Gone to the dogs: Seven Offaly winners as Hennessy wins Oaks
Offaly greyhound racing news
After the high of last weekend's showcase of Irish Dogs taking up all berths in the final of the English Derby, with Lennies Eddie being a brilliant winner in Towcester, it was a quieter racing week this time around. All the main action was in Shelbourne Park with the final of the AO Dublin Cup, final of the Sporting Press Irish Oaks and first round of the Donal Beatty Memorial Corn Cuchalainn Open 750. Plenty of quality action around the country with finals and money galore being won.
Early Week Racing
There was an extra night's racing in Newbridge on Monday where we had our first Offaly winner. In an A3 contest Glenlara Dubh won for Ballinagar owner Liam Kirley in 29.13 (10 slow) by three lengths at 3/1.
Also Monday, Enniscorthy, quarter-finals of the Wexford GOBA Open Unraced Stake. Luminous Fairy was fastest of the four for the second week in a row for Denis Lennon in 28.98 (20 slow)) by five lengths at 1/1 fav.Tuesday, Shelbourne, final of the May Monthly Novice ON2 Stake. Crash Bang Will (Priceless Jet-Luna Rocket) for Shaun Conway winning for the first time in this stake in 28.32 by three lengths at 7/2 with €3k heading their way.
Friday Racing
Three Offaly winners at the matinee meeting in Mullingar. In the first race on the card an A2 race Bailie Boy won for Paddy McCormack in 29.51 (60 slow) by one length at 9/2. The next two Faithful County winners were for Croghan owner Vincent Lynch. In an A4 grade Killeshill Callie also won for the second week in a row in 29.70 (60 slow) by two lengths also at 9/2. In an A6 contest Killeshill Belle won by two lengths at 7/4 fav in 29.72 (60 slow).Shelbourne, in the first round of the Celtic Cooling Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Open Unraced, with four heats won last year in a deadheat between Ballymac Stud for Liam Dowling and Magical Major for Pat Guilfoyle. Graham Holland won two of the four heats including the fastest winner in Roaming Shelby in 28.41 by five lengths at 5/2. In the final of an AO Stake Comeon Me Girl (Newinn Taylor-Kildallon Tilly) in 28.37 by three lengths at 5/1 with a cheque for €2.5k going to trainer Mark Robinson. In the semifinals of the Barking Buzz A2 Stake Carrick Coley won the first for Edenderry owner Thomas Glynn in a superb 28.18 by ten lengths at 4/1 with David Murray training.
Saturday Racing
Curraheen Park, Cork, final of the David Fitzgibbon Memorial Open 525. The €3.5k first prize was won by Montana Secret (Signet Ace-Droopys Alice) who took the right night to win his first race in nine starts for Johnny Linehan in 28.15 (20 fast) by six lengths at 6/4 co fav.
Two Offaly winners in Galway with both for Geashill trainer Margaret Bolton. In an S7 350 yard sprint Trinity Bob won by five lengths at 5/4 fav in 19.77 (10 slow). In an A6 525 Burnpark Boomer stopped the clock in 29.63 (20 slow) by three lengths at 1/1 fav.
Limerick, three heats in the first round of the West Limerick Treaty Cup Open 350 Sprint won last year by Stonepark Browne for Michael O’Donovan. Tiermana Dream was fastest of the trio for Colm Fitzgerald in 18.55 (10 fast) by five lengths at 4/5 fav. Also in Limerick, six heats in the third round of the Time Club Graders A4 Derby. Kells Ruby set the bar highest for Thomas Leahy in 28.46 (10 fast) by ten lengths at 7/4 co fav.
Six heats in the first round of the Pat Curtin Memorial A4 stake in Mullingar won in 2025 by Fahy Shop for Paddy McCormack. Breffni Moe was fastest of the sextet for Seamus Reilly in a smart 29.39 (50 slow) by six lengths at 6/4 fav. Offaly dogs finished in the places in the first round of this stake and expect them to be in the big picture at the business end of this stake.
One of Thurles’s bigger stakes of the year got underway with five heats in the Centenary Agri Tipperary Cup Open 525 won last year by Jim By Two for Brendan Maunsell. Liam Peacock won two of the five heats but fastest was Oriental Prince for Denise Ryan in a fine 28.63 (20 slow) by five lengths at 11/2.
Dundalk, final of the John Keenan Memorial A1 525. Ballyhoe Natalee (Jaytee Taylor-Donna Rose) won the €1.5k pot for Mark Connolly in 28.52 by seven lengths.
It was probably the best night of the year so far in Shelbourne with over €70k being given out in prize money. Two valuable stakes came to a conclusion with two more beginning. The most valuable stake was the conclusion of the Sporting Press Online Edition Irish Oaks. Seems to be no stopping Paul Hennessy at the moment after his victory in the English Derby. He collected another €25k as Lennies Ash (Ballymac Cashout- Magical Mary) just got the nod in a three way photo in 28.39 by the shortest of heads at 14/1. Clan Sapphire was second for Mullingar trainer Francis Murray and received a cheque for €7.5k.
In the final of the AO Summer Cup Newinn Spot (Tommy Shelby-Newinn Mimi) trapped smartly and was never in any danger, winning by two lengths, for Graham Holland in 28.13 at 4/1. €10k on the way to champion trainer Holland and owner Kenny Glen. Shanahee Boomer was second for Kieran Lynch and received €4K with Carrick Becks third for Thomas Glynn, who got no luck in running, receiving a purse of €2.25k.
Four heats in the Open 550 Maiden Derby. Riverside Rex was fastest of the four for Holland in 29.45 by three lengths at 7/1.
Three heats in the first round of the Donal Beatty Memorial Open 750 Corn Cuchalainn won last year by Braveheart Bambi for Pat Buckley. Three magnificent heats with some of the best staying dogs in the country which is a fitting tribute to the late Tullamore (Killeigh) man. Lennies Desire won the first for Hennessy in 41.01 by nine lengths. Glengar Silent the second for Buckley in 41.44 by two lengths with Ballymac Chantry for Liam Dowling in 41.59 by five lengths.
Upcoming Events
Monday, Enniscorthy, semi-finals of the Wexford Open GOBA Unraced. Friday, semi-finals of the Celtic Cooling Refrigeration And Air Conditioning Open Unraced and final of the Barking Buzz A2 Stake both in Shelbourne. Saturday, semi-finals of the Treaty Cup and quarterfinals of the Time Club Graders Derby both in Limerick. Quarter-finals of the Pat Curtin Memorial in Mullingar, semifinals of the Open Maiden Derby and semifinals of the Donal Beatty Memorial Corn Cuchalainn both in Shelbourne. Quarterfinals of the Centenary Agri Tipperary Cup in Thurles. Another magnificent week of racing ahead of us.
Tribune Offaly Dog Of The Week
Carrick Coley gets the nod this week for winning in the semifinal of the Barking Buzz A2 stake in Shelbourne on Friday in a career best run of 28.18 winning by ten lengths for Thomas Glynn. Top class run and certainly looks a prospect.
Offaly Winners
Seven Offaly winners last week. Congrats to all involved.