Six Offaly winners as Birr dog advances in English Derby
Good week for Offaly greyhounds
The dominant stakes in Ireland this week were the quarter-finals of the Time Greyhound Nutrition Open Unraced in Enniscorthy, final of the Sorley O’Dornan and first round of the National Produce Stakes both in Clonmel. Final of the Select Stakes in Waterford, quarterfinals of the Kasco A2 in Tralee and final of the valuable Shelbourne Open 600.
However, most of the top Irish Dogs were in Towcester for the first round of the Star Sports and Orchestrate English Derby. Offaly dogs were spotted in the winners enclosure in various tracks all week.
Early Week Racing
Monday, Enniscorthy, quarter-finals of the Time Greyhound Nutrition Open Unraced. Millpark Molly was fastest of the four heats in 28.95 by three lengths at 3/1 with David Healy training.
First Offaly winner of the week was in a final in Shelbourne on Tuesday. In the conclusion of an A4 Daul-Distance 525/550 stake Clonbrien Taylor (Newinn Taylor- Clonbrien Legend) was a comfortable three length winner for Tullamore owner Willie Delahunty in 30.31 at 4/1. The David Murray trained dog went home with a cheque for €1.5k in a very smart win.
Next Faithful County winner was at the SIS meeting in Mullingar on Wednesday. In an A7 contest Lahinch Robin won for Clara owner P.J. Cleary in 31.06 (60 slow) by a neck at 11/10 fav.
Friday Racing
Eight heats in the first round of The National Produce Stake in Clonmel won last year by Lemon Joey for Murt Leahy. This historic stake was first run in 1939 with the last Offaly winner being Glenmoira for Liam Kirley in 1992. There was a double on the night for Graham Holland and Michael O’Donovan. Holland provided the fastest winner as Swords Diamond stopped the clock in a rapid 28.14 by eight lengths at 6/4 fav. Next fastest it the octet was Scooby Marquess for Jennifer O’Donnell in 28.36 by four lengths at 9/4.
Four heats in the Friends Of Newbridge A1 550 Derby won last year by Is She There for Eugene Price. Fastest of the four was Clonfert Teddy for Johnny Young in 30.16 by one length at 4/1. Heat three was won by Parkrun who was winning his thirteenth race for Rhode owner P.J. Cocoman in 30.46 by three lengths at 3/1.
Two finals in Shelbourne. In the finale of the Buzz A3 stake El Mayo (Ballymac Cashout-Droopys Nextone) for Anna Breen Hamilton and Peter Gallagher in 28.63 by three lengths at 4/6 fav with €2k in the post to them.
In the conclusion of the Two Steps To Victory A3 525/550 stake, Connemara Lady (Swords Rex-Glenegat Mildred) won the €1.75k purse for Paul Hennessy in 30.02 by two lengths at 5/1.
In the semi-finals of an A3 bitch stake Aussie Alert won for Kinnitty owner Jeannette MacKenzie in 28.77 by five lengths at 3/1.
Tralee, quarter-finals of the Kasco A2 Stake with Clona Chase setting the standard for Pat Buckley in 28.19 (20 fast) by eight lengths at 1/2 fav.
Saturday Racing
Three heats in the Thurles Track Champion Bitch Open Stake. Pat Buckley won two of the three with Glengar Blitz and Singalong Cherry. However the fastest of the trio was in the remaining heat as Brickhill Moana was first over the line, in a superb 28.94 (40 slow) by one length, at 3/1 with Vincent McKenna training.
One final at the afternoon meeting in Youghal. The €1.5k first prize in Rhe Burgess A4 stake was won by Rebel Star (Ballymac Cashout-Clear Mountain) for Tomas Leahy in 29.48 (30 slow) at 6/1 by two lengths.
The semi-finals of the Tara Brickwork and Fast Trap Greyhound Supplies A4 600 were the two best races in Mullingar. Fahy Shop won heat one for Paddy McCormack in 34.76 (50 slow) by one length at 3/1. Super Trouper won the second semi for Billy Kenny in a near identical time of 34.73 (50 slow) by two lengths at 3/1. There will be three Offaly dogs in the final on Saturday as Apache Gem for P.J. Cleary and Towns Pride for Edenderry owners Fortune - Favours-The-Brave Syndicate both qualified with a bit in hand. One Offaly winner on the undercard. In an A7 grade Bawnmore won his first race in three starts for the Euro-Dollar-Syndicate and Ballinagar trainer Iggy Daly in a fine 30.34 (50 slow) by three lengths at a well supported in the betting ring 5/4 fav.
€15k went home with the winner of the final of the 2026 Shelbourne Open 600. A major shock here as 10/1 Mydras Opinion (Deerjet Sydney-Mydras Dawn) won by a length in 32.39 for Portlaoise owner Moira Costigan with Owen McKenna training - another great Midlands winner. Lemon Orla was second for Tom O’Neill was got a cheque for €4K. Also in Shelbourne, in the final of the Spring Open 525, Coolemount Fame (Orchestrate-Highview Moment) won the first prize of €2.5k for Man-O-War owners in North County Dublin Anthony Rooney and Owen Sweetman in 28.68 by four lengths at 5/1. Having already won an A2 Stake in Shelbourne in early April this dog is turning into a right money spinner for his owners.
Waterford, final of the Droopys Stud Select Stakes Open 525. Another big priced winner here as Bogger Bob (Callaway Pro Am-Bogger Megan) won the €10k purse at 5/1 in 28.57 by two lengths. Beanos Yank was second for Holland and went home with €3.8k pot. The final of the Whitewood Kennels A3 stake also took place in Kilcohan Park. Zippy Major (Ballyhimikin Jet-Knockdrinna Ruth) won the €2.3k cheque for Paula Hoban by a head at 6/1 in 28.80.
English Derby
Thirty nine Irish dogs headed to Northamptonshire's Towcester for the first round of the Star Sports and Orchestrate English Greyhound Derby. First run in 1927 recently it’s been a very happy hunting ground for the Irish dogs winning six out of the last ten runnings. Last year the English kept the £175k first prize at home when Droopys Plunge won their blue ribbon event for Patrick Janssens.
Friday - Twenty two Irish dogs went to traps where we recorded seven Irish victories. Star of the show was in the final heat of the night where Ballymac Duffle broke the track record for Liam Dowling in 28.37 in a super performance. Dowling also had Ballymac Stud on the winners podium in 28.74. A double also for Pat Buckley with Glengar Kane in 28.60 and Singalong Polly in 29.01. Priceless Romeo won for Paul Hennessy in 28.79. Swords Style was first home for Graham Holland in 28.86 and our final winner was Epic Ace for John Kennedy in 28.71. Anti - post favorite and 2024 Bockos Diamond winner sadly had no luck in running and exited the competition.
Saturday - Seventeen dogs from this side of the Irish Sea took their chances in various heats with some mixed luck. We had another six Irish winners with a double for Holland and Dowling. Slippery Brian in 28.69 Gaytime Clyde in 28.78 were Holland's two. Ballymac Deniro in 29.08 and Ballymac Iroko in 28.86 were the Kerry trainers two. Hackney Corner in 28.83 won for Pat Buckley and our final winner in the first round was Lennies Tank for Paul Hennessy in 28.86.
One Offaly dog qualified for the second round and is certainly not without a chance of advancing much further. Yorkie Ollie for Birr owners Michael Hennessy and Adrian Sheils finished third in his heat but was only beaten a length. When he gets to handle this very difficult track he could be a serious player yet.
Leading Irish bookmaker Paddy Power has five of the top six dogs in the betting all from this side of the pond. Ballymac Deniro and Ballymac Duffle are co favs at 10/1 for Dowling. Proper Heiress and Glengar Kane for Buckley at 12/1 with Hackney Corner and Glengar Silent at 14/1. 16/1 bar. The Offaly dog is trading at 66/1 and certainly worth an each way punt.
Sunday Racing
In the final of the Sorley O’Dornan Memorial A3 Guys And Dolls Stake in Clonmel the €2.5k first prize was won by the quality dog in the line up. Knocknadoguestar (Ballymac Cashout- Flaminhasntabob) went through this very competitive stake unbeaten for the Don’t-Know- Syndicate winning the final by two lengths in 28.49 at 4/9 fav.
Upcoming Events
Monday, semi-finals of the Time Greyhound Nutrition Open Unraced in Enniscorthy. Friday, second round of the National Produce Stakes in Clonmel, semi-finals of the Friends Of Newbridge A1 550 Derby and semifinals of the Kasco A2 Stake in Tralee.
Saturday, Thurles, Semi-finals of the Champion Bitch Stake. Mullingar and final of the Tara Brickwork and Fast Trap Greyhound Supplies A4 600. Friday and Saturday. Second round of the Star Sports and Orchestrate English Derby.
Tribune Offaly Dog Of The Week
Parkrun gets the nod this week for winning in the first round of the Friends Of Newbridge A1 Derby by three lengths in 30.46. Fine run. The P.J. Cocoman trained black has been ultra consistent and with a bit of luck will have a big say where the trophy for the Newbridge Derby lies.
One For The Notebook
Clonbrien Taylor looks a prospect for Willie Delahunty when winning the final of the A4 Daul Distance stake in Shelbourne on Tuesday in only her fourth race. Doing all her best work coming home no doubt a step up in trip in time will suit this progressive young dog. Willie could have a decent hound on his hands here with six bends looking the obvious option going forward.
Offaly Winners
Six Offaly winners last week. Congrats to all connections.