GONE TO THE DOGS: Six Offaly winners as Easter Cup commences in Shelbourne

Another brilliant week of racing with valuable stakes going through the rounds and some finishing up with very exciting finals.

Semifinals of the McCalmont Cup in Kilkenny, first round of the Brownstown Tango and NTSC Open Bitch Unraced in Newbridge, semifinals of the Cork Oaks in Curraheen Park and five heats in the first round of the Easter Cup in Shelbourne.

Early Week Racing

Nothing of note for first four days of racing. However from this week there will be a matinee SIS meeting in Mullingar on Wednesdays. Hopefully the Offaly winners come good as would be the norm.

Friday Racing

Two very exciting semifinals in Deadly Kennels McCalmont A1 Cup in Kilkenny. Sober Barry won the first for Karol Ramsbottom in 29.09 (30 slow) by three lengths at 4/5 fav. Carrigeen Whit won the second for Thomas Buggy in a faster 29.01 (30 slow) by two lengths at 5/2. No Offaly winner at matinee SIS meeting in Mullingar.

Three heats in the first round of the Brownstown Tango and NTSC Open Unraced Bitch stake in Newbridge -won last year by Droopys Bundle and Robert Gleeson. Ballymac Allory won the first for Liam Dowling in the fastest of the three heats, in 28.84 by eight lengths, at 1/1 fav. The second heat was won by Sunset Ruby for Brendan Murphy, in 28.96 by one length, at 3/1. Droopys Crispy was the final heat winner for Barry Clancy and Graham Ashe in 29.01 by two lengths at 2/1. Expect all qualifiers to improve dramatically on the clock over the next couple of weeks. Two Offaly winners on the supporting card. In an S1 Sprint So Its Ranger had his eight career win in sixteen starts for Birr owner Paul Pardy in 18.01 by one length at 1/1 fav. The final race on the card was an A1 525. Coff Butler was back in the winners enclosure for Mount Lucas owners Anthony and Elaine O’Grady in a fine 28.62 by six lengths at 5/4.

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One final in Shelbourne. In the conclusion of an A3 stake, Walkabout Johnny won the €1.75k first prize in 28.61 by five lengths at 3/1 for Paddy Flynn.

Another Offaly winner on this card as Aussie Princess won an A4 550 for Kinnitty owner Jeannette MacKenzie in 30.06 by two lengths at 3/1.

In a final of the RCETS ON2 Unraced in Tralee, Magical Jet (Droopys Jet- Magical Poppy) won the €1.45k first prize for Pat Guilfoyle in 28.34 by a wide margin of twelve lengths at 2/5 fav.

Saturday Racing

Curraheen Park, semifinals of the Open Cork Oaks. Magical On Fire won the first for Guilfoyle again in 28.34 by three lengths at 6/4. The second semifinal was won in a near identical time of 28.36 as Clan Sapphire won for Francis Murray, also by three lengths, at 5/2.

The best race on the card and most valuable of the week was the final of the Kilcolgan Castle Connaught AO 550 Derby. The €9k first prize was won by Droopys Map (Droopys Sydney-Droopys Dancer) who took the right night to win his only round in this four week competition, for Murt Leahy in 30.03 (10 slow) by four lengths, at 9/2. Hollywell Merlin was second for Alison Coxon winning a runners up prize of €2.5k.

One other final on what was a very competitive card. In the finale of the Merlin Bar A2 Bitch Stake Avenue Queen (King Elvis-Avenue Ana) won the €2.5k purse for Northern Ireland trainer Brian Robinson, in 28.89 (10 slow) by six lengths, at 5/4. Two Offaly winners on the night with both going to the same household. In an S4 sprint Patch It Up made it two wins from four starts for Kinnitty owner Michael James Corrigan Jnr in 19.19 (10 slow) by two lengths at 2/1. In an A2 525 Breaghmore Joeys won for his dad M.J. Snr in 29.02 (10 fast) by five lengths at 3/1.

One Offaly winner in Mullingar.Killeshill Callie had his fourteenth career win in an A5 contest for Croghan owner Vincent Lynch in 29.86 (50 slow) by two lengths at 2/1.

€5k went to the winner of the Deise Plastering Novice 730 in Waterford. Blackstone Cola (Dromano Bucko- Blackstone Lacey) was the recipient of that prize when winning by two lengths for David Flanagan in 40.71 at 5/2.

Five heats in the first round of the Shelbourne Park Bookmakers AAO 550 won last year by Hopes Teddy for Pat Buckley. Fastest of the five was Droopys Kathleen who unquestionably is one of the fastest greyhounds in training. Only for a litany of injuries over the last eighteen months she would surely have been contesting all the major classics. A tremendous training feat by Robert Gleeson to get her back to her brilliant best winning on Saturday in a super 29.31 by four lengths at 1/1. Hopefully now she stays injury free as all in the Greyhound industry want to see this amazing bitch over the coming months.

One final on the night as Town Hoffa (Coolavanny Hoffa-Town Curly) won the Sporting Press A3 Stake with €1.75k going to Sean Dooley in 28.81 by two lengths at 6/1.

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Sunday Racing

No Offaly winners in Clonmel, Lifford or Drumbo Park.

Upcoming Events

Friday, final of the McCalmont Cup in Kilkenny, semifinals of the Brownstown Tango and NTSC Open Unraced in Newbridge. Saturday, final of the Cork Oaks and quarterfinals of the Easter Cup in Shelbourne. First round of Ireland's second most valuable stake The Con And Annie Kirby Memorial in Limerick.

Tribune Offaly Dog Of The Week

Coff Butler gets the nod this week and for the third time for Anthony and Elaine O’Grady when winning an A1 525 in a very impressive 28.62 by six lengths on Friday night in Newbridge. Fine performance.

One For The Notebook

Patch It Up looks a prospect for M.J. Corrigan Jnr when showing a lot of pace to win in Galway on Saturday in an S4 sprint by two lengths in a decent 19.19 (10 slow). No doubt he has the ability to climb the grades over the summer and the Kinnitty owner could have a very smart sprinter on his hands. Fingers crossed.

Offaly Winners

Six Faithful County winners last week. Congrats to all connections.

DC