Man About Dog

In West Belfast, a corrupt bookmaker approaches Mo Chara, Scud Murphy, and Cereberal Paulsy and proposes that they help him win a race through underhanded methods. He promises a handsome payout and, in return, says he will give them a dog if they agree to sabotage the race. The men weigh the risk against the potential reward as they listen.

They agree to sabotage the upcoming race as requested, believing it will secure the bookie's favor and the promised dog. The plan involves underhanded manipulation of the event while keeping a low profile. The team then carries out the scheme, hoping to later cash in on the arrangement.

After sabotaging the race as arranged, the trio discovers that the dog they obtained, Boots, is useless as a racing dog. They realize he can't perform, which leaves them with a failed plan and money at stake. The disappointment deepens as they confront the consequences of their actions.

The bookmaker fulfills his promise and grants Cerberus to the trio. They decide to test the new dog at a race, but Cerberus lies down in the box and refuses to move, leaving them with another failed bet and mounting tension. Realizing the risk, they press on with their scheme despite the setback.

After the failed test, the bookmaker and his henchman Mooney abduct the trio and hoist them in the back of a van, where they are confronted about the debt. They wake up to be shown hanging in a dog-food processing plant, and the bookmaker sets a week to repay £50,000. The threat tightens as the men realize escape won't be easy.

The trio escapes south to the Republic of Ireland, hoping that distance and new terrain will help them outpace the bookie and his men. They enter a new circuit of odds and opportunities as they try to stay ahead. The move marks a shift from their Belfast roots to a wider Irish landscape.

At a local fair in the south, the trio races Cerberus again, but the dog loses, triggering Scud to sell him to travellers against Mo Chara's wishes. The decision to part with Cerberus seems to be driven by desperation and stubborn pride. The dog’s fate appears uncertain as they move forward.

They learn that Cerberus is actually a great racer, which Mo Chara attributes to chasing real hares rather than plastic ones. The team realizes real hares are used in Clonmel at the all-Ireland dog coursing championship, foreshadowing a potential comeback. The plan shifts again as they prepare for the Clonmel leg.

After a brief brawl at the travellers' camp, they manage to steal Cerberus and flee along Irish country roads, barely avoiding capture. They crash a chase but reclaim the dog before it’s lost again. The event tightens their bond and deepens their dependence on Cerberus for salvation.

The trio arrives in Dublin and tries to raise funds by taking part in drug-testing at a local clinic. That same night they meet three Polish women; Scud is excluded from sex due to erectile dysfunction, which adds awkward humor to their misadventures. The money situation remains tight as they push toward the Clonmel race.

They finally race Cerberus in Clonmel and the dog wins several races, validating their gambles and raising the stakes. The bookmaker reappears, demanding repayment while the travellers re-enter the scene, threatening the group. The tension builds toward a dramatic confrontation.

The travellers trap the trio near a cliff, threatening to kill them unless conditions are met. Mo Chara negotiates a deal: if Cerberus wins, the boys keep the dog and pay back the travellers with their bets plus half the prize; if the dog loses, they pay the travellers 50,000. Cerberus wins the race, the travellers receive their money, and the trio survives to claim their reward.

With the debt settled and Cerberus’s future secured, Paulsy opens the first hash café in West Belfast, Scud buys a brand-new shop van, and Mo Chara builds a dogtrack to capitalize on Cerberus’s success. Cerberus is put out to stud, ensuring the dog’s lineage continues. The trio’s improvised plan finally yields tangible, lasting rewards.