Gone to the dogs: Six Offaly winners as Laurels reaches final

All roads lead to Curraheen Park for the semi-finals of the Bar One Irish Greyhound Laurels. Also on the card in Cork were the semifinals of the Michael (Bart) Leahy Memorial sweepstake.

The final of the Lifford Oaks in Donegal, quarter-finals of the Pat Doran Memorial Fair Warrior in Mullingar, the final of the Paddy Merriman memorial and the first round of the Gourmet Island Puppy Oaks, both in Shelbourne, dominated this week’s racing nationwide. Offaly winners were once again to the fore with plenty in the winners enclosure.

Early Week Racing

Monday, Enniscorthy, final of the Kiltrea Kennels open unraced stake where the €2k first prize went to Glengar Blitz (Glengar Bale-Streams Of Sydney) in 29.07 by eight lengths at 7/4 for Doon trainer Pat Buckley.

Shelbourne, Thursday, final of the October Shelbourne Regulars A4 Stake where Micheal Seamus (Good News- Brockville Aiya) in 29.05 (40 slow) also by eight lengths at 2/1 co- fav for Ken Duce.

First Offaly winner of the week was at this meeting as Aussie Connect won for Kinnitty owner Jeannette Mackenzie in an A5 race in 29.80 (40 slow) by three lengths at 5/4 fav.

Friday Racing

First Offaly winner of the weekend was at the Matinee SIS meeting in Mullingar. In the first race on the card Bailie Boy won an A3 contest for Paddy McCormack in 29.50 (40 slow) by six lengths at 3/1.

Two Offaly winners in Galway with both for Birr owner Gerard Milne. In an S7 350 sprint Crinkle Denis won in 19.47 (.05 slow) by three lengths at 1/1 fav. Also over the sprint distance but in an S3 race Crinkle Ranger won in 19.56 (.05 slow) by one length at 2/1.

Newbridge, in an S3 325 sprint  race So Its Ranger won by three lengths in 17.71 (10 slow) at 4/5 fav for Birr owner Paul Pardy with Vincent McKenna training.

Two Finals of note in Shelbourne. In the Talking Dogs A1 525 decider Dear Sir (Premier Fantasy-Dear Oh Dear) won the €3k first prize pot in 28.50 by five lengths at 4/6 fav for Laurence Jones.

In the conclusion of an A1 Daul Distance Stake over 600 yards Town Lucky (Dorotas Wildcat-Town Lucky) was first home for Sean Dooley by one length at 6/1 with a cheque for €2k heading his way.

The first three races on the card were heats in the Shelbourne Open Unraced Stake where Uncle Keith set the standard for Mark Robinson,in a fine 28.3, by four lengths at 5/2.

Saturday Racing

Semi-finals of the Michael (Bart) Leahy memorial A2 were the two best races on the  undercard to the Laurels in Cork. The first semi was won by The Other Eimear for Jennifer O’Donnell in 28.47 by three lengths at 4/1. The second heat went to Low Profile for Graham Holland in 28.37 by two lengths at 7/4.

Lifford, final of the Boylesports Lifford Oaks where Magical Mag (Ballymac Cashout-Mystical Luna) proved too strong for her rivals for Pat Guilfoyle in 28.69 by one length. A super prize of €10k on the way to the Guilfoyle kennels. Hackney Tango was second for Michael Taggart and received a prize of €2k.

Also in Lifford in the final of the Northwest Greyhound Supplies A3 stake Ballymac Jedgar (Ballymac Cashout- Ballymac Petula) won the €2k purse for trainer Alan Byrne in 28.90 by two lengths.

The only Offaly winner in Mullingar was in the quarter-finals of the Pat Doran memorial Fair Warrior Open 400 as last weeks winner of One For The Notebook Gem Friendly  blitzed the field to win by four lengths in the fastest of the four heats in 21.24 (20 slow) at 5/2 for Daingean owner Conor McGrath and trainer Vincent McKenna.  One other Offaly dog remains in the competition-  Parkrun - for Rhode owner P.J. Cocoman.

The best race on the card in Shelbourne was the final of the Paddy Merriman memorial A1 Stake in recognition of a great Offaly and Croghan man who gave a lifetime to this sometimes very tough industry. The €10k first prize pot went to Kerry and Liam Dowling as Ballymac Gloria (Ballymac Cooper-Ballymac Wisdom) in 28.13 (25 fast) by four lengths at 4/5 fav. Down Tothe Wire was second for Brendan Mathews and won a runner up prize of €3.5k.

Three heats in the first round of the Gourmet Island Puppy Oaks won last year by the great Droopys Kathleen and Robert Gleeson. Dowling proved to be the man in form winning two of the three heats. Fastest of the three was litter sister to the winner of the Paddy Merriman memorial as Ballymac Chantry stopped the timer in 27.92 (25 fast) by seven lengths at 5/2. Millabbey Roxie won heat one for Mark Robinson in 28.60 (25 fast) with Ballymac Kamala winning heat three in 28.09 (25 fast) by six lengths. Of the twelve dogs remaining in this valuable competition Dowling is holding most of the aces as he has five of them.

Irish Laurels

Bumper crowd in Bishopstown in Curraheen Park for the semi-finals of the Bar One Racing Irish Laurels. Two cracking heats with in form trainer Liam Dowling having the fastest heat winner in his kennels. Last week's track record equaliser Ballymac Setanta this time crossed the whitewash in 27.99 by three lengths at 5/4 second fav. The second heat went to Kilkenny as Lemon Joey won for Murt Leahy in 28.09 by six lengths at 5/1. Again Dowling is dominating this stake as he will have three of the six finalists on Saturday evening. Should be a cracker.

Sunday Racing

One Offaly winner at the matinee SIS meeting in Mullingar. Lemon Arnold won an A6 race for Moneygall owner Liam Jones in 30.17 (50 slow) by four lengths at 6/4 fav.


Upcoming Events

Friday, semi-finals of the Shelbourne Open Unraced Stake.

Saturday, finals  of the Michael (Bart) Leahy Memorial and Bar One Racing Irish Greyhound Laurels both in Cork. Semifinals of the Pat Doran memorial Fair Warrior Open 400 in Mullingar and semifinals and semifinals of the Gourmet Island Puppy Oaks in Shelbourne. 


Tribune Offaly Dog Of The Week

Easy decision this week Gem Friendly was easily the fastest of the four heats winners in the quarterfinals of the Bar One Racing Fair Warrior in Mullingar on Saturday when crossing the line in 21.24 (20 slow) winning by four lengths for Conor McGrath. A special run from this very talented young dog.

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Offaly Winners

Six Offaly winners this week. Well done to all concerned.