Gone to the dogs: Six Offaly winners as Irish dogs dominate English derby

A magnificent week of racing on both sides of the Irish Sea. The semi-finals of the Star Sports and Orchestrate English Derby in Towcester with total Irish dominance was centre stage across the pond while at home the final of the Lee Strand in Tralee, semi-finals of the Denis Linehan Solicitors Open Unraced in Cork, the quarterfinals of the Sporting Press Irish Oaks and the quarterfinals of the Dublin Cup both in Shelbourne were the highlights on this side. Some quality Offaly winners with eye catching runs in various tracks.

Early Week Racing

Tuesday, Shelbourne, first Offaly winner of the week was in the semifinal of the Corn Cuchalainn starts soon DDO novice 750. Shear Bear was an impressive winner for Rhode owner Sean Cocoman on his first time over the extended distance in 42.42 (40 fast) by two lengths at 5/1. Fine run.For welfare reasons Wednesday's racing in Mullingar was cancelled due to the high temperatures.

Friday Racing

First two Offaly winners of the weekend were at the SIS meeting in Mullingar with both for Croghan owner Vincent Lynch. 2025 Tribune Offaly dog of the year Killeshill Ranger was back in the winners enclosure, for the nineteenth time in an A2 525, when stopping the clock in 29.53 (50 slow) by seven lengths at 6/5 fav. In an A4 contest Killeshill Messi won in 30.26 (50 slow) by a head at 3/1.There were twenty four heats in the first round of the Time Club A4 Graders Derby with twelve on Friday and remaining twelve on Saturday. €20k to the winner of this five week stake won last year by Maid Of Iron for Neily Jones. Paraic Campion won two of the heats on Friday which included the fastest on the night in Highview Speck in 28.82 by two lengths at 2/1.Newbridge, in the semi-final of the Run A Fundraiser A3 stake last week winner of One For Your Notebook Edoras was back in the winners enclosure for Edenderry trainer Paul Cronin with co owner Mickey Flynn in 29.05 by two lengths at 5/4.Three finals in Shelbourne on Friday. The €3k purse in the final of the Sporting Press A3 Stake was divided between Accept Ordecline (Droopys Got It-Wide Open) for Brendan Mathews and Droopys Gallant (Droopys Addition-Droopys Alyssa) for Murt Leahy as they dead heated in 28.55.

In the conclusion of the Upcoming Events A1 Stake Gizmo Mysterio (Gizmo Cash-Canyar) won the €2k purse for Jamie McGee in 28.52 by three lengths at 5/4 fav.

In the finale of the Two Steps To Victory A1 525/550 dual distance stake Maireads Prince (Droopys Sydney-Clona Skye) for Kinnegad trainer Barry Clancy in decent 29.72 by five lengths at 7/2.

One Offaly winner on the supporting card Brayview Lad won an A2 race for Croghan trainer Gerry Merriman in 28.61 by one length at 5/1.The final of the Lee Strand A3 550 was the top race in a good card in Tralee. The €10k purse was won by the class dog in the stake as Music Inthe Air (Ballymac Cashout-Nocturnal Hekla) for Pat Guilfoyle in 29.57 by one length at 8/15 fav. Ballymac Scheff was second for local trainer Liam Dowling and received a cheque for €4K. Also in Tralee there were three semifinals in the Callaway Pro Am Race Of Champions with two qualifying for Fridays final from each heat. This valuable two run stake was won last year by Seven Beach for Jennifer O’Donnell. Solo And Go won the first heat for Dowling in 29.39, Swords Style the second for Graham Holland in 29.54 with Jacktavern Turbo the final heat in 29.49 for Pat Buckley.

SEE NEXT: 1960s hero and club stalwart special guests as Ballinagar GAA open new astro turf facility

Saturday Racing

Curraheen Park, Cork, the €5k for the winner of the Two Wheel Training Open 750 was won by Lennies Desire (Signet Ace-Free From Desire) for Paul Hennessy in 41.67 by eight lengths at 4/6 fav. Also in Cork three semifinals in the Denis Linehan Solicitors Open Unraced Stake. Croydon Web set the bar highest for Pat Barrett when crossing the whitewash in 28.35 by nine lengths at 6/4.Heats 13-24 in the Time Club A4 Graders Derby took place in Limerick. Twelve top class winners for twelve different trainers. Zanoosh was fastest of the dozen for Declan McDonagh in 28.65 by seven lengths at 7/2.One final in Mullingar. In the Track Supporters S6 400 yard sprint Revilo Lowry (Droopys Got It-Revilo Janey) won the €1.75k pot for Philip Fitzpatrick in 22.01 (20 slow) by five lengths at 6/4.Two top class stakes were at quarter-finals stages in Shelbourne.

Four top races in the Sporting Press Online Edition Irish Oaks. Droopys Bundle was fastest of the four for Robert Gleeson in a superb 28.04. Next fastest was Ballymac Chantry for Liam Dowling 28.09. Offaly bitch Highview Carol was only beaten by a head for Gerry Merriman into second by favorite to win this stake Ballymac Kamala in 28.41 and qualified easily for Saturday’s semifinals. In the quarter-finals of the AO Summer Cup Carrick Becks was fastest of the quartet for Edenderry owner Thomas Glynn in 28.09, by seven lengths at 5/4 fav, with Robert Gleeson training. Glynn is no stranger to this valuable stake having won it last year with Carrick Scholsey and will no doubt go close again.

English Derby

As predicted a few weeks back with the strength of the Irish challenge it would be no surprise if all six finalists would be Irish trained dogs. So it came to pass. On a brilliant night in Towcester we won both heats but more importantly both second and third places in both races were Irish. Ballymac Deniro set us on the road when winning his heat in a near track record run of 28.15. Lennies Eddie was second with Ballymac Duffle in third. The second heat was not quite as fast as Hackney Corner broke fast, and was never in danger, winning in 28.34. Ballymac Ralf was second with Lennies Tank in third. Liam Dowling, Pat Buckley and Paul Hennessy train these six dogs and all have won the English Derby previously.

To have all six finalists is amazing and shows the strength in depth we have in both quality dogs and trainers. We will have an Irish name on the trophy for the nineteenth time. Remarkable achievement. English Derby BettingBefore racing in Towcester last Saturday Paddy Power had quoted Ballymac Duffle at 4/1 fav. Epic Ace was second fav at 5/1, Proper Heiress and Ballymac Ralf both at 7/1. 8/1 bar. On Sunday morning the six remaining Irish dogs heading into Saturday’s final were laid at Ballymac Deniro as low as 7/4 fav. Ballymac Duffle 3/1 and Ballymac Ralf at 4/1. All top three for Dowling. Hackney Corner is fourth fav for Pat Buckley at 5/1. Lennies Eddie is 6/1 with Lennies Tank the outsider at 16/1 with both for Paul Hennessy. Picking the winner is the conundrum the only guarantee is it will be an Irish winner once again.

Sunday Racing

No Offaly winners at the meetings in Lifford or Clonmel on Sunday.Upcoming Events.Tuesday, final of the Novice 750 Shelbourne.Friday, final of the Run A Fundraiser Night A3 in Newbridge and final of the Callaway Pro Am Race Of Champions Open 550 in Tralee. Saturday, final of the Denis Linehan Solicitors Open Unraced in Cork, second round of the Time Club A4 Graders Derby in Limerick, semifinals of the Sporting Press Irish Oaks and Dublin Cup in Shelbourne and the big one, final of the Star Sports and Orchestrate English Derby in Towcester.

Tribune Offaly Dog Of The Week

Carrick Becks gets the nod this week for winning his heat in the quarterfinals of the AO Dublin Cup in a superb 28.09 by seven lengths for Thomas Glynn. No doubt later in the year this young dog will be having a crack at the Irish Derby and will probably be Offaly's leading hope of taking the Irish blue ribbon event. Super hound.

One For The Notebook

Although not a young dog Shear Bear moved up in trip to the 750 yard distance and won his heat in a Novice distance race in 42.42 doing all his best work coming home. This dog could certainly have a bright future over six bends and no doubt could be a multiple winner over the longer trips for Sean Cocoman. Fingers crossed.

Offaly Winners

Six Offaly dogs stood on the winners podium this week. Well done to all connections.