Gone to the dogs: Busy week for Offaly greyhounds

April started with another super week of racing around the tracks led by a final worth €25k to the winner, semifinals of the second most valuable stake in Ireland and also the final of one of the most anticipated unraced stakes up for grabs. There was also some quality stake action with valuable one off races being decided. As usual there were some decent Offaly winners to boot with Mullingar again supplying the most.

Early Week Racing

Enniscorthy, Monday, in the semi-finals of the Future Champion and Michael Fortune Memorial Open unraced stake, Haka Carlo won the first for Dave Bourke in 28.69 (20 slow) by two lengths. The second semi went to Glengar Martha for Pat Buckley in 28.47 (20 slow) by three lengths. Both of these pups have won three of their four heats heading into Sundays final and it should be a great buckle.

Thursday, Shelbourne, in the final of the Retired Greyhound Trust A3 stake, Lets Go Bubbles (Droopys Sydney - Jetstream Lynx) was first home in 28.60 by seven lengths at 2/1 with the €1.75k going to trainer Owen McKenna. In the final of the Barking Buzz App A4 sweepstake, Droopys Ailsa (Loughteen Blanco - Droopys Berry) was a three length winner for Robert Gleeson in 28.79 at 4/6 fav with €1.5k to the winner here.

One Offaly winner on the supporting card, in the first race on the card, an A6 525, Highview Coral won for Croghan trainer Gerry Merriman in 29.10 by three lengths at a well backed even money fav.

Friday Racing

In Kilkenny, in the first round of the Blackstone Kennels A2 525, won last year by Monagore Bistro and Sean Coogan. Five heats with Bogger Dusty going fastest for Liam Peacock in 29.11 (30 slow) by six lengths at 5/4 fav.

The best two races in Tralee were the semi-finals of the John and Mary Killeacle Dowling Memorial A1 570 stake. Millridge Blake won the first for Donal O’Mahony in 31.19 by a head at 6/4 fav. The second heat went to Strideaway Lena for James O’Mahony in 30.90 by a neck at 6/4.

One final in Shelbourne on Friday, in the Upcoming Events A2 stake Dargle Dream (Burgess Bucks - Droopys Dargle) won in 28.98 by one length at 5/1 with the €1.75k going to Delvin trainer Joe Ivory.

Saturday Racing

Curraheen Park, Cork, the semifinals of the Greyhound and Petworld Supersprint open 330 took centre stage on what was a competitive card, the first heat went to Super Hit Man for David Harrington in 17.75 by nine lengths at 5/2. The remaining semi went to probably the best sprinter in Ireland at the moment Flashing Willow who was having his sixteenth career win for Pat Buckley  in 17.56 by two lengths, at 4/5 fav.

In the Showgrounds in Galway the semi-finals of the Ann Cheevers Memorial A5 stake took place. The first went to Lissatouk Gena for James McMahon in 29.45 (10 slow) by five lengths, with the second going to Caislean Blue for Mathew Harte in 29.18 (10 slow) by two lengths at 2/1. In the first round of the Great Blue Shark and WGOBA tri-distance A2 stake with the first round over the 525 trip. One Offaly winner in these heats as Fast Fit Lucky was a very impressive winner for Rahan owner Kate Cantwell with her grandfather John Quinn, in 29.15 by three lengths at 5/4, with Declan McDonagh training. Semifinals over the 550 yard trip.

A super crowd at the Dock Road track in Limerick for the quarter-finals of the Con and Annie Kirby Memorial Open 525 stake. Terezas Mendoza won the first for Pat Buckley in 28.07 by two lengths, the second went to Clonbrien Treaty for Graham Holland by six lengths in 28.31. The third quarter went to Laois as Bogger Lucky won for Liam Peacock in 28.45 by two lengths with the final heat, and also the fastest, going to Ryhope Beach for Michael O’Donovan in 28.05 by four lengths at 4/5 fav. Of the twelve dogs remaining, both Buckley and Holland have half with three each, the remaining six are spread across all the top trainers with O’Donovan holding the major ace with Ryhope. All to play for in Saturday’s semi-finals.

The most valuable stake final of 2023 so far took place in Shelbourne with the conclusion of the Bresbet Easter Cup AAO stake. A packed house witnessed a super race with another super winner for Graham Holland as Swords Rex (Droopys Sydney - Starry Display)  proved to be the top dog in the country having now added the Easter Cup to the Con and Annie Kirby and the Rural Hawaii Open unraced in Clonmel he won last year. His €25k first prize on Saturday brought his career winnings to over €122k in his seventeen wins. His winning time was 29.71 by four lengths at a very generous 11/8. Toolmaker Wilde was second for Robert Gleeson and got a handsome cheque of €6.5k. For Holland this was his fourth Easter Cup, he's only behind Paul Hennessy on seven and the great Matt O’Donnell on five.

In the first round of the Suncroft Festival Puppy Oaks won last year by Ballymac Snazzy for Liam Dowling, three heats with the fastest going to Lets Go Bubbles, fresh from winning the Retired Greyhound Trust A3 stake two days previously for Owen McKenna, her winning time was 28.49 by three lengths at 9/4.

Three Offaly winners in Mullingar, two in the quarter-finals of the This Runs Deep ON2 unraced stake, Kilbride Parish was first home in the first heat for Edenderry trainer David Hanlon in 30.14 (60 slow) by one length. The second heat also went to Edenderry as Syrax stopped the clock in a decent 29.84 (60 slow) by two lengths for owners Paul and Chloe Cronin. Final Offaly winner on Saturday was in the last race on the card, an A2 contest, Fahy Grace had her ninth career win for Paddy McCormack in 30.27 (60 slow) by a neck.

One final of note in Kilcohan  Park in  Waterford, in the Correct Six A7 sweepstake final, Fly Flasher (Pestana - Affane Maisie) went through this stake unbeaten and won the final in 29.00 by six lengths at 4/6 fav with a purse of €2.5k going to Patrick Murray.

Sunday Racing

It was the busiest Sunday in a long time with four  meetings taking place in Mullingar, Lifford, Clonmel and Enniscorthy.

At the Matinee meeting in Mullingar, four Offaly winners with the first two going to Moneygall owner Liam Jones. Lingrawn Mona won an A6 grade in 30.41 by one length at 7/2. In an A4 race Lingrawn Focus stopped the clock in 29.90 winning by two lengths at 5/2. Lahinch Lilly was first home for Clara owner P.J. Cleary in an A5 race in 29.81 also by two lengths at 6/1. Our final winner was Superior Pearl who was having her fourth win from eight starts for Tullamore owner Niall Deegan in an A3 race in 29.67 by two lengths at even money fav. All races in Mullingar were rated .60 slow.

Two evening meetings, firstly, Enniscorthy, in the final of the Future Champion and Michael Fortune Open unraced stake. Haka Carla(Ballymac Anton - Ballymac Merkle) was a well deserved victor having won four of the five round and the final in 28.87 (20 slow) by a short head with a super first prize of €5k going to trainer Dave Bourke. Burgess Supreme was second for Sheila Spillane and J.J. Fennelly and received a purse of €2k.

In the final of the Future Champion and Whitewood Kennels open unraced Plate, Glengar Aurora (Droopys Sydney - Glengarbadminton) won the €2k pot for R.A. Colwell in 28.98 (20 slow) by five lengths.

In Clonmel, in the final of the Bow Meow Pet Luxury Hotel tri-distance stake over the 575 trip, Motown Massie (Skywalker Farloe - Bottle Of Banter) won by six lengths in 31.56 (10 slow) with €1.9k going to Christy Fitzpatrick.

In the first round of the A4  Sorley O’Dornan and Guys and Dolls stake, won last year by Moanteen Linford for Rachel Wheeler. Eight heats, all won in competitive times, fastest of the eight was Flaminhasntabob for the Two Laois-Four Kilkenny Syndicate in 28.93 (10 slow) by seven lengths.

Upcoming Events

Friday, quarter-finals of the Blackstone Kennels A2 stake in Kilkenny and final of the John and Mary Killeacle Dowling Memorial in Tralee. Saturday, Cork, final of the Supersprint, Galway, final of the Ann Cheevers Memorial and semifinals of the Great Blue Shark tri-distance. Mullingar, semifinals of the ON2 unraced stake, Shelbourne, semifinals of the Suncroft Festival Puppy Oaks and in Limerick the semifinals of the Con and Annie Kirby Memorial stakes. Sunday, second round of the Sorley O’Dornan Memorial in Clonmel. Another week of top class action to look forward.

Tribune Offaly dog of the week

Syrax get the nod this week for Paul and Chloe Cronin for winning in the ON2 unraced sweepstake in Mullingar on Saturday  and in so doing so set the fastest time in this stake for the second week in a row and must be in with a serious chance of going through this tough competition unbeaten. Well deserved. 

Offaly Winners

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