Gone to the dogs: Big win for Offaly bred greyhound

Last week's winner of the Sporting Press Online Edition Irish Oaks Crafty Shivoo had a big Offaly connection as she was born and reared in Killeigh by the late Donal Beatty and his son Sean. The Beattys have specialised in buying and breeding top class bitches with impeccable bloodlines for years now and winning the Oaks last Saturday week was a testament to the hard work that has been put in.

Sean tells me that he’s waiting for Shivoo’s dam Ballymac Sanjose to have her seasonal break down and expect so in next couple of months. He also tells me he has some magnificent well bred saplings and two of his brood bitches ready to whelp in July. If anyone is looking to purchase a pup look no further than Beattys Kennels and who knows you could be walking out the gate with another classic winner under your arm.

The semi-finals of the Star Sports/TRC English Derby in Towcester  and the final of the Thatch Bar and Restaurant National Produce Stake in Clonmel on Sunday were the highlights of another super week of racing where there was also an abundance of finals around all tracks with plenty of money on offer. Some top class Offaly winners also added into the mix.

Early Week Racing

Enniscorthy, Monday, quarter-finals of the Time Greyhound Nutrition Open unraced stake, Runaway Charlie set the bar highest when winning in 29.08 (20 slow) by four lengths at 3/1 for Pat Buckley.

First Offaly winner of the week was in Shelbourne on Thursday, in an A5 race Coolemount Holly won in 29.09 by nine lengths at 3/1 for Croghan trainer Gerry Merriman.

Also on Thursday, back in Enniscorthy, in the semi-finals of an A2 sweepstake, Whitewood Lenny won the first for Laura Earle in 29.15 (20 slow) by one length while Kiltrea Rob got the nod in the second for John Doyle in 28.96 (20 slow) by three lengths.

Friday Racing

Newbridge, in the semi-finals of an A3 stake, Short Grip showed some blistering pace for Rhode owner P.J. Cocoman when winning in 28.43 by fourteen lengths at 1/1 fav. The second semi went to Hawkfield Diego for Pat Doran in 28.90 by three lengths.

Like The Mother was a good winner in an A5 contest in the Showgrounds in Galway for Geashill trainer Margaret Bolton in 29.60 (10 slow) by four lengths at 5/2.

Three finals of note in Shelbourne, with the best being the RCETS A3 final, Dryland Bruce (Droopys Sydney - Dryland Sally) won the €3k first prize in 28.62 by two lengths at 4/1 for Declan Byrne. In the final of the Barking Buzz App A1 contest, Clona Rocko (Ballymac Bolger - Bellmore Lucy) trained by Micheal Taggart won the €1.75 pot in 28.41 by three lengths at 5/2. The last final was the RCE A2 stake, this ended up going to Boylesports Bob (Good News - Roanna Bess) in the fastest time of the night in  28.04 by four lengths at 6/4 with another €1.75k going to his trainer Paul Hennessy.

Two Offaly winners on the supporting card, in an A2 grade Blue Rumble had his twelveth career win for Niall Deegan in 28.55 by three lengths at 5/4. When you add in his ten seconds and ten third place finishes Blue Rumble has been a great servant and money spinner for the Tullamore man. Also in an A2 grade, Highview Rosie was first over the line for Merriman again in 28.84 by one length at 6/4.

Saturday Racing

Curraheen Park, Cork, in the semi-finals of the Denis Linehan Solicitors Open unraced stake, only one hundred of a second separated the two winners, Jetara won the first for Owen Mckenna in 28.17 (10 fast) by six lengths at 4/5 fav  while Droopys Flytline the second for Robert Gleeson in 28.18 (10 fast) also by six lengths at 4/6 fav. The final should be a proper match between these two it both get a clear run.

Dundalk, in the semi-finals of the Paddy and Eamonn Carroll A3 Memorial stake, Four Winds Blow was first back in kennels in the first for Ignatius Hampsey in 28.71 by three lengths with Princes Street winning the second for Mullingar trainer Francie Murray in 28.66 by two lengths.

Only Offaly winner on Saturday was in Mullingar, in an A5 contest, Affable Aoife made it two wins from two starts for Cappincur owners Gemma and Justin Colgan in 29.88 (50 slow) by one length at 5/4 fav.

The best races in Shelbourne were in the first round of the RPGTV Open 750 Corn Cuchalainn, won last year by Crafty Kokoro for Peter Divilly. Five heats with Threesixfive setting the fastest time for Scott Phelan in 41.30 by six lengths at 4/5 fav.

Thurles staged the first round of one of their big events of the year, the Centenary Agri Open Tipperary Cup, won in 2022 by the great Bobsleigh Dream for Pat Buckley. Six heats all won in fast times with Pape Di Ore going fastest for Buckley again in 28.55 (20 slow) by six lengths at 1/2 fav.

English Derby.

Six Irish dogs went into the semi-finals of the Star Sports/TRC English Derby on Saturday with three making it through in magnificent style, winning both heats and the remaining one second. Champion trainer Graham Holland provided all three dogs with the impressive Swords Rex winning his heat in 28.76 by four lengths  and Clona Duke his in 28.69 by two. Gaytime Nemo was second for Holland behind Clona Duke. Expect the Irish dogs to dominate this final on Saturday and wouldn’t be surprised if we fill the first three places but in what order remains to be seen.  For Holland it’s another remarkable achievement following up from winning this  Derby last year with Romeo Magico. Expect the £175k first prize cheque to be in his wallet as he brings his three champions home to have a crack at the Irish equivalent. 

Leading Irish Bookmakers have installed Swords Rex as even money fav with Clona Duke second fav at 5/2. Gaytime Nemo can be backed at 6/1 with the three English dogs 7/1 or better.Here’s hoping for another memorable night for the Irish in Northamptonshire.

Sunday Racing

Three Offaly winners at the matinee meeting in Mullingar, with Moneygall owner Mary Jones supplying the first two. Lingrawn Billy won an A6 race in 29.92 by three lengths at 3/1 and Lingrawn Lola won in an A5 grade in 29.78 also by three lengths at 4/1. In the final race on the card, an A3 contest, Uncle Baldy showed a nice turn of foot to come from off the pace to win by two lengths in the second fastest time of the day in 29.61 at 4/1 for Charlie and Justin Colgan and the Glafo Syndicate. All races in Mullingar were rated .50 slow.

Over €40k was up for grabs at the evening meeting in Clonmel with the final of their biggest stake of the year, The National Produce Stake. Six dogs went to traps all trying to get their name on one of the oldest trophies in greyhound racing won last year by Gaston Pecas for Pat Buckley. It was a surprise result as the €20k first prize went to Burgess Supreme (Burgess Bucks - Burgess Dancer) when he  stole a march on his rivals and held on to win by two lengths in 28.52 (10 slow) at very generous odds of 20/1. For his owners Sheila Spillane and J.J. Fennelly it’s a well merited success as both have put a lifetime into dog racing and have travelled the country with their dogs all running under the Burgess prefix. Well deserved.

Hukum was second for Adam Dunford and got a runner up purse of €6k.

There were numerous other sweepstake finals on with the best being the Kieran Purcell Memorial A3 550 with the €1.5k pot going to Miss Spoofer (Spoofer - Lemon Abigail) and Philip Gough in 30.11 (10 slow) by two lengths at 6/1.

Upcoming Events

Thursday, Enniscorthy, final of an A2 stake.Friday, final of an A3 sweepstake in Newbridge. Saturday, final of the Denis Linehan Open unraced in Cork, final of the Paddy and Eamonn Carroll Memorial in Dundalk, quarterfinals of the Corn Cuchalainn in Shelbourne, quarterfinals of the Tipperary Cup in Thurles and the big one , final of the English Derby in Towcester.

Tribune Offaly dog of the week

Short Grip gets the nod this week for a stunning fourteen lengths win in 28.43 in the semifinal of an A3 sweepstake in Newbridge on Friday for P.J. Cocoman. A big run for a young bitch with a very bright future.

Extra racing at Newbridge

Following a meeting with the Greyhound Board of Ireland the local supporters club at Newbridge have a verbal promise from the board of one extra night's racing only in the coming weeks.

If the racing pool is then held at a consistent level, more extra meetings will be looked favourably at by the board. So now the ball is in all the owners and trainers court. Please don’t let this opportunity pass and text in your entries as soon as possible to 085 8050419. Please note once your greyhound runs a race they have to be re-entered into the racing pool.

Offaly Winners

Nine  Offaly winners this week, well done to all involved in any small way.