Gone to the dogs: One Offaly greyhound in hunt for derby glory

This week was the week greyhound enthusiasts were waiting for, twelve long months since the 2022 derby. Trainers have hoped and prayed to have the star dogs in mint condition for the first round of the 2023 Boylesports Irish Derby.  Thirteen heats on Friday with the remaining thirteen in a packed stadium in Shelbourne on Saturday.

One hundred and fifty six dogs went to traps. All trainers hoping to get their hands on the first prize cheque of €125k, but more importantly, their name on the worlds most sought after trophy in greyhound racing.

Three Offaly dogs were in action in the first round, all from the Edenderry  area, Carrick Fergie for Thomas Glynn, Droopys Timing for Paul Cronin and possibly our best chance of lifting the trophy, Trinity Junior for Timmy Slevin. Before racing started the sponsors of the derby had installed Coolavanny Hoffa as 8/1 fav to conquer all in front of him. Swords Rex for Graham Holland was at 10/1, Ballinabola Ed for Pat Buckley and Clona Duke for Holland  at 12/1. Con and Annie Kirby Memorial winner Clonbrien Treaty and Ballymac Marino were at 14/1. 20/1 bar. Trinity was the lowest priced Offaly dog at 25/1.

Besides the Derby there was plenty of other top class action around the tracks with plenty of prize money up for grabs. Some quality Offaly winners added to the mix in what was another super week of racing on the Emerald Isle.

Early week racing

Thursday, Shelbourne, in the quarter-finals of the RCETS Open unraced stake, all won in similar fast times with the Classicly bred Droopys Mandolin (Laughil Blake - Droopys Curio) setting the bar highest, in 28.47 by seven lengths at 5/4, with Rathangan trainer Robert Gleeson at the helm. First Offaly winner of the week was in heat four of this competition, Dorothys Shoes was first home in 28.57 for Croghan owner Nuala Lynch by one length at 7/4. Nuala also had the runner up in this heat with Belles Collar and certainly has a strong hand heading into Thursday semi-finals.

Another Offaly winner on the supporting card, in the semifinals of the RCETS A3 stake, Stella Sparkle won for Edenderry owner Paul Cronin in 28.45 by three lengths at 3/1. The second semi was was won by Glory Baz for Sheila Duncan one length slower in 28.52 by four lengths.

Friday racing

Kilkenny staged the first round of the Boylesports A3 Bitch stake, always of the highest order, won last year by Beautys Quickstep for David Flanagan. Five heats with Ballyhoe Samhain going fastest for Mairead McCarthy in 29.12 (20 slow) by four lengths at 10/11 fav.

Saturday racing

Curraheen Park, Cork, in the final of the Denis Murphy Memorial A2 525, the €2k first prize went to Naughty Naughty (Dorotas Wildcat - Kilcrea Harbour) in 28.61 by one length at 5/1 for Jack and Lillian McGann.

Some great racing in Dundalk with the quarterfinals of the Bar One Racing Irish Sprint Cup being the highlight. Four evenly contested races with the fastest heat winner being Road Exile for Pat Buckley in 20.84 by four lengths. The concluding heat went to an Offaly dog as Carrick Aldo won for Edenderry owner  Thomas Glynn,in 21.00 by three lengths, with David Murray training.

In the Showgrounds in Galway, in the semi-finals of an A5 sweepstake, Margaret Bolton made the trip from Geashill and won with Rossies Flossy, in 29.67 (10 slow) by two lengths, at 5/4 fav.

One of Limerick’s top annual stakes got underway on the Dock Road track, the O’Connor Julian Vets Cashel A2 Tri-distance, won last year by Tommy Too Many for the Moydrum - Massive Syndicate. Seven heats over the 550 yard trip with Oakfront Cadet setting the bar highest in 29.73 by five lengths at 5/2. Next weeks semifinals will be over the 575 trip.

Two Offaly winners in Mullingar, in an A4 contest, Superior Pearl won for Tullamore owner Niall Deegan in 29.99 (50 slow) by nine lengths at 1/1 fav. In the best race on the card,  an A2 grade, Syrax was a smart winner for Edenderry owners Paul and Chloe Cronin in 29.35 (50 slow) by four lengths at 5/4 fav.

Kilcohan Park in Waterford staged the first round of the John Fitzgerald Memorial Open Bitch stake, won last year by Grandard Thunder for Joe Anglim. Four heats with Clogheen Lass going fastest for Graham Holland in 28.38 (30 fast) by one length at 2/5 fav. One Offaly winner on the supporting card, in an AO 525, Verratti had his seventh career win for Edenderry owner Keith Duffy in 28.63 (30 fast) by two lengths at 6/4 with Robert Gleeson training.

Boylesports Irish Derby

Brief history

The Irish greyhound derby commenced in 1928 in Harolds Cross with the first winner being Tipperary Hills. It stayed in the Cross until 1932 and then alternated with Shelbourne Park for a while. In 1939 the derby was held in the Markets Field in Limerick and in 1942 in the Western Road Track in Cork, both these tracks have since been closed with the Limerick venue now on the Dock Road and Corks in Curraheen Park. The last time the derby was held in Harolds Cross was in 1969 with the winner being Own Pride. It has remained in Shelbourne ever since.

Only one dog has ever won the derby three times, and probably will keep this record forever, that was the great Spanish Battleship in ‘53, ‘54 and ‘55. Gay McKenna and Tom Lynch have both trained the winner of the  derby on four occasions, while Ger McKenna, Matt O’Donnell, Seamus Graham and Graham Holland have each won it three times. On ten occasions the bitches have been successful when taking on the dogs and winning with the last being the great Susie Sapphire in 2021 for Owen McKenna.

Friday Derby roundup

Thirteen splendid heats on a beautiful evening at the Ringsend venue, all won in splendid fashion, with some shocks but mostly favorites obliging. Fastest of the heats was Good Maestro for owner John Kennedy Jnr and trainer Pat Guilfoyle in 29.24 by four lengths at 10/11 fav. Pat Buckley didn’t bring his star tracker Ballinabola Ed to the English Derby in order to have him in full fitness for the Irish equivalent where he won his heat in 29.34 by three lengths at a short 1/3 fav. Others to impress were Optic Chico for Robert Gleeson in 29.42 and antipost favorite Coolavanny Hoffa in 29.43 by eight lengths at 2/11 fav for Michael O’Donovan.

Edenderry owner Timmy Slevin’s Trinity Junior ran in heat nine and was a most impressive winner when storming home to win by nine lengths in 29.50 at 8/11 fav from the Peter Cronin kennels. This early July winner of the Champion Stakes is certainly now well in the frame to add a second classic to his ever growing CV. Another to catch the eye was the winner of heat four, where Clonroosk Sydney came from off the pace to win by two lengths, in 29.71 at a very decent price of 16/1, for Portlaoise owners Ray (Cookie) Conroy and Ollie Dunne with Mathew Harte training. No doubt these two shrewd owners had a flutter at 16’s.

Our other Offaly runner on Friday Carrick Fergie had no luck in running and was sadly eliminated for Edenderry owner Thomas Glynn with Gleeson training. There was a double on the night for Murt Leahy with one winner each for all the other major trainers.

Saturday's Derby Round Up

Heats fourteen to twenty six took place in front of another bumper crowd. Another Holiday went fastest of the thirteen heats for Michael O’Donovan in 29.26 by five lengths at 13/8. Others  to shine were Scagletti for Pat Guilfoyle in 29.26, Ballyhimikin Rex for John and Billy Dunne in 29.33 and Ryhope Beach for O’Donovan again in 29.34. All remaining heats were very competitive and all won in top class times. The big shock was Swords Rex for Holland exiting the competition when getting no luck in running and probably a lot of antipost bets going down with him as he was everyone’s tip for outright victory. 

There was a treble on the night for Liam Dowling and Guilfoyle with the double for O’Donovan.  Offaly third dog in this year’s derby Droopys Timing for Paul Cronin also exited the stake. Trinity Junior remains our only remaining dog in the competition.

Derby Betting

After the first round sponsors Boylesports have installed Coolavanny Hoffa as a clear 6/1 favourite with Clona Duke and Ballinabola Ed at 12/1. Ryhope Beach and De Lahdedah are at 14/1 with 16/1 bar. Trinity Junior is now into 20/1 and still seems over priced at that. Maybe worth a punt. If he wins this Saturday he could go as low as 10/1.

Sunday racing

Three Offaly winners at the matinee meeting in Mullingar, two from the Jones’s kennels in Moneygall. In an A3 race Lingrawn Buzz won for Liam Jones in 29.74  by one length at 7/2.

In an A2 contest Lingrawn Grace had her ninth career victory in 29.65 for Kevin Jones by three lengths at 10/3. Our final Offaly winner of the week was in an A5 grade as Horseleap Edel was first back in kennels for Sean McGuinness in 29.75 by three lengths at 6/1. All races in Mullingar were rated .50 slow.

Upcoming Events

Thursday, semi-finals of the RCETS Open Unraced and final of the RCETS A3 sweepstake in Shelbourne. Friday, quarter-finals of the Boylesports A3 bitch stake in Kilkenny. Friday and Saturday, second round of the Boylesports Irish Derby in Shelbourne. Saturday, semi-finals of the National Sprint in Dundalk, second round of the O’Connor Julian Vets Cashel A2 Tri - Distance in Limerick and semi-finals of the John Fitzgerald Memorial AO bitch stake in Waterford. Loads of top class action to look forward to this week.

Tribune Offaly dog of the week

Easy one this week with Trinity Junior winning in the first round of the Boylesports Irish Derby in a most impressive 29.50 for Edenderry owner Timmy Slevin by nine lengths with Peter Cronin training. It’s a long time since an Offaly dog has made such a bright start to the Greyhound blue ribbon event.

Offaly Winners

A fine return of eleven Offaly winners this week. Well done to all involved in any way.