Gone to the dogs: Five Offaly winners as Derby reaches final

Twelve became six after the running of the semi-finals of the Boylesports Irish Derby last Saturday with two magnificent heats. A bumper crowd in Shelbourne to witness a great card which also included the semifinals of the Michael Fortune Memorial Derby plate. Elsewhere around the tracks all graded races were worth €500 to the winner which was a great promotional offer from the Greyhound board.

We also had the final of the On Faya Galway Oaks, first round of the annual Bosco Gleeson Memorial in Newbridge and semifinals of the Kilkenny Derby. 

Early Week Racing

Nothing much of note for the first four days of the week with the exception of a few sweepstakes semi-finals which will conclude this week.

Friday Racing

First two Offaly winners of the week were at the afternoon SIS meeting in Mullingar. In an A5 race Lahinch Molly won for Clara owner P.J. Cleary in 29.93 (50 slow) by three lengths at 15/8 fav. In an A4 contest Killeshill Milo stopped the clock in 29.56 (50 slow) by four lengths at 7/2.

 In Tralee, the best race on the night was the final of the MCP Group Tri-Distance A3. The €1.85k first prize went to Garrison Dundee (Tullig Cyrname-Garrison Winton) for Richard Gentleman in 31.06 (10 fast) by one length at 3/1.

Six heats in the first round of the Bosco Gleeson Memorial A2 Stake dominated the card in Newbridge which was won last year by Syrax for Edenderry trainer Paul Cronin. Heat one on Friday was won by Shear Bear for Rhode owner Sean Cocoman, in 28.89 by two lengths, at 2/1. Fastest of the sextet was Sassy Suzy for Michael Brennen in 28.79 by one length. In the final of the September ON2 Unraced Stake Ratchies Marco (Jaytee Taylor-Glory Millie) where the €1k first prize went to P.J. Peacock in 29.01 by nine lengths at 6/1.

Two finals in Headquarters starting with the conclusion of the Shelbourne Museum A2 stake Nushkas Best (Ballymac Best-Killeen Princess) won the €2k purse for trainer Maureen Finnegan in 28.73 by three lengths at 3/1. In an A4 Dual-Distance final over the 575 trip Onceina Lifetime (Grangeview Ten-Blossoms Pet) proved too good for his rivals in 31.37 by one length at 1/3 fav with Brendan Mathews training.

The semi-finals of the JAG Building Services and KGOBA A1 Derby were the featured events in Kilkenny. Gortkelly John won the first for Andrew Murray in 28.94 (30 slow)  by one length at 4/1. The second heat was won by Lemon Mundy for Tom Lennon and Michael Kennedy in a slower 29.21 (30 slow) by two lengths at 7/2.

Saturday Racing

Three finals of note in Galway including the On Faya Galway Oaks which had a prize of €10k for the winner. First home in this valuable competition was Badly Behaving (Ballymac Cashout-Ballymac Cams) for Shaun Conway in 28.55 by seven lengths. Droopys Faithful was second for Daniel O’Rahilly and received a pot of €4K with Blundel Lizzie in third for Paul Cronin with a cheque for €2k heading to the Edenderry trainer. 

In the final of the Crafty Kennels ON2 Unraced Brickhill Lewis (Dromana Bucko-Brickhill Sharon) took the spoils and a winners prize of €1.2k in 28.81 by three lengths at 7/4 for John Collins and Mark Patterson.

The third final in Galway was the Stephen Molloy Memorial A1 Stake. Stick With Me (Grangeview Ten- Dana Point) won the €1.4K pot for the Mullins-Curtin-Syndicate in 29.02 by two lengths at 6/4 fav.

The two standout races in Limerick were the semi-finals of the O’Connor Julian Vets Cashel A2 Tri-Distance stake over the 575 trip. Beaming Bronco won the first for Corona Ryan in 31.46 (10 fast) by two lengths at 3/1. Rockstar Willie won the second semi for John Byrne in a near similar time of 31.44 (10 fast) by a neck at 6/4 fav. 

In addition to the Derby there was an abundance of super racing in Shelbourne. In the semi-finals of the Michael Fortune Memorial Derby Plate Carrick Scholsey was a brilliant winner of the first heat for Edenderry owner Thomas Glynn, in 29.45 by three lengths, at 4/7 fav with Robert Gleeson training. The second semi was a slower affair with Sunshine Sioux crossing the winning line in 29.98 by a neck at 10/3 for Owen McKenna. 

In the final of an AO sweepstake Stringer (Ballymac Cashout-Highview Magnet) was a convincing three length winner of the €2k first prize in 28.39 by three lengths at 7/2 for Paul Mathews.

Thurles, first round of the Kasko Dog Foods ON2 Unraced won last year by Magical Blaze for Pat Guilfoyle. Four heats with Oriental Diamond setting the best numbers when winning in 29.34 by one length at 5/2 for the Organised-Chaos- Syndicate. 

Two finals in Curraheen Park Cork, in the finale of the Jack, Mary and Brian Finn Memorial ON2 unraced won in 2024 by Danzig Rebel for James Kelleher. This year the €1.75k pot was won by Curious Callie (The Other Kobe- Swift Magnetic) in 29.04 by two lengths at 4/7 fav who won all his three heats and went unbeaten for Pat Noonan. In the final of the Barking Buzz AO Mini Open Barefoot On Fire (Grangeview Ten-Jaytee Osprey) won in a smart 28.23, by two lengths at 1/1 fav, with a prize of €2k heading to Gowran and Paul Hennessy.

No Offaly winner in Mullingar on Saturday night which thankfully is a rare event. 

Boylesports Irish Derby

Cheap Sandwiches provided a display last Saturday seldom seen in the semi-finals of any Derby when pinging the lids and putting a class field to the sword. He won by thirteen lengths in a magnificent 29.14 at 1/2 fav for Graham Holland. There was trouble behind him to create such a large margin but it was racing at its very best. Oreo Ollie for Jack Kennelly and Barefoot On Song for Hennessy came out of the melee at the first bend to finish second and third.  Unfortunately Oreo was later suspended in the stewards room which brought back in English raider Proper Heiress getting promoted from fourth to qualify.

In the second semi-final Glengar Silent displayed magnificent back straight pace for Pat Buckley to get past Magical Mag for Pat Guilfoyle and win by two lengths at 15/8. Droopys came from off the pace to snatch second for Robert Gleeson with Mag just behind in third with a big gap back to the remaining three. If the race runs to form Sandwiches has everything needed to win but finals can throw up upsets regularly and it’s certainly no procession as all have claims to win. 

Derby Betting

All last week sponsors Boylesports were quoting Cheap Sandwiches as short as 5/4 fav, Proper Heiress was 4/1, Ballymac Stud at 6/1 with Magical Mag and Glengar Silent at 8/1. 25/1 bar. On Sunday morning the betting was as follows Sandwiches had hardened to money on at 8/15, Glengar Silent is now second fav at 4/1. Proper Heiress is 5/1 with Magical Mag at 8/1. The two outsiders of the the field are Droopys Deploy at 25/1 and Barefoot on song at 33’s. 

Derby Statistics

Two bitches remain in the final Magical Mag and Barefoot On Song. Barefoot is the oldest in the final as she is a February 22 bitch. Glengar Silent is the youngest as he was whelped in August 23.

Proper Heiress has drawn trap one for Mark Wallis who has won 20 of his 23 starts and has won over €4K in prize money. Magical Mag is in the blue jacket for Guilfoyle who has won 11 of her 23 races and has already won over €14k. Trap three is the outsider of the field Barefoot On Song for Hennessy but has won 8 of her 29 starts and has over €22k banked. The striped jacket is being worn by second fav Glengar Silent who has only run 10 times having won on 4 occasions and has won over €3k. Favorite Cheap Sandwiches is in five and has won 17 of his 38 starts for Holland and has won over €66k in Ireland alone and excludes his winnings from his second place finish in the English Derby in 2024. The dog in the six box is Droopys Deploy for Rathangan trainer Robert Gleeson who has won six of his 26 races and has amassed over €11k in prize money. 

Five different stud dogs have got their progeny to the decider, two for Droopys Sydney with one each for Burgess Bucks,  Grangeview Ten, Malachi and Ballymac Cashout. 

Holland has six Derbys won with four Irish and two English. Pat Guilfoyle has one Irish already in the bag, Pat Buckley has one of each, Mark Wallis has two from his home patch, Paul Hennessy has two English and one Irish and finally Gleeson  has one Irish Derby with Slippery Robert.

Sunday Racing

Just the one Faithful County winner at the matinee meeting in Mullingar. In an A4 race Vincent Lynch was back in the winners enclosure, for the second time this week, as Killeshill Devine won by six lengths at 11/4 in 29.66 (50 slow). 

Upcoming Events

Friday, final of the JAG Building Services and KGOBA A1 Derby in Kilkenny and quarter-finals of the Bosco Gleeson Memorial A2 Stake in Newbridge. Saturday, final of the O’Connor Julian Vets Cashel A2 Tri-Distance Stake in Limerick. Semifinals of the Kasko Dog Foods ON2 Unraced in Thurles, final of the Michael Fortune Memorial Derby Plate and of course the big one, final of our blue ribbon event The Boylesports Irish Derby. Hoping for a classic.

Tribune Offaly Dog Of The Week

For the second week in a row, and seventh time in total, Carrick Scholsey gets the nod for winning his heat in the semifinals of the Michael Fortune Memorial Derby Plate last Saturday in Shelbourne in a super 29.45 for Thomas Glynn. Unless there is a shock on Saturday hard not to see this super dog winning this trophy. Fine performance.

SEE NEXT: Fixtures made for big Offaly hurling championship games

Offaly Winners

Five  Offaly winners last week. Congratulations to all connections.