Gone to the dogs; Great week for Offaly greyhounds withe ten winners running home

Some very valuable stakes got underway this week, including two of the annual big stakes in Cork, and also the quarterfinals of the top Juvenile stake in Shelbourne, quarterfinals of the Kilkenny Derby, as well as numerous stakes at final and semi-finals stages. Plenty of Offaly winners in the mix in another super week of greyhound  racing.

Early Week Racing

Monday, Enniscorthy, quarter-finals of the September Open unraced stake, Bounceback Elly set the standard for Anthony Kehoe in 28.96 (20 slow) by two lengths at 2/1. Heat one went to Trinity Bestie for Edenderry owner Timmy Slevin in 29.23 (20 slow) by five lengths at 1/4 fav with Peter Cronin at the helm.

Thursday, two finals in Curraheen Park in Cork. First off in the Jack, Mary and Brian Finn Memorial ON2 unraced stake, cream came to the top here as Faypoint Sean (Droopys Sydney -Roaming Shari) won for the fourth consecutive week, and remained unbeaten, when winning in 28.78 (10 slow) by six lengths at 2/7 fav, with a winners cheque of €2k going to champion trainer Graham Holland. In the final of the AOS Mechanical Services Ltd and CPSC A4 stake, the €1.5k pot went to Missouri Jumbo (Kinloch Brea - Delboys Cushty) in 29.00 (10 slow) by four lengths at 5/2 with Sean DeBurca training

Also on Thursday, in Shelbourne, in the semifinals of the Mustang Jet @ Stud Open Unraced bitch stake, Cute Intentions won the first for Edenderry owner’s Keith Duffy and Niamh McNamee, in 28.65 by six lengths at 6/4 fav, coming out Rathangan trainer Robert Gleeson’s kennels. The second semi went to Fashion Model for Paul Horig and Stephen Bourke in 28.52 by one length at 5/2.

Friday Racing.

Cork staged the first round of the Michael (Bart) Leahy Memorial A2 stake, which included all eleven races on the card, won last year by  Ballymac Johnjo for Liam Dowling. Double on the night for Holland and Paul Hennessy with the latter supplying the fastest heat winner in Jaytee Etienne, in 28.47 by nine lengths, at 4/5 fav. Another to catch the eye was Kyanite Kate for John Linehan, who stopped the clock in 28.51, by two lengths at 2/1.

Three Offaly winners in the Showgrounds in  Galway, with two for Geashill trainer Margaret Bolton, in an S8 sprint. Mayfield Flyer won by ten lengths in 19.45  (.05 slow). In an A7 525 Cillowen Recruit was first home for her in 29.59 (10 slow) by one length at 4/1. In an ON2 unraced contest, Straws Gift won for Birr owners Bill and John Pardy in 29.64 (10 slow) by two lengths at 7/4.

Some great racing in Kilkenny with a fine card. In the semifinals of the Jag Building Services and KGOBA A1 Derby, Bogger Dusty won the first for Liam Peacock in 28.85 (10 slow) by one length at 2/1. The second heat went to De Black Swallow for Murt Leahy in 29.06 (10 slow) by three lengths at 2/1. In the semi-finals of the Peter Meaney Memorial ON2 unraced stake, Kilara Twinkle was first back in kennels in the first heat for David Flanagan in 29.65 (10 slow) by two lengths at 2/1. The second semi was won in a faster 29.44 (10 slow) by Rafa Secco for Leahy again by a neck at 6/4.

In a wet Shelbourne Park, in the final of the Retired Greyhound Trust A3 stake, All Along (Droopys Sydney - Jet Ski Queen) won the €1.75k purse in 29.22 (30 slow) by one length at 5/2 with Mullingar trainer David Murray training.

In the semifinals of the Talking Dogs A2 stake, Rockmount Zak won the first for Brendan Murphy in 28.97 (30 slow) by four lengths at 6/1. Druids All Go was first over the whitewash in the second for Keeley McGee in 28.93 (30 slow) by seven lengths at 4/5 fav. One Offaly winner on the supporting card, in an A1 race,Leeloo won  for Croghan trainer Nuala Lynch in 29.25 (30 slow) by two lengths at 5/4 fav.

Saturday Racing.

Another full card was taken up in Cork with the first round of their biggest stake of the year, the Bar One Racing Irish Laurels. While the Derby in Shelbourne is all about strength and stamina this Curraheen Park classic is all about speed and especially early pace. It has always been regarded after the Derby as the next best classic to win. With a winners cheque of €30k all the top dogs in the country took their chance in what was and always is the most competitive of stakes. First run in 1944 the history books show that we never had an Offaly winner but we certainly have a fighting chance this year with some very pacey dogs representing the Faithful County. 

Seventy two dogs and twelve heats went to post in front of a full house in Curraheen. All the top trainers had a win with a double for Graham Holland. Holland supplied the joint fastest winner as last week’s winner of the A1 Kasco Derby in Cork Jacktavern Bolt stopped the clock in 28.07 by one length at 9/4. The other dog to equal this super time was Easy Razzle, last week's winner of the Munster Oaks in Waterford for John Linehan, by three lengths at 6/4.

One brilliant Offaly winner on the night, in the final heat, Carrick Aldo fresh from winning the National Sprint in Dundalk in August showed massive pace to win by three lengths against a quality field in 28.15 at 1/1 fav for Edenderry owner Thomas Glynn with David Murray training. Glynn also has another live contender in this stake as Carrick Fergie finished a comfortable third in his heat with Robert Gleeson training. Expect more from this fellow as the competition goes through the rounds weekly. 

The best two races in Limerick were the semi-finals of the Roma Casino Irish Cambridgeshire Open 750. Recent winner of the Corn Cuchalainn open 750 stake Kinturk Road won heat one in 41.60 by a neck at 7/4 from the Kerry kennels of Liam Dowling. The second semi went to Hukum for Adam Dunford in a faster 41.29 by ten lengths at 5/4 fav. 

Two Offaly winners in Mullingar, in an A6 race, Killeshill Lilac won for Croghan owner Vincent Lynch in 30.73 (50 slow) by one length at 2/1. In an A4 grade Clonearl Kate won for Tullamore owners Niall Deegan and Conor McGrath in 29.94 (50 slow) by a neck at a well backed 1/1 fav. 

Thurles hosted the first round of the Kasco Dog Foods ON2 unraced stake, four heats, won last year by Keeperhill Cash for Barbara Rees Jones. Fastest of the four was Vis A Vis for Dave Bourke in 28.94 (20 slow) by nine lengths at 6/4 fav.

Shelbourne Park staged the quarter-finals of the Time Greyhound Nutrition Juvenile Derby, four great heats with the cream of the younger dogs in the country going to traps. Holland again supplied the fastest heat winner as Ballinakill Alf stopped the clock in a fine 28.10 by two lengths at 1/2 fav. Three Offaly dogs made it through to the semifinals and all are certainly in with a live chance of making the final on Saturday, Highview Splash and Highview Treat for Croghan trainer Gerry Merriman and Short Grip who probably is our best chance of outright winner for Rhode owner P.J Cocoman. Here’s hoping.

One final on the night, the Time Greyhound 20 AO dual/distance 525/550 stake, the €2k first prize cheque went to Gowran trainer Paul Hennessy as Jaytee Craze (Ballymac Cashout - Ballymac Minton) just got up on the line to win by a head in a decent 29.53 at 3/1.

Sunday Racing.

One Offaly winner at the matinee meeting in Mullingar with Lingrawn Lola having her twelfth career win for Moneygall owner Mary Jones in an A5 race in 29.91 (60 slow) by four lengths at 1/1 fav. 

Upcoming Events.

Thursday, Shelbourne, final of the Mustang Jet @ Stud Open unraced bitch stake.
Friday, second round of the Michael (Bart) Leahy Memorial A2 stake in cork, semi-finals of the Jag Building Services A1 Derby and final of the Peter Meaney Memorial ON2 unraced both in Kilkenny and final of the Talking Dogs A2 sweepstake in Shelbourne.

Saturday, second round of the Bar One Racing Irish Laurels in Cork, semi-finals of the Kasco Dog Foods ON2 unraced in Thurles, final of the Irish Cambridgeshire in Limerick and semi-finals of the Time Greyhound Nutrition Juvenile Derby in Shelbourne. 

Tribune Offaly dog of the week. Easy decision this week as Carrick Aldo was a brilliant winner in the first round of the Laurels in Cork in 28.15 for Edenderry owner Thomas Glynn. Super performance. 

Offaly Winners.

There were ten Offaly winners this week which was a great return. Congratulations to all who were involved with these winners.