Gone from the dogs: Offaly man trains Laurels winner

A first prize of €30k was on offer to the winner of the Bar One Racing Irish Greyhound Laurels in Cork last Saturday where a packed stadium watched an incredible final. Shelbourne hosted the semifinals of the Puppy Oaks with the semifinals of the Fair Warrior Open Sprint in Mullingar being the other featured events in another super week of racing.

Early Week Racing

Nothing of note for the first four days last week except on final in Shelbourne on Thursday. In the conclusion of Novice Marathon Open 750 Stake Youknowwho (Malachi-Bull Run Blue) won the €1.5k first prize in 42.85 by one length at 3/1 for Nigel McGarry.

Friday Racing

First two Offaly winners of the week were at the matinee SIS meeting in Mullingar with both for Paddy McCormack. In an A5 race Fahy Shop won in 30.39 (60 slow) by a neck at 11/8 joint fav. In an A6 contest Bailie Lad was the Rhode trainer second win in 30.33 (60 slow) by two lengths at 11/10 fav.

Only other Offaly winner on Friday was at the evening meeting in Galway as Breaghmore Tilly won the semifinal of an A6 stake for Kinnitty owner M.J. Corrigan in 29.36 (10 slow) by four lengths at 6/4 fav.

Kilkenny staged the first round of the Boylesports A3 Bitch stake. Three heats with Florican Heights setting the standard in 29.10 (20 slow) by four lengths at 6/4 for Mathew Murphy.

Newbridge staged the semifinals of a very competitive ON2 Unraced stake. Coonough Laura won the first for Barry Clancy in 29.22 by six lengths at 4/5 fav. The second semi was won by Nextoneout for Frazer Black in a faster 29.05 by six lengths at 2/1.

Two finals in Shelbourne both won by trainer Brendan O’Shea. In the Upcoming Events A2 Stake final Crossfield Dean (Droopys Sydney-Crossfield Linda) won the €2k pot in 28.55 by five lengths at 1/1 fav. In the final the Three Steps to Victory A3 Tri-Distance Stake over the 575 trip Crossfield Roman (Droopys Sydney-Crossfield Feena) won the €2.25k purse for O’Shea in 31.26 by five lengths at 7/2.

The final of the Timmy Ward Memorial A1 Stake was the best race of a decent card in Tralee. Ballymac Siun (King Elvis-Ballymac Merkle) made it three wins from three starts in this competition and won the €3k prize for local Kerry trainer Liam Dowling by two lengths at a short 1/2 fav.

Saturday Racing.

As well as the final of the Laurels in Cork the undercard was probably the strongest in years where over €125k was given out in prize money. There were eight races with €2k to the winners, one worth €10k, one €5k and one €4K all to winners aswell as €51k in the classic decider. 

Few at a glance. In the final of the Knockeen Dazzler @ stud Open bitch stake, Glengar Martha (Droopys Sydney-Glengarbadminton) won the €4K pot for Pat Buckley and has brought her career earnings to over €35k in 28.09 by three lengths at 6/4 fav.

In the Bar One Racing Irish Laurels Plate Da Tapper Flynn (Droopys Sydney-Droopys Lagoon) brought home the €5k cheque for Pat Kiely in 28.21 by two lengths at 5/1. 

The €10k to the winner was in the final of the Michael (Bart) Leahy memorial A2 stake. Lennies Tank (Good Cody-Deelish Oreo) proved too strong for his rivals on the run home to win by three lengths at 2/1 in 28.15 with Paul Hennessy at the helm.

The first round of one of Galways big stakes of the year started this week. The Liam Brussels Memorial A4 won last year by Lemon Orca for Tom O’Neill. Glengar Sofia set the standard when stopping the timer in 29.11 by five lengths at 6/4 for Gerry Holian. 

Mullingar, semi-finals of the Pat Doran Memorial Fair Warrior Open 400 Sprint Stakes. The two favorites won their respective heats. Stefans Galaxy won the first for Shea Campbell at 4/6 in 21.34 (20 slow) by two lengths. The second heat was a great Offaly winner as last weeks Tribune Dog Of The week Gem Friendly crossed the whitewash in a super 21.29 (20 slow), by four lengths for  Daingean owner Conor McGrath, at 4/5 fav with Vincent McKenna training. Could be a great night for the North Offaly kennel on Saturday. Fingers crossed.

A bumper night of racing in Shelbourne with a feast of open class racing. Firstly four heats in the IGOBF National Puppy Stakes won last year by Untold Rufiyaa for David Byrne. Champion trainer Graham Holland won two of the four including the fastest heat winner in Shotgun Dez in 28.13 by a head at 5/2.

In the semi-finals of the Gourmet Island Open Puppy Oaks Stake, Good Katie won the first in 28.49 by two lengths at 6/4 fav. The second semi was won by Liam Dowling as  Ballymac Kamala won in a decent 28.15 by a head at 1/1 fav. Dowling has totally dominated this stake from the start and now has four in Saturday’s final. Some training feat. 

The concluding race on the card was another brilliant Offaly winners. Durrow Star came from way off the pace to just get up on the line in an AO 550 showing amazing pace to win for Durrow owner Diarmuid O’Neill with Francis Murray training. The winning time was a fine 29.71 by the shortest of heads at 4/1.

Irish Laurels

The final of the Bar One Racing Irish Greyhound Laurels proved to be a once in a lifetime race. All six went to traps with all having decent claims. When the lids went up favourite Solo And Go set the early pace and down the back looked in total command to win this classic for Kerry and Liam Dowling but as the line approached he was seriously running out of petrol and Magical On Fire (Ballymac Cashout-Burgess Sarah) pipped him on the line for Pat Guilfoyle, from Moneygall in Offaly, to win by a head in 27.93 at a big price of 13/2.

It was a super training performance for Guilfoyle as he stated on the great TV coverage by Virgin Media that she needed to be at her best as the trap draw was not in her favour. This was the second year in a row that a bitch has won this classic as Crafty Shivoo took the spoils in 2024. For Guilfoyle the €30k first prize is certainly is an added comfort but having this super bitch going into the breeding paddocks must surely be a dream to look forward to. This was Guilfoyle’s second big win of the week having won the Lifford Oaks the previous Saturday with Magical Mag. A kennel in form.  

Solo and Go ran admirably to just get done on the line for Dowling but received a cheque for €8k with Lemon Joey third for Murt Leahy getting €4K. The remaining three runners each received a prize of €3k.  It was a super Laurels this year with five weeks of amazing contests but there only can become one winner and Magical On Fire wrote herself into the record books and name inscribed on this magnificent trophy. What a win. What a dog. 

Sunday Racing

No Offaly winner at the matinee meeting in Mullingar last Sunday which is certainly a rarity.

Upcoming Events

Friday, final of an A6 Sweepstake in Galway, final of an ON2 unraced in Newbridge and semifinals of the Boylesports A3 bitch stake in Kilkenny.

Saturday, semi-finals of the Liam Brussels Memorial A4 in Galway. Semifinals of the IGOBF National Puppy Stakes and final of the Gourmet Island Puppy Oaks both in Shelbourne. Final of the Pat Doran Memorial Fair Warrior Open Sprint in Mullingar. 

Tribune Offaly Dog Of The Week

Close decision this week but Durrow Star gets the nod for winning an AO 550 race in Shelbourne on Saturday in a magnificent 29.71 for Diarmuid O’Neill. Any dog who wins on a Saturday in Shelbourne deserves recognition as its of the highest standard. This was a statement maker that Durrow Star came can now mix it with the best in the country. Brilliant performance.

One For The Notebook

Breaghmore Tilly looks an interesting prospect for M.J. Corrigan when winning her first race in the semifinals of an A6 stake in Galway on Friday in 29.36 (10 fast) by four lengths. Seems to have got her breaking together now and expect to see this young bitch in the winners enclosure more frequently now. Big future ahead.

SEE NEXT: Supporter at centre of after match row was suspended by Offaly GAA last year as Kilcormac-Killoughey reword brief statement


Offaly Winners

Five Offaly winners last week. Well done to all connections.