Gone to the dogs: Seven winners as two Offaly dogs win sweepstakes
Irish interest in English derby
Racing enthusiasts eyes were on Towcester on both Friday and Saturday for the second round of the Star Sports and Orchestrate English Derby where the Irish hounds were once again to the fore. Some brilliant performances from this side of the Irish Sea.
There was also some cracking action on the home front with the first round of the Islandbridge Sprint in Shelbourne, semi-finals of the Time Greyhound Nutrition Open unraced in Enniscorthy, quarter-finals of the Produce Stakes in Clonmel and semifinals of the Friends Of Newbridge A1 Derby. Quality action in Tralee, Cork and also Mullingar in another massive week of racing.
Early Week Racing
Monday, Enniscorthy, semi-finals of the Time Greyhound Nutrition Open Unraced. Tomahurra Scar won the first for Oisin Kehoe in 29.03 by one length at 5/2. Second semi wasn’t quite as fast however Gymstar Cashin stopped the clock in 29.43 for George Roche by two lengths at 4/6 fav.
Tuesday, Shelbourne, final of an Open Sprint 350 yard stake. The €1.5k first prize was won by the classicly bred Charming Charlie (Droopys Sydney-Susie Sapphire) in 18.65 (10 fast) by two lengths at 1/1 fav with Owen McKenna training.
Wednesday, Mullingar, first Offaly winner of the week. Horseleap Amy won an A6 race at the SIS meeting for Tubber owner Sean McGuinness in 29.80 (50 slow) by two lengths at 5/2 fav.
Thursday, second Faithful County winner was at the matinee SIS meeting in Limerick. In an A6 grade Lingrawn Focus had his twenty fifth win for Moneygall owner Liam Jones in 29.41 (10 fast) by five lengths at 5/2. Age is no barrier here as Focus will be six years old in October and seems as fresh as the first day he hit the track. As well as his twenty five wins he has had sixteen seconds and twenty seven thirds. Great training performance from Jones.
Friday Racing
Clonmel, quarter-finals of the National Produce Stakes Open 525 dominated a decent card in South Tipperary. For the second week in a row Swords Diamond set the fastest time when winning for Graham Holland in 28.42 by two lengths at 8/13 fav.
First Offaly winner of the weekend and the only one on Friday was in Galway. In an A5 race Kelpie won for Geashill trainer Margaret Bolton in 29.26 (10 slow) by six lengths at 3/1. Tenth career win for Kelpie.
Semi-finals of the Friends Of Newbridge A1 Derby were the standout races at the Kildare venue. Clonfert Teddy won the first for John Young in 29.90 by eight lengths at 2/1. Maireads Prince the second for Barry Clancy in a slower 30.11 by one length at 2/1. One Offaly dog made Friday's final as Parkrun finished third in this heat after finding loads of trouble in running, and is certainly not without a chance, for P.J. Cocoman.
Shelbourne, first round of the 1XBET Islandbridge SSO Open 350 yard sprint won last year by Sogna Ancora for Jack Kennelly. Stonepark Browne was fastest of the quartet for Mickey O’Donovan in a fine 18.52 by four lengths at a short 4/7 fav. Two finals on the night. In the conclusion of the Upcoming Irish Oaks A3 Bitch Stake Rosetta Stone (Droopys Sydney-Blossoms Pet) won the €2k purse in 28.52 by five lengths at 4/5 fav for Laurence Jones. In the final of the Tote Betting A1 stake Ballyea Warrior (Ballymac Kingdom-Wolfofallstreets) also won €2k this time for Declan McDonagh in a superb 28.17 by five lengths at 6/4 fav.
Tralee, six heats in the first round of the Lee Strand A3 550 won in 2025 by Headleys Trump for Nick Cotter. Ballymac Charbel was fastest of the sextet for local trainer Liam Dowling in 29.44 (20 fast) by one length at 4/5 fav. Also in Tralee, semifinals of the valuable Kasco A2 Stakes. Fun Time Frankie won the first for O’Donovan again in 28.44 (20 fast) by one length at 1/1 joint fav. Cashen Ashley the second for Chris Houlihan and Irene Kennelly in 28.77 (20 fast) by a short head at 5/4 fav.
Saturday Racing
Curraheen Park, Cork, €7.5k was won by Killough Sniper (Pestana-Bees Dream) in the final of The Pegasus Cup for Derek Loughnane in 28.66 by four lengths at 3/1.
A fine Offaly winner in the final of the Tara Brickwork And The Fast Trap A4 600 Stake in Mullingar. Apache Gem (Malachi-Marks Pearl) was too good for his rivals in 34.34 (50 slow) by two lengths at 4/1. A great win for Clara owner P.J. Cleary with a handsome cheque of €2.5k heading his way. Another Offaly winner on the supporting card. In an A6 contest Carrick Stam won for Edenderry owner Thomas Glynn in 29.97 (50 slow) by eight lengths at 6/4 with David Murray training.
Two finals in Shelbourne with one heading to Tullamore. In the conclusion of an AO sweepstake Foulkscourt Cody (Good Cody-Foulkscourt Peg) won for Niall Deegan in 28.58 by four lengths at 4/1 with €2k in the post to him. In the final of A1 525 another €2k was won by trainer Gerry Holian as Say You Will (Coolavanny Calvn-Fleeting Angel) stopped the timer in a decent 28.25 by two lengths at 3/1. Another Offaly winner on the undercard here aswell. In the first race of the night an A2 550 Coolemount Spy won for Croghan trainer Gerry Merriman in 29.98 by two lengths at 7/4 fav.
Two top class semi-finals in the Thurles Track Champion Open Bitch Stake. Deerjet Matilda won the first for Pat Buckley, who will have four of the six runners in Saturday's final, in 28.85 by one length at 4/1. The second semi was won by Droopys Bundle for Rathangan trainer Robert Gleeson in 28.69 by two lengths at 7/2.
English Derby
Twenty six Irish dogs went into the second round of the Star Sports and Orchestrate English Derby in Towcester. Eleven on Friday with fifteen on Saturday.
Friday at English Derby
Of the eleven on Friday a brilliant ten made it through to the next round draw. Three magnificent winners with the fastest winner being an Irish dog. Epic Ace stole the show for Johnny Kennedy in 28.37. Two winners for Liam Dowling with Ballymac Ralf in 28.47 and Ballymac Stud in 28.88. The other seven qualifiers all ran very well with some very unlucky in defeat.
Saturday at Towcester.
Five more Irish winners with one standout performance. Ballymac Duffle broke the track record for the second week in a row for Liam Dowling when lowering his own mark down to an unbelievable 28.31 and whose to say he can’t bring it lower.
Of the other four Irish winners, two were won by Graham Holland, Faypoint Harvey in 29.16 and Swords Style in 28.96. Pat Buckley won the remaining two with Hackney Corner in 28.99 and Glengar Kane in 28.59. Of the twenty six Irish dogs that competed over last weekend a remarkable twenty got through to the draw. Sadly Offaly dog Yorkie Ollie had no luck in running and finishing down the field and exited.
English Derby Betting
Leading Irish bookmaker Paddy Power obviously has installed track record holder Ballymac Duffle as short as 6/1 fav for Dowling. Proper Heiress is 8/1 second fav for sixteen time champion trainer in England Mark Wallis. Also at 8/1 is Glengar Kane for Buckley with Ballymac Deniro for Dowling again at 10/1. 12/1 bar.
Upcoming Events
Monday, final of the Time Greyhound Nutrition Open Unraced in Enniscorthy. Friday, semi-finals of the 1XBET Islandbridge Open Sprint in Shelbourne, quarterfinals of the Lee Strand A3 550 and final of the Kasco A2 stake both in Tralee. Saturday, third round of the Star Sports and Orchestrate English Derby in Towcester. First round of the National Oaks in Shelbourne and final of the Thurles Track Champion Bitch stake.
Tribune Offaly Dogs Of The Week
Probably for the first time ever two dogs get the nod this week as both won sweepstakes. Apache Gem won the Tara Brickwork and Fast Trap Greyhound Supplies A4 600 in Mullingar on Saturday for P.J Cleary which was his fifteenth career win. Ultra consistent hound for his Clara owner.
In Shelbourne on Saturday Foulkscourt Cody won an AO final for Tullamore owner Niall Deegan by four lengths. No stranger to the winners podium Cody won the Kilbride Kennels Midlands Derby in early March for Deegan and is also proving to be a great money spinner for the Offaly capital trainer. Two fine performances. Well done to both.
One For The Notebook
Coolemount Spy has now won three of his five starts for Gerry Merriman. Moving up to the 550 trip on Saturday he seemed well at ease when winning comfortably by two lengths. No doubt this young dog will stay over longer races and certainly worth keeping an eye on. Maybe a future classic winner.
Offaly Winners
There were seven Offaly winners last week. Congrats to all connections.