Gone to the dogs: Successful week for Offaly greyhounds
The quarter-finals of the Star Sports and TRC English Derby was the main event across the pond while the quarter-finals of the Irish Oaks, final of the Irish Produce stakes in Clonmel dominated events on this side. Offaly winners were once again back in abundance with some of the younger winners catching the eye.
Early Week Racing
Two Offaly winners Thursday in Shelbourne. In the first race on the ON3 unraced event card, Highview Luna showed a lot of speed when coming from off the pace to win by three lengths in 29.46 by in 29.46 for Croghan trainer Gerry Merriman. In the semifinals of the Upcoming Corn Cuchalainn Novice 750, Killeshill Callie won heat two for Croghan owner Vincent Lynch in the fastest of the two heats in 42.59 by six lengths at 4/1.
The other semi was won by Borna Honey for Michelle Dwan in 42.81 by one length at 3/1. One final on the night, an S1 Sprint, with the €1.5k purse going to Good Thunder (Good Cody-Deelish Oreo) in a smart 18.55 by five lengths at 4/6 fav for John Kennedy Jnr.
Friday Racing
Three Offaly winners at the SIS afternoon meeting in Mullingar. In the first race of the day, an A5 grade Fahy Shop won for Paddy McCormack in 30.06 (50 slow) by four lengths at 15/8. Our other two winners were for Clara owner P.J. Cleary, in an A4 contest Lahinch Murphy won by six lengths in 29.95 (50 slow) at 2/1 fav. The Clara man’s second winner was Apache Gem in 29.67 (50 slow) by three lengths at 8/1 in an A3 race.
Limerick staged the first round of the Time Club A4 Derby won last year by Carrigmore Dante for the P And A Coffey Syndicate. Sixteen heats in total with eight on Friday and remaining eight on Saturday with a winners prize of €20k to the eventual winner. The first eight heats had two joint fastest winners both in 28.56. Spark Of Magic for Pat Guilfoyle and Drombeg Jet for Evan McAuliffe.
One Offaly winner in Shelbourne in the first round of the Bet On The Tote A2 stake.Coolemount Dubh won heat four for Merriman again in a smart 28.54 by a short head at a decent price of 7/1.
Saturday Racing
A great nights racing in Curraheen Park with the conclusion of one of their you annual events and another starting. In the final of the Cork Open DDO 750 stake, Darbys Dancer (Malachi-Love Island) made the trip from Dublin and duly collected the €5k first prize for Patrick Devaney Snr in 41.75 by one length at 2/1. Timmys Bucks was second for Tim and Olive Cliffe and received a cheque for €2k.
In the first round of the Denis Linehan Solicitors Open unraced stake won last year by Droopys Plunge for Johnny Linehan. Four heats with two going to Kerry and Liam Dowling. Fastest of the quartet was Fahee Phantom for Graham Holland in. 28.23 by four lengths at 1/1.
Been a while since we had an Offaly winner in Drumbo Park in Lisburn. However, on Saturday, we had two. Birr owner Paul Pardy made the trip with two dogs and ended with a fine double. So Its Swift won a semifinal of an ON2 unraced sprint stake over the 335 yard distance in 18.08 (15 fast) by a head at 4/1. So Its Ranger won an A5 525 in 28.82 (20 fast) also by a head at 1/2 fav.
The concluding eight heats in the first round of the Time Club A4 Derby in Limerick where there was a double for Ginger McGee. Fastest winner was in heat fourteen as Flyers Minnie set the standard in 28.62 (10 fast) by two lengths at 6/4 fav with Colm Fitzgerald training. In the final of the Limerick/Clare G.O.B.A. A3 525 the €1.5k pot went to Lauras Pick (Ballymac Cashout- Pennys Baccata) for Michael and Laura Nash in 28.61 (10 fast) by three lengths at 4/1.
Another two Offaly winners to add to our total in Mullingar. In the final of the Carrick Aldo @ Stud ON2 unraced stake Kilbride Duchess (Signet Ace-Love Queen) stormed to a three length win, for Edenderry trainer David Hanlon, in 29.80 (50 slow) at 1/1 fav with a purse of €1.2k heading his way. In the final race on the card Killeshill Ranger won an A1 contest in the fastest time of the night in 29.32 (50 slow) by two lengths at 2/1 for Vincent Lynch.
A fine crowd in Shelbourne to witness a great nights racing. Four cracking heats in the quarterfinals of the Sporting Press Online Edition Irish Oaks. For the third week in a row Glengar Martha set the standard, when stopping the timer, in a super 28.17 winning by four lengths at a short 4/7 fav for Pat Buckley. Other three heat winners were Clonmore Alice for Tom O’Neill in 28.36, Carrigmore Freya for Graham Holland in 28.44 and Ballymac Dancia for Liam Dowling in 28.52.
In the semi-finals of the AO Shelbourne Summer Cup there was another great Offaly winner as Carrick Scholsey won for Edenderry owner Thomas Glynn in a brilliant 28.34 by an ever extending six lengths at 1/2 fav with Robert Gleeson training. The second semi went to Epic Ace who was having his tenth win in seventeen starts for Pat Guilfoyle in 28.49 by two lengths at 4/6 fav. Should be a great buckle in Saturdays final.
English Derby
A great nights racing in Towcester at the quarter-finals of the Star Sports and TRC English Derby on Saturday night. A big Irish contingent made their way across the Irish Sea to support the Irish dogs at the Northamptonshire track. Three of the four heats were won by dogs from the Emerald Isle. Dynamic Force was fastest of our three winners for Paul Hennessy in 28.66. Cheap Sandwiches was our next fastest winner for Graham Holland in 28.67 with last year’s winner De Lahdedah for Liam Dowling stopping the timer in 28.81.
Favourite for outright victory Bockos Diamond ran a blinder to get third in his heat after finding all sorts of trouble. Bombay Pat second in his heat with Sole Mio third for Peter Cronin in heat four. Sadly four other Irish dogs exited the English blue ribbon event, Singalong Molly, Bubbly Charger, Hello Diego and Faypoint Harvey. Heading into Saturday’s semifinals six of the twelve dogs are Irish. Champion trainer Holland has three of the six with one each for Hennessy, Cronin and Dowling. With a small bit of luck we could get all six into the final. Here’s hoping.
English Derby Betting
Before racing began at the Towcester track on Saturday evening leading Irish bookmaker Paddy Power had five Irish dogs at top of the market. Bockos Diamond at 5/2 fav, Cheap Sandwiches at 7/2, De Lahdedah at 6/1 with Bombay Pat and Sole Mio at 10/1. 20/1 bar. On Sunday morning after the exertions the betting was as follows Bockos remained at 5/2 fav, Sandwiches had hardened to 10/3, De Lahdedah 9/2 with Bombay Pat and Sole Mio remaining at 10/1. 14/1 bar. Plenty of value there with the Irish dogs, finding the right one is the conundrum.
Sunday Racing
Final two Offaly winners of the week were at the afternoon meeting in Mullingar. Vincent Lynch had a dog on the winners podium for the third day this week as Killeshill Devine won an A3 race in 29.75 (50 slow) by two lengths at 7/4.
Also in an A3 grade Foulkscourt Best was first back in kennels for Moneygall owner Liam Jones in 29.88 (50 slow) again by two lengths at 7/2.
The most valuable final of the week was at Clonmel's evening meeting with the conclusion of the Carrick Aldo @ Stud National AAO Produce Stakes. This event was kindly sponsored by Edenderry business man Thomas Glynn and was very much appreciated for his generosity. The winning dog of the €20k first prize was Lemon Joey (Ballymac Best-Lemon Arianna) for Murt Leahy. The winning time was 28.60 by two lengths at 9/4. Flashing Saffron was second for Pat Buckley winning a cheque for €6k with Tetra destiny third getting €3k. All remaining finalists received €1k.
Upcoming Events
Thursday, final of the Upcoming Corn Cuchulainn Novice 750 in Shelbourne.
Friday, semi-finals of the Bet On The Tote A2 Stake in Shelbourne. Saturday, semifinals of the Star Sports and TRC English Derby in Towcester, second round of the Time Club A4 Derby in Limerick, semi-finals of the Denis Linehan Solicitors Open Unraced in Cork, semifinals of the Sporting Press Irish Oaks and final of the AO Summer Cup both in Shelbourne.
One For The Notebook
Kilbride Duchess looks an interesting prospect after winning the final of the Carrick Aldo @ Stud ON2 unraced in Mullingar on Saturday for David Hanlon by three lengths in a decent 29.80 (50 slow). This was Duchess' second win from three starts and her future looks bright for this daughter of Signet Ace. Probably Shelbourne now for this young bitch who is certainly on an upward trajectory.
Tribune Offaly Dog Of The Week
Carrick Scholsey gets the nod for the second week in a row. After winning his semifinal in the AO Summer Cup in Shelbourne on Saturday, in a scintillating 28.34 by six lengths, for Thomas Glynn. Hopefully a repeat performance this Saturday in the final. A champion in the making.
Offaly Winners
There were eleven Offaly winners this week. Congrats to all connections.