Gone to the dogs: End of the road for Offaly dog in derby
The connections of the dogs in the Irish derby greyhound final.
Twelve became six after the semifinals of the Boylesports Irish Derby last Saturday. It was a night of shocks at Headquarters as three of the top four, in the betting, to lift the most sought after trophy in greyhound racing exited the competition. Sadly this included our own Trinity Junior.
In addition to the derby there was an abundance of quality racing around the tracks with plenty of valuable finals up for grabs. Offaly winners were to the fore once again with a fine total of first placed dogs
Early Week Racing.
Monday, Enniscorthy, in the final of the Public House Open unraced stake that has been going on for the last four weeks with some quality pups on view. The €2.5k first prize went to Edermine Bonner (Cushie Jet - Edermine Cooper) for Thomas and Patrick O’Gorman in 29.03 (20 slow) by one length at 3/1. Cream came to the top here as Bonner won three of the four heats by an accumulative total of seven lengths.
Thursday, Shelbourne, two finals of note, both worth €1.75k to the winner.
In the Barking Buzz ON1 unraced stake, the classicly bred Swords Hudson (Droopys Sydney - Newinn Cuckoo) shone through as he won by two lengths at 2/1 for champion trainer Graham Holland in 28.88.
In the second final, the Talking Dogs D2 750 stake, Cashen Bazooka (Laughil Blake - Looking Sharp) won for Chris Houlihan in 42.14 by two lengths at 4/1
Friday Racing
In Curraheen Park in Cork, in the first round of the Jack, Mary and Brian Finn Memorial ON2 unraced stake, six heats with a double for Holland. Faypoint Sydney went fastest of the six for Waterford trainer Peter Cronin in 28.41 by nine lengths at 4/6 fav.
The best final for the earlier part of the week was in Kilkenny, the Boylesports A3 bitch stake dominated a decent card in the Marble City. The €5k first prize pot went to Droopys Have It (King Sheeran - Droopys Pickles) in 28.71 (10 fast) by three lengths at 2/1 with Ian Reilly training.
Three Offaly winners in Shelbourne Park, two for Croghan trainer Gerry Merriman. In an A2 grade Highview Treat won in 28.87 by four lengths at 5/1. In an AO race, Highview Splash won in 28.82 by one length at 1/1 fav. Also in an AO, Ripley Delight won for the great Paddy McCormack in 28.79 by one length at 5/1.
Tralee staged the first round of a new stake, the Chris O’Driscoll Foundation A2 sweepstake, six heats all very competitive. Saleen Bradley set the standard for Patrick O’Connor in 28.31 (20 fast) by seven lengths at 2/1.
Saturday Racing.
First Offaly winner was in Thurles, in an A4 525, Totos Bliss won for Birr owner Tony McCormack and Denis Fogarty in 29.06 (20 slow) by five lengths.
Limerick, in the quarterfinals of the Go Greyhound Racing A3 600 yard stake, Chestnut King set the bar highest for Paraic Campion in 32.14 by nine lengths at 1/1 fav. Curraheen Park hosted the quarterfinals of the Kasco A1 Derby, four very evenly contested heats with a double for local trainer Kieran Lynch. Jacktavern Bolt again went fastest for Holland in a super 28.15 by five lengths at 1/2 and looks the one they all have to beat moving into Saturday’s semifinals.
One Offaly winner in Mullingar, in the first round of the Vincent Leavy Memorial A4 stake, four heats, Casa Miro won heat three for Edenderry owners Paul and David Hanlon in 29.67 (50 slow) by six lengths at 1/1 fav.
Some top class racing in Kilcohan Park in Waterford with two of their annual stakes getting underway. In the first round of the Casey Camping and Caravan Open unraced stake, four heats, won last year by Off To Sydney for Pat Buckley. A superstar may have been found here as Epic Chick stopped the clock in 28.18 winning by thirteen lengths at 1/2 fav for John Kennedy Jnr which is an amazing run for a pup on debut. The other three heat winners were half a second slower. In the first round of the Dave Collins Memorial Munster Oaks, won last year by Clogheen Lass for Graham Holland and two weeks ago won the John Fitzgerald Memorial open Oaks also in Waterford. Four heats again with Glengar Martha going fastest for Buckley in 28.54 by one length at 3/1.
Boylesports Irish Derby.
It was a night of shocks in the semifinals of the derby on Saturday, with three hotpots all exiting, favorite De Lahdedah, second favorite Coolavanny Hoffa and Offaly’s best dog and probably best chance of making the final in years Trinity Junior for Edenderry owner Timmy Slevin. However the six remaining dogs are all worthy of being in the final and can look forward to being paraded on Saturday in the final of the Derby.
Heat one went to Music Glideaway for Pat Guilfoyle as he took a flyer from trap six and has again got his favorite trap for the final and was never in any trouble, winning by four lengths at 5/1 from a fast finishing Well Met and his trainer John Jones in 29.32. Threesixfive finished third for Scott Phelan and can look forward to the coming week.
Trinity Junior for Slevin and Clonroosk Sydney for Portlaoise owners Ray Cookie Conroy and Ollie Dunne collided coming out of traps and that put paid to their chances. However both sets of owners while disappointed have had an incredible journey with their dogs in this toughest of competitions and should rightly feel very proud.
The second semi was always going to be a battle as all of the six had credentials to justify qualifying. As it turned out The Other Kobe pinged the lids and was never in trouble for Jennifer O’Donnell winning by one length also at 5/1 in 29.58 with Bens Teddy in second for Pat Buckley. Bockos Crystal made the last spot to qualify for Graham Holland another length back. Some of the losers on the night can feel a small bit a grieved with not getting a clear run but that’s what makes semifinals so special.
Four dogs and two bitches will make up the final with six different trainers represented. Leading stud dog Droopys Sydney will have three in final with two from progeny of Ballymac Best and one from Newinn Taylor makes the Lineup.
Last year's winner Born Warrior has a representative again in final as The Other Kobe is a full brother to him and would be a remarkable achievement if two brothers won it two years in a row, not without a chance with his super early pace. Great achievement for their trainer Jennifer O’Donnell.
Last year after the Covid lockdown was lifted we had a record crowd for many’s a year in attendance and expect the same on Saturday, get there early otherwise Virgin media three will be showing it live on the TV. It promises to be a special night.
Derby Betting.
Sponsors Boylesports have installed The Other Kobe as 2/1 fav to win the trophy with Music Glideaway at 10/3. Well Met is 7/2 with the fast finishing Bens Teddy at 9/2. Graham Holland representative Bockos Crystal is 5/1 with the outsider of the field Threesixfive at 33/1. Plenty of value there, picking the winner is the conundrum.
Sunday Racing.
Just the one Offaly winner at the matinee meeting in Mullingar, in an A5 contest, Lahinch Roxy had her sixth career win for Clara owner P.J. Cleary in 30.01 (50 slow) by a neck at 3/1.
Upcoming Events.
Friday, quarter-finals of the Jack, Mary and Brian Finn Memorial ON2 unraced in Cork and quarterfinals of the Chris O’Driscoll Foundation A2 stake in Tralee.
Saturday, semifinals of the Kasco A1 Derby in Cork, Semifinals of the Vincent Leavy Memorial A4 in Mullingar, semifinals of the Go Greyhound Racing A3 600 in Limerick, semifinals of the Casey Caravan and Camping Open unraced and Dave Collins Memorial Munster Oaks in Waterford. Final of the Michael Fortune Memorial Derby Plate and of course the big one, final of the most Prestigious trophy in all Greyhound Racing, the Boylesports Irish Derby. What a week of racing to come.
Tribune Offaly dog of the week.
While disappointingly not making the final Trinity Junior gets the nod again just for getting to the semifinal of the Boylesports Irish Derby. A remarkable achievement for his owner Timmy Slevin and no doubt we’ll be seeing plenty more of this super hound moving forward.
Offaly Winners.
On a great week for Faithful County greyhounds we ended up with six winners in total. Well done to all involved in any way.
