Gone to the dogs: Offaly dogs back in form as Derby reaches final stage

All roads lead to Shelbourne last Saturday for the semi-finals of the Boylesports Irish Derby. A much anticipated evening of racing which certainly didn’t disappoint.

As well as the two big races the undercard was as good as ever put together for the penultimate night of the Derby.The finals of the Davy O’Brien Memorial A2 in Cork, final of the Casey Caravan and Camping Park Open Unraced in Waterford, semi-finals of the Michael Fortune Memorial Derby Plate in Shelbourne aswell as numerous valuable stakes nationwide either starting of progressing through the rounds in another top class week of racing.

Offaly dogs faired much better last week with plenty on the winners rostrum once again.

Early Week Racing

Monday, Enniscorthy, semi-finals of the Kiltrea kennels Open Unraced Stake. The class dog of the stake shone through in the first semi as Singalong Magic won by six lengths in a superb 28.53 (20 slow) at 4/5 fav for Pat Buckley. The second semi-final winner was Ashwood Ozzy for Anton Butler in a slower 29.36 (20 slow) by three lengths at 3/1. If it’s an incident free final hard to see any of the other five opposing Singalong.

First Offaly winner of the week was in Shelbourne on Tuesday. In the semifinals of the September Monthly Novice ON2 Stake Highview Peak won the first for Croghan Trainer Gerry Merriman. Winning time was 29.11 (20 fast) by three lengths at 4/1.Our next winner was at the matinee SIS meeting in Limerick. Land Cruiser had his tenth career win for Moneygall owner Liam Jones in an A5 contest in 29.72 by a neck at 13/2.

Friday Racing

In the last race at matinee meeting in Mullingar prolific winner Lahinch Blaze was back in the winners enclosure for Clara owner P.J. Cleary for the twenty sixth time in 30.47 (50 slow) by a head at 10/3.In an A2 race in Galway, Breaghmore Joeys was too good for his rivals for Kinnitty owner M.J. Corrigan in 29.37 (20 slow) by one length at 2/1.

Kilkenny, seven heats in the first round of the Lennies A1 Derby won last year by Lemon Thelma for Tom Lennon. All seven heats were won by different trainers with the fastest being Boylesports Paul for Paul Hennessy in 29.00 (40 slow) by six lengths at 7/2.

Two finals in Shelbourne. In the conclusion of the Barking Buzz A4 stake Id Prefer Not (Dorotas Wildcat-Rathdown Molly) won the €1.5k pot for Brendan Mathews in 29.03 by four lengths at 6/4 joint fav.In the final of the Two Steps To Victory AO 550/575 stake Droopys Mezza (Pestana-Droopys Onestop) took the honours and the €2.5k purse in 30.99 by six lengths at 5/2 for Murt Leahy.Three semifinals in the Boylesports Best Odds Open 350 Sprint with the final on Derby night Saturday. Stonepark Browne won the first and was fastest of the trio for Michael O’Donovan in 18.39, Vernon Mist the second for Gerry Holian in 18.59 and top sprinter the remaining one Tiernama Dream for Colm Fitzgerald in 18.47.

Final Offaly winner on Friday was in the second last race on this card. Foulkscourt Cody won an AAO 525 for Tullamore owner Niall Deegan in a fine 28.74 by two lengths at 5/2.

Saturday Racing

Curraheen Park, Cork. Bumper night down by the Lee in an evening of finals. In the conclusion of the Davy O’Brien Memorial A2 stake the €2k first prize was won by Hollyhill Stacey (Serene Ace- Hollyhill Cassie) for Paraic Campion who went through this very competitive stake unbeaten. Winning the final by three lengths at 3/1 in 28.82.

In the Michael Cahill Memorial Laurels Trial Stake Open 525, the €2k here was won by Harlequin Gee Up (King Sheeran-Swift Zap). The Scott Phelan trained dog won by two lengths at 6/1 in 28.55.

Another €2k was won in the final of the Mini Open 525. Highbury Days (King Sheeran-Knockmitten Bawn) took the honours for Graham Holland in 28.49 by five lengths at 1/1 fav.

In the finale of Bar 1 Betting Laurels Trial Stake Ballymac Kamala (Droopys Sydney-Ballymac Pete) won the remaining €2k purse for Liam Dowling in the fastest run of the night in 28.10 by seven lengths at 5/4 fav.

Limerick,four heats in the first round of the O’Connor Julian Vets Cashel A2 Tri-Distance stake won last year by Barefoot Roscoo. Monbeg Hero set the bar highest of the quartet in 29.70 by nine lengths at 1/1 fav with Cormac Doyle training.

One Offaly winner in Mullingar. In an A8 525 Killeshill Hazel won for Croghan owner Vincent Lynch in 30.63 (50 slow) by four lengths at 5/4 fav.

€5K was won by the winner of Casey’s Caravan And Camping Park Open Unraced in Waterford. Jacktavern Tank (Burgess Bucks-Quivers Magic) took the honours and trophy for David Byrne and the Pillar-Syndicate in 28.50 (10 slow) by four lengths at 4/6 fav.

Shelbourne, semi-finals of the Michael Fortune Memorial Derby Plate. Ballyhooly Cliff took the first for Cork trainer Tom O’Neill in 29.74 by four lengths at a big price of 12/1. The second heat was won by the 2/5 fav as Ballymac Setanta proved too good for the field in 29.41 by three lengths for Dowling.

One super Offaly winner on Derby semi-final night. On an AAO open 525 Highview Carol won for Gerry Merriman in 28.49 by a neck at 5/2.

Boylesports Irish Derby

The semi-finals lived up to expectations with big priced dog coming through in the first and first three in the market qualifying in the second. First heat was a messy affair with two collisions in traffic early. This left Bockos Gold at 6/1 winning in 29.37 from the 9/2 runner Hackney Corner in second with Im Here qualifying in third also at 9/2. The big loser in this race was Waitingforastar for Pat Guilfoyle who got no luck in running.

The second semi-final went to script as favorite for Derby Bouncing Monarch despite missing his break made the bend in front and was never in any danger winning by two lengths in 29.35 at 8/11. Sleight Of Hand ran very gamely to be second at 8/1 with Wi Can James third eight lengths back at 2/1. All six deserve their places in Saturday’s final and coming through five arduous round. For trainers, workers in these kennels and owners it will be a proud evening in Shelbourne as their dogs are paraded for the greatest race in worldwide greyhound racing. Great achievement just to make final.

Derby Stats

Five different trainers are represented on Saturday. Michael O’Donovan has two in final, favorite Bouncing Monarch and Hackney Dancer. Peter Cronin has Im Here, champion trainer Graham Holland has Bockos Gold, Wi Can James for Pat Guilfoyle bred in Rhode by Fr. Greg Corcoran and Sleight Of Hand for Laurence Jones.

Bouncing Monarch is the oldest dog in final whelped in January ‘24 with the youngest being Sleigh Of Hand in October’24 Four different sires are represented in final, with two for Coolavanny Hoffa (Bockos Gold and Im Here) two for Ballymac Cashout (Sleight Of Hand and Wi Can James) with one each from Deerjet Sydney (Bouncing Monarch) and Dorotas Wildcat (Hackney Dancer).

Bockos Gold has had nine career wins so far and won over €12k.

Hackney Dancer has won on seven occasions and over €5.5k.

Im Here has four wins but won the Puppy Derby in June and has amassed over €27k.

Favorite Bouncing Monarch has already twenty wins and having won the Con And Annie Kirby memorial has already won over €86k.

Sleight Of Hand has seven wins and over €6.7k Wi Can James also has seven wins and over €4.5k won.

Derby Betting

On Saturday afternoon sponsors Boylesports had Bouncing Monarch as short as 11/8 fav to lift Ireland’s blue ribbon event with Wi Can James at 4/1, Waitingforastar at 5/1, 12/1 bar. Sunday morning prices for all six finalists were Monarch 4/6 fav, Wi Can James 6/1, three dogs on 8/1, I’m Here, Bockos Gold and Sleight Of Hand. The outsider of the field will be Hackney Dancer at 16/1. Plenty of value. Hard to oppose the favourite as he remains on course to go through the Derby unbeaten.

Upcoming Events

Monday, final of the Kiltrea kennels Open Unraced in Enniscorthy.

Tuesday, final of the September Monthly Novice ON2 Unraced in Shelbourne.

Friday, second round of the Lennies A1 Derby in Kilkenny.

Saturday, semi-finals of the O’Connor Julian Vets Cashel A2 Tri-Distance in Limerick. Final of the Michael Fortune Memorial Derby Plate and of course the most anticipated race all year, final of the Boylesports Irish Derby.

Tribune Offaly Dog Of The Week

Highview Carol gets the nod this week for winning an open 525 on semifinal night against the toughest of opposition in a super 28.49 for Gerry Merriman. Any Saturday you win at Headquarters is special but to do here is top class. Worthy winner.

One For The Notebook

Merriman also gets the nod here as Highview Peak won on debut in Shelbourne on Tuesday in the first round of the September Monthly Novice ON2 stake in 29.11. Expect big improvements from this young dog over the coming months and certainly worth keeping an eye on. Bright future.

Offaly Winners

Seven Faithful County winners last week. Congrats to all involved.