Gone to the dogs: Eleven Offaly winners as Laurels reaches semi-finals

Undoubtedly the major action of last week was the second round of the Bar One Racing Irish Laurels in Curraheen Park in Cork. Eight magical heats with a few surprises as well as the usual hotpots winning.

Dominating the racing around the rest of the tracks were the quarter-finals of the Paddy Merriman memorial A1 stake in Shelbourne on Friday along with the final of the Kennedy Cup in Limerick and semifinals of the Open 600 Stake in Shelbourne both on Saturday. Offaly winners were aplenty once again with some of our younger dogs certainly certainly grabbing the spotlight.

Early Week Racing

First Offaly winner of the week was on Thursday in Galway as Crinkle Bobby won a semi-final of an S5 sprint stake for Birr owner Gerard Milne in 19.52 by four lengths at 3/1.

Also on Thursday, in Shelbourne, in the final of an A5 Sweepstake Lucky Darragh (Ballyhimikin Jet-Courty Girl) win the €2k first prize in 29.06 by one length at 5/2 for John Byrne.Two Offaly winners on the supporting card. In the first race of the night Highview Summit won an A6 race for Croghan trainer Gerry Merriman in 29.32 by three lengths at 2/1. In the semi-finals of an A3 Bitch Stake Aussie Promise won for Kinnitty owner Jeannette MacKenzie in 28.85 by three lengths at 4/1.


Friday Racing

First two Faithful County winners of the weekend were  at the SIS afternoon meeting in Mullingar. These two winners were in the first and last races on the card. In an A3 contest Bailie Boy won for Paddy McCormack in 30.06 (50 slow) by five lengths at 11/4. Apache Robin was in the winners enclosure in the finale for Clara owner P.J Cleary in an A7 race in. 30.50 (50 slow) by one length at 15/8 fav.

Clonmel, final of the Kasko Bitch Unraced ON2 stake. The €1.8k pot went to Airfield Daisy (Here Comes Syd-Airfield Biddy) for Graham Holland in 29.12 by three lengths at 6/4 fav.

Cork, eight heats in the first round of the Michael (Bart) Leahy Memorial A2 stake won last year by Dynamic Force for Paul Hennessy. Three of the eight heats went to Holland but Hennessy supplied the fastest winner as Lennies Tank stopped the clock in 28.31 by fourteen lengths at 2/7 fav.

Only Offaly winner on Friday evening was in Newbridge. In the semi-finals of an A1 stake, Shear Bear won the first heat for Rhode owner Sean Cocoman in 28.97 by one length at 2/1.


Saturday Racing

There was a winner's prize of €10k awaiting the victor of the Boylesports Lifford Oaks. Of the four heats in the first round at the Donegal track. Singalong Polly went fastest, of the four, for Pat Buckley who made the long trip from Doon in Limerick to win in 28.56 by a short head from Magical Mag for Pat Guilfoyle with Offaly bitch Durrow Star third for Diarmuid O’Neill.

There was an Offaly winner in Drumbo Park in east Belfast as Highview Patrol won an ON2 unraced sprint for Gerry Merriman in 18.19 (15 fast) by one length at 6/4.

The best race in Limerick was the final of the Gammell Car Sales A3 Kennedy Cup. The €3k first prize went to Ballycowen Frank (Ballymac Cashout-Peckies Flyer) who went through this stake unbeaten for Dean Harpur winning the final in a fine 28.30 by six lengths at 1/1 fav.

One Offaly winner in Mullingar. In the final of the ON2 October Unraced stake Optic Helmet (Ballymac Cashout-Muffin) made it two wins from two starts for Edenderry trainer David Hanlon in 29.50 (50 slow) by nine lengths at 1/3 fav with a cheque for €650 heading to the North Offaly owner.

It was a cracking card in Shelbourne with numerous sweepstakes either commencing or advancing. The first four races on the card were the quarterfinals of the valuable Paddy Merriman Memorial A1 stake. Liam Dowling is totally dominating this stake as he won three of the four heats also including the fastest of the quartet. Ballymac Altobel crossed the winning line in 28.15 by seven lengths at 5/4 fav.  In the semifinals of the Yvonne Barry Track Bookmaker Open 600 Stake Coosane Pickles won the first for Michael O’Donovan in 32.47 by one length at 5/4 fav. The fav also won the second semi as Ballinabola Joe won at 4/6 for Pat Buckley in a faster 32.26 by a short head from 2024 English Derby winner De Lahdedah.

Irish Laurels

Eight sensational heats in the second round of the Bar One Racing Irish Laurels Open 525 with each heat having an individual local sponsor. There was a double on the night for Kerry trainer Liam Dowling including the fastest heat winner in Ballymac Setanta in a rapid 28.09 by two lengths at 4/6 fav. Next fastest on the Curraheen circuit was Faypoint Ranger for Graham Holland in 28.17.

 After the results on Saturday Paddy Power bookmaker installed Solo And Go as 3/1 fav along with Droopys Patriot. Ballymac Setanta was 9/2 with Magical On Fire and Faypoint Ranger at 7/1. 14/1 bar. 


Sunday Racing

Three Offaly winners at the matinee meeting in Mullingar. In an A6 race Horseleap Lucy won by a short head in 30.09 (50 slow) at 11/4 for Sean McGuinness. 

In an A7 contest Star Michael won for Moneygall owner Liam Jones in 30.07 (50 slow) by two lengths at 11/10 fav.

Race 10 had Lahinch Blaze back in winners enclosure for the twenty third time for P.J. Cleary in an A3 grade in 29.71 (50 slow) by one length at 4/1. 

Upcoming Events.

Friday, quarter-finals of the Michael (Bart) Leahy Memorial A2 stake in Cork and final of an A1 stake in Newbridge. Saturday, quarterfinals of the Bar One Racing Laurels in Cork, semifinals of the Boylesports Open Lifford Oaks, semi-finals of the Paddy Merriman memorial and final of the Yvonne Barry track bookmaker Open 600 both in Shelbourne. 


Tribune Offaly Dog Of The Week

Shear Bear has been ultra consistent tracker for Sean Cocoman and on Friday won in the semifinals of a tough A1 stake in Newbridge in a super 28.97 by one length. Fine performance. Hopefully on Friday, in the final, he repeats this performance and will be hard stoped. Well deserved.

One For The Notebook

For the second week in a row Optic Helmet gets the nod here when winning the final of the October Unraced stake in Mullingar, for David Hanlon, in a fine 29.50 (50 slow) by nine lengths. Bright future ahead of this January pup for Hanlon. Worth keeping an eye on.

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Offaly Winners

Eleven Offaly winners last week. Well done to all involved in any way.