Gone to the dogs: Nine Offaly winners

As the norm for this time of year the weather can play havoc with race cards leading to a loss of four days of racing early last week due to frost.  The week’s racing was packed into the weekend with postponed cards being shuffled around and fitted into either Friday or Saturday and some put back till Monday. Some quality racing went ahead with some decent prize money being taken home along with some very classy sweepstake winners. Some fine Offaly winners added to the mix in what was another great week for racing.

Early Week Racing

One meeting that escaped the early week cancellations was Limerick on Monday where we had the first Offaly winner of the week. In an S6 350 yard sprint, Clareabbey Rebel was first home for Geashill trainer Margaret Bolton, by four lengths at 5/2, in a decent 19.10.

Friday Racing

Tralee hosted the semi-finals of one of their top events of the year, the Eric Browne Memorial AAO Kingdom Derby. Two cracking heats both won in great fashion. Sunshine Dream won the first for Bríd Maunsell in 28.26, by three lengths at 2/1 fav, with the second going to prolific winner Ballymac Finn who was having his eleventh career win for local trainer Liam Dowling, in 28.54 by a neck, at even money fav. Heading into Friday's final Dowling has four of the six finalists with Ballymac Finn, Bronze, Bailey and Whispa however they’ll all have to do some running to be in contention with Sunshine Dream who seems to have the early pace needed to clear this quality field. Should be a great night Friday in Tralee.

Shelbourne, quarter-finals of the A2 Dublin Cup were the four feature races on a cold night at Headquarters. Four well contested heats on a track which amazingly was not rated slow. Fastest of the four was Priceless Cathal for Paul Hennessy in 28.65 by five lengths at 6/4 fav. Other three winners were Foggy Bottom for Laurence Jones in 28.69, last weeks fastest winner Highview Stage for Anthony Rooney and Owen Sweetman in 28.79 and All Profit for Ryan Byrne in 28.83 by five lengths at even money fav. One final of note on the night, The Barking Buzz App A5 stake, the €2k first prize went to Liam O’Rourke as Bayonet Charge (Ballymac Bolger - Sing Dixie) won by two lengths at 4/1 in 29.14.

Saturday Racing

Limerick, quarter-finals of the Knocklong Schooling Track A1 stakes, with Strickly Paul delivering the fastest of the four heats for Pat Buckley in 28.42 by eight lengths at 5/4 fav. 

Three Offaly winners in Mullingar, in an S8 350 yard sprint, another winner for Margaret Bolton as Ocean Blake was first across the whitewash in 19.74 (20 slow) by five lengths at 2/1. The other two winners were for Edenderry trainer David Hanlon, in an A3 525 Optic Xplosive won by one length in 29.91 (60 slow). In the best race of the night, an A1 contest, Carrickhill Ava stopped the clock in 29.40 (60 slow) by nine lengths at a very short 1/4 fav.

Two finals in Shelbourne Park, in the Upcoming Events AO 550 final, Toolmaker Wilde (Droopys Jet - Kilara Lizzie) came home like a train to get up on the line and win by a head in 29.64 at 3/1 with €2k going to trainer  Robert Gleeson. In the final of the Talking Dogs A1 525, Run Faster (Droopys Cain - Sarista) was too strong for his rivals in 28.31 by six lengths at 7/4 with a cheque of €1.75k going to Owen McKenna. One Offaly winner on the Supporting card, in an AAO 525, Marshmello took the honours for Edenderry owner Keith Duffy in 28.64 by one length at 5/2 with Gleeson once again training. 

Sunday Racing

Four Offaly winners at the matinee meeting in Mullingar, the first being in an A6 class, as Coldwater Wispa won by one length for Clara owner P.J. Cleary in 30.23 at 7/2. Next two winners were from the Jones’ kennels in Moneygall, Lingrawn Angie won an A5 contest in 30.12 by one length at 7/1 for Kevin Jones and Lingrawn Mona won in an A4 grade for Liam Jones in 30.31 by a head at 9/1. Also in an A4 race Horseleap Misty was first home for Sean McGuinness in the best time of the day in 29.64 by three lengths at 5/2. All race in Mullingar were rated  .50 slow.

At an evening meeting in Clonmel, there was some superb racing with the highlight being the quarterfinals of the Rural Kennels Open unraced stake. Four class winners with Droopys Racer going fastest, for the second week in a row, winning this time in 28.58, by two lengths, for Northern Ireland trainer Michael Corr. Tarsna Fern won the first heat for Geoff Parnaby 28.68, Hovex Tommy the next for Graham Holland in 28.76 while the final heat went to Hukum for the Fantasy Syndicate in 29.08. Of the twelve dogs remaining Holland has four and looks to have a very strong hand to retain this prestigious trophy he won last year with Swords Rex. One Offaly dog went into the semifinal draw, Laughil Rocky for Mary and Paul Jennings, who was only beaten three lengths in the fastest heat in 28.58 and is certainly not without a chance of progressing on Sunday.  Also in Clonmel we had the quarterfinals of the Tommy and Bridget Dunford Memorial Guys and Dolls A3 stake. Greenane Camino set the standard here when winning in 29.05 by one length. All races in Clonmel on Sunday were rated .10 slow.

Upcoming Events

Friday, final of the Eric Browne Memorial Kingdom Derby. Sunday, semifinals of the Rural Kennels Open  Unraced and semifinals of the Guys and Dolls A3 stake, both in Clonmel. 

Tribune Offaly dog of the week

Marshmello gets the nod this week for Edenderry owner Keith Duffy for winning an AAO contest on a Saturday night in Shelbourne which is always a difficult task in 28.64 by one length with Robert Gleeson training. 

Offaly Winners

Nine Offaly winners this week. Congratulations to all involved in any way.