Gone to the dog: Seven Offaly winners

The highlight of the week was of course the final of the Star Sports/TRC English Derby in Towcester. What an advert for Irish racing with another dog from this side of the Irish Sea lifting the trophy of England's   blue ribbon event. Champion trainer Graham Holland made it back to back English Derbys for the first time since 2010 and 2011 when Charlie Lister last achieved a similar feat.

On the home front there was some magnificent racing around the Irish tracks with plenty of winning prize money being dished out.

Some quality Offaly winners in the mix to add to another super week of Greyhound racing.

Early Week Racing

Enniscorthy, Monday, semi-finals of the Time Nutrition Open Unraced Stake, Ballyroe Elsie won the first for Patrick Whelan in a fast 28.88 (20 slow) by one length. The second semi was won in a slower 29.33 (20 slow) by Nene Valley for John Codd and Diana Brodie by three lengths.

First Offaly winner of the week was in Shelbourne on Thursday, Messalina won an A5 race for Edenderry owner Robert Sheehy in 29.19 by a neck in a well supported in the betting ring at even money fav.

Also on Thursday, back in Enniscorthy, in the final of the A2 April Stakes, Kiltrea Rob (Pestana - Kiltrea Dawn) won the €3k first prize for John Doyle in 29.04 (20 slow) by four lengths at 7/4 and getting his seventh career wins in thirteen starts.

Friday Racing

Galway, in an A6 contest, Margaret Bolton made the trip from Geashill and duly won with Like A Biscuit in 29.93 (10 slow) by two lengths at 3/1.

Newbridge, in the final of an A3 sweepstake, last weeks Tribune dog of the week winner Short Grip (Grangeview Ten - Mysti Luna)  backed up that win in the semifinal to come home in front in a super 28.45 by five lengths at 4/6 fav with a cheque of €650 going to Rhode owner P.J. Cocoman.

Saturday Racing

Curraheen Park, Cork, brilliant card put on for a fine attendance with the highlight being the final of the Denis Linehan Solicitors Open Unraced Stake won last year by Droopys Rocker for John Linehan. It was another Droopys winner this year as Droopys Flytline (Laughil Blake - Droopys Curio) proved to be another outstanding prospect from the Robert Gleeson kennels as he went through this quality stake unbeaten and winning the final and €5k first prize in 28.17 by three lengths at 6/4. Some big days ahead for this fellow.

In the first round of the Shelley Fennelly Memorial Open 525, also in Cork, won last year by Bockos Melody for Graham Holland. Four heats with only a couple of lengths separating them on the clock. Fastest of the four was Up The Style fresh from winning the National Puppy Stakes in Shelbourne in December for Gleeson again in a super 28.04 by seven lengths at 4/6.

Dundalk, in the final of the Paddy and Eamonn Carroll Memorial A3 stake, the €2.5k pot went to Princes Street (Storm Control - Lang Syne) for Mullingar trainer Francis Murray in 28.61 by five lengths.

The best race on the Dock Road track in Limerick was the final of the 2023 Treaty Cup Open 350 sprint, won last year by the great sprinter Gizmo Cash for Jamie McGee. This year the €2k first prize went to Cree Jo Jo (Laughil Blake - Coolavanny Chick) in 18.36 by three lengths at 9/4 with Owen McKenna at the helm.

Surprisingly no Offaly winner in Mullingar which is a rarity.

Our only Offaly winner on Saturday was in Galway as Margaret Bolton won an S4 sprint with Cushcallow Flyer in 19.28  (.05 slow) by two lengths at 3/1.

In Thurles, in the quarterfinals of the Centenary Agri Tipperary Cup open 525, Pat Buckley had two of the winners including the fastest on the night in Pape Di Ore in 28.67 (20 slow) by six lengths at 4/6.

More brilliant racing in Shelbourne with the second round of the RPGTV Corn Cuchulainn Open 750, three heats with four qualifying for the semifinals from each. Fastest of the three was Garfiney Blaze for Holland in a serious time of 41.15 by three lengths at 4/6.

In the semi-finals of the Boylesports Champion Stakes Open 550, won in 2022 by One Time Only for Thomas O’Donovan, three heats with two qualifying from each for Saturdays final. Heat one went to Trinity Junior for Peter Cronin in 29.53 by one length at 4/1, heat two went to Jennifer O’Donnell with The Other Kobe in 29.61 by two lengths at 9/4 with the final heat going to Scagletti in 29.66 also by two lengths at a decent 6/1 from the Pat Guilfoyle stables.

English Derby

The Star Sports/TRC English Derby trophy came back to Ireland for the seventeenth time when Gaytime Nemo (Droopys Sydney - Gaytime Derval) stole the show in Towcester when breaking smartly and was never in trouble to come home and win by two lengths at 9/1 for Graham Holland. While all the money came for Holland's other two fancied dogs Swords Rex and Clona Duke, with both missing the kick at traps this left Gaytime with no obvious dangers and duly provided Ireland with another English Derby and the £175k cheque coming back to Irish owner Brendan O’Connell and trainer Holland.

Leading Irish trainer Holland becomes only the fifth trainer to win back to back English Derbys, Leslie Reynolds in 1948 and ‘49, same man again in 1951 and ‘52. Tony Meek in 1993 and ‘94, the great Nicky Savva did three in a row in 2005, 06, and 07 while Charlie Lister did it twice in 2001 and ‘02 and 2010 and ‘11. A remarkable achievement for Holland and with the owners he has in his kennels purchasing the top young dogs in the country, there is no reason he won’t dominate the English Derby as he does with all the classics over here.

It was a great English Derby with thirty three Irish dogs starting out in the first round and finishing with another great Irish winner, Gaytime Nemo. Brilliant.

Sunday Racing

Three Offaly winners at the matinee meeting in Mullingar.

In an A5 grade Lahinch Blaze won for Clara owner P.J. Cleary in 29.98 by one length at 3/1.

In an A4 contest, Lingrawn Billy had his tenth career win for Moneygall owner Mary Jones in 29.95 by six lengths at 7/1.

In an A5 race, Lingrawn Niamh also had her tenth career win for Liam Jones in 29.88 by four lengths at 7/2.

All races in Mullingar on Sunday were rated .50 slow.

Upcoming Events

Saturday, semi-finals of the Shelley Fennelly Memorial Open 525 in Cork, semifinals of the Corn Cuchalainn Open 750 and Final of the Boylesports Champions Stakes in Shelbourne plus semifinals of the Tipperary Cup in Thurles.

Tribune Offaly dog of the week

For the second week in a row, Short Grip gets the nod for winning the final of an A3 sweepstake in Newbridge on Friday in  28.45 by five lengths for Rhode owner P.J. Cocoman. Well deserved.

Offaly Winners

Seven Offaly winners this week. Well done to all involved in any small way.