Gone to the dogs: Eight Offaly winners

This week all roads lead to Limerick for the semi-finals of the Con and Annie Kirby Memorial on Saturday night. The second most valuable stake in Ireland behind the Derby with €80k in prize money to the winner. This was the tenth running of the Kirby Memorial, once again, sponsored by Noreen and J.P. McManus in honour of Noreen’s parents who were steeped in greyhound culture. A superb crowd witnessed a magical racing with both heats being won by the same trainer.  Around the tracks a number of valuable finals were run in Shelbourne, Cork, Galway and Tralee. Offaly dogs once again did us proud with plenty of quality winners.

Early Week Racing

First Offaly winner of the week was in Galway. On Thursday, in the first round of an S7 sprint sweepstake, Cappaneale Rocky was easily the fastest of the four heats for Birr owner Bill Pardy, in 19.08 (.05 slow) by eight lengths, at a well supported in the betting market 4/6 fav.

Three finals in Shelbourne on Thursday each worth €1.5k to the winners. In the This Runs Deep ON2 unraced stake Silver King (Droopys Sydney - Silver Penny) won in 29.02 by six lengths at 1/2 fav for Navan owners Noeline and Ollie Bray.

In the final of the Sporting Press Online Edition A5 stake, Bluejig Jane (Droopys Sydney - Blue Of Diamonds) won by a head in 29.30 at 3/1 with Mullingar trainer David Murray at the helm. Faypoint Amy (Fast Fit Alex - Faypoint Lisa) won the Talking Dogs A4 stake for Kevin O’Kane in 28.95 by nine Lengths at 6/4 fav. Two Offaly winners on the supporting card, both for Croghan trainer Gerry Merriman, in an A4 race Highview Honour stopped the clock in 29.08 by two lengths at even money fav and in an A3 grade Highview Coral won in 28.97 also by two lengths at 6/4 fav.

Friday Racing

Galway, in the final of the Connect Six A7 stake, the €2k first prize went to Athlone as Springwell Honey (Ballymac Bolger - Springwell Mouse) won for Gerard O’Dowd in 29.05 (10 slow) by one length at 2/1. This pups dam  Springwell Mouse was also a stake winner having won the Bective Mullingar Derby worth €4K in January 2020 for the late Denis Hannon.

Kilkenny, in the quarter-finals of the Blackstone Kennels A2 stake, Bogger Dusty went fastest for the second week in a row for Liam Peacock in 28.92 (20 slow) by eight lengths at 4/5 fav.

Two finals of note in Tralee, firstly in the John and Mary Killeacle Dowling Memorial A1 570, Strideaway Lena (Magical Bale - Patterdale Lena) won the €2.2k purse for James O’Mahony in 30.56 by one length at 5/2. In the final of the Grandstand Restaurant ON2 unraced stake, Wasted Money (Good News - Vale Recruit) made it three wins from three starts in a super 28.39 by six lengths at 6/5 fav with the pot of €1.2k going to Kieran O’Dwyer.

In Shelbourne Park, in the final of the RCETS A3 stake, Ballymac Winx (Ballymac Kingdom - Ballymac Meena) brought the €1.75k first prize back to Kerry and her trainer Liam Dowling in 29.01 by a neck at 5/2.

Saturday Racing

The most valuable final of the week was in Curraheen Park in Cork. The Greyhound and Petworld Supersprint over the 330 yard trip, Class won out here as the best sprinter in Ireland at the moment Flashing Willow (Laughil Blake - Cabbage) showed his usual early pace to clear the field and win the €3.5k first prize, in 17.41 by three lengths at 4/6 fav, to bring his career earnings to over €14k in his seventeen wins for his trainer Pat Buckley.

Three Offaly winners in Mullingar, in the semi-finals of the This Runs Deep ON2 unraced stake, the first heat went to last week Tribune dog of the week winner Syrax for Edenderry owners Paul and Chloe Cronin in 30.37 by a head at 4/6 fav. The second semi went to Miss Chicky in 30.01 by two lengths at 2/5 fav for David Murray. The other two Offaly winners were both for Edenderry trainer David Hanlon, firstly, in an A5 contest Dew Claw won in 30.42 by three lengths at 4/5 fav and in an A4 grade Kilbride Fairy was first over the whitewash in 30.15 by a head at even money fav.  All races in Mullingar were rated .80 slow.

At Headquarters, in the final of the Greyhound Racing Ireland A1 stake, Delirium Tremors (Ballymac Eske - Knockdrinna Miss) won in 29.00 by two lengths at 4/1 with the €2.5k pot going to Murt Leahy.  In the semifinals of the Suncroft Festival Puppy Oaks, Easy Razzle won the first for John Linehan in 28.55 by five lengths at 5/4. The second semi went to Lets Go Bubbles for Owen Mckenna in 28.78 by one length at 2/1. 

In Kilcohan Park, Waterford, in the first round of the Time Greyhound Nutrition Select Stakes AAO, won last year by Explosive Boy for Pat Guilfoyle. Three heats all closely contested, The Other Kobe won the first for Jennifer O’Donnell in 28.52 by one length at 3/1. The second heat went to Burgess Rapid for J.J Fennelly and Shiela Spillane in 28.66 by two lengths at 4/1. The final heat went to last year Juvenile Classic winner in Tralee Wi Can Dream for Guilfoyle in 28.56 by six lengths at even money fav. Only two lengths separating all three winners so all to play for.

Con and Annie Kirby Memorial

The semif-inals of this year second most valuable stake in Ireland worth in total €150k in prize money took place in Limerick on Saturday. Two cracking heats with a major shock in the first with Gaytime Hugo having on his third career win for Graham Holland in 28.09 by three lengths at a huge 10/1 outsider. Holland also won the second heat as Clonbrien Treaty was first back in kennels in 28.15 by five lengths at 5/2. Some very fancied dogs exited the competition, however there is still a very strong field for Saturday’s final. Of the six remaining Holland has three runners with one each for Guilfoyle, Michael O’Donovan and Liam Peacock. Six different stud dogs have offspring in the final which is rare. All to play for next week to see where the €80k first prize will go.

Sunday Racing

Two Offaly winners at the Matinee meeting in Mullingar, both in A5 grades. Horseleap Pippy won for Sean McGuinness in 30.19 (50 slow) by a neck at 6/4 fav. Our final winner of the week was Beechgrove Lady for Ballycommon owner Peter Raine in 30.09 (50 slow) by one length also at 6/4 fav.

At the evening meeting in Clonmel, in the quarterfinals of the Sorley O’Dornan A4 Guys and Dolls stake, Whiteys Fullback set the bar high when winning his heat in 28.81 (10 slow) by five lengths at 5/4 fav for Waterford trainer Declan Byrne

Upcoming Events

Thursday, semi-finals of the S7 sprint stake in Galway. Friday, semifinals of the Blackstone Kennels A2 in Kilkenny. Saturday, Mullingar, final of the This Runs Deep unraced stake, Shelbourne, final of the Suncroft Festival Puppy Oaks, Waterford semifinals of the Open Select Stakes and in Limerick the big one, final of the Con and Annie Kirby Memorial stake. Sunday, semifinals of the Sorley O’Dornan Memorial in Clonmel.

Loads of top class action to look forward to.

Tribune Offaly dog of the week

Highview Coral gets the nod this week for winning an A3 race in Shelbourne on Thursday in a career best run of 28.97 by two lengths for Croghan trainer Gerry Merriman.

Offaly Winners

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