterford. The €7k first prize in the conclusion of the 1xBet AO Munster Oaks was won by Long Siesta (Grangeview Ten-Ballymac Tam. The youngest bitch in the final made light work of this field when making it five wins from five starts when stopping the clock in a superb 28.47 (10 slow) winning by one length at 7/4. For owners John and Brian Doyle the can look forward to tackling all the majors over the next season or two with this young star.
Mullingar, the final of the Alan Kerrigan Motors A2 550 stake was the feature event at the Westmeath track. Drinane Pippa (Grangeview Ten-Kilcowan Pippa) won the €2k pot for local owner Paraic Rogers and trainer David Murray in 31.24 (70 slow) by two lengths at 4/1.
Boylesports Irish Derby
Eight magnificent heats in Shelbourne on a lovely Saturday evening in front of a full house. There were doubles on the night for Holland, Guilfoyle and Michael O’Donovan. Fastest of the octet was Wi Can James for Pat Guilfoyle in 29.10. Big Offaly connection here as this super hound was bred in Rhode by Fr. Greg Corcoran and no doubt half of North Offaly have this backed at long odds before the Derby commenced.
Next two fastest on the night were in equal time of 29.13. Bouncing Monarch for O’Donavan and Waitingforastar for Guilfoyle again. All other five winners had decent winning times but these three shone. Probably the shocks on the night were the eliminations of Bockos Diamond, Ballymac Kamala and Lennies Dynamic. Quarter-finals next which means any slip up now and it’s an exit aswell. Saturday should be a cracker.
Derby Betting
On Saturday morning sponsors Boylesports had installed Bouncing Monarch as short as 3/1 fav. Wi Can James was 8/1 with Waitingforastar and Solo And Go at 10/1. 2024 winner Bockos Diamond was 12/1. 14/1 bar.On Sunday morning the odds were priced up at Monarch had hardened into 2/1 fav, Wi Can James 5/1 with Waitingforastar at 6/1. 12/1 bar.
Upcoming Events
Monday, quarter-finals of the John Doyle sponsored Open Unraced in Enniscorthy.Friday, semifinals of the Upcoming Events A4 stake in Newbridge.Saturday, quarter-finals of the Boylesports Irish Derby and Michael Fortune Memorial Derby Plate both in Shelbourne, second round of the Casey Caravan and Camping Park Open Unraced in Waterford and semifinals of the Davy O’Brien Memorial A2 in Cork.
Tribune Offaly Dog Of The Week
Although not a winner Carrick Yorky gets the nod this week for finishing second in an open 550 in Shelbourne on Saturday. The Thomas Glynn owned hound was only beaten a length in 29.63 and no doubt he will be on the card over the next few weeks as the Derby progresses. Fine run.
One For The Notebook
Glenquain Cha looks an interesting sort for Ballinagar owners Liam Kirley and Damien Cunningham when winning in the first round of an A4 stake in Newbridge on Friday night. His 28.94 (20 slow) clock was easily the fastest of the first round heats and expect improvement as he goes through this stake. A prospect.
Offaly Winners
Just the two Offaly winners this week. Congrats to connections.