RECORD EQUALING CLONA DUKE LIGHTS UP SECOND ROUND KIRBY ACTION

Peter Farrell

The second round heats of the Con & Annie Krby Memorial took centre stage at Limerick Greyhound Stadium last night and it was a night to remember as Clona Duke equaled the track record, as well as making history in recording the quickest time ever in the Kirby Classic.

The RPGTV Juvenile Derby winner is certainly on a mission down at Limerick and after posting a rapid 28.07 in the opening round, he went even faster last night to equal the 2013 track record, held incidentally by College Maybe (27.95). That said, in general all eight heats produced incredible performances and with the field now cut to 24-runners, things are set to get hugely competitive going forward.

There is only one place to start and that is heat four as Graham Holland and Kevin O’Brien sent out their Juvenile Derby champion. Clona Duke soon leapfrogged Ryhope Beach last weekend as the outright favourite for KIrby glory after he posted 28.07 on a surface that was described as far from flying, however, he was to make a bit of history last night as he became the fastest greyhound ever in a Con & Annie Kirby since its inception. Running from trap four, his display last weekend saw him go off as the 1/3 favourite and it's fair to say that his rivals knew their fate from an early stage. Quickly away from boxes to post a 1.23 opening sectional, the son of Malachi and Coolavanny Pearl showed the superior early pace and he immediately took charge to escape first bend trouble that saw several runners impacted as a result. In turn, this allowed Clona Duke to stretch out magnificently heading into the back straight and it was clear he was producing something special as he raced into the penultimate turn with a good twelve lengths in hand. Without breaking stride around the bottom two bends as he stopped the third bend sectional in 15.91, Clona Duke once again showed his abundance of stamina as he maintained a relentless gallop to come home well clear of the chasing pack. Run Faster and Jays Swallow claimed the qualifying positions in behind but this was all about Clona Duke as he stopped the clock in a blistering 27.95. (Sec: 15.91)

HOLLAND TREBLE AS HANZO AND TOMMY NOTCH WINS

Indeed, it proved another memorable night for Graham Holland as he accounted for three heat winners in total as both Hovex Tommy and Romeo Hanzo landed their respective contests in expert style.

Next best on the clock was the brilliantly talented Romeo Hanzo in the penultimate heat of the night. Owned by David Firmager, who also safely negotiated Romeo Magico into the final of the BresBet Easter Cup at Shelbourne Park, this tracker has phenomenal gears when on-song and despite this being a four-dog affair, he was to win in terrific fashion at odds of 4/1. Running from trap four, he too took a flier from his middle berth to lead Pape Di Oro in the opening strides. Showing a lovely turn of foot entering the back straight, Romeo Hanzo continued to lead but Bogger Lucky looked a huge threat entering the third bend as he emerged right on the tail of his rival. Romeo Hanzo slammed the door shut at this point however, and this proved the decisive move. Thereafter, there was simply no catching the son of Romeo Recruit and Fabulous Mila as he romped to a four and a half length victory over Ballymac Seanie in second, while the luckless Bogger Lucky kept on well to claim third. The time was another mouth-watering 28.07. (Sec: 16.01)

The Holland bandwagon was already in full throttle as Hovex Tommy sprung a surprise in heat two with the 5/1 chance making every inch of the running to record a smart victory.

Hovex Tommy qualified in with a 28.43 effort around HQ and that alone pointed to an obvious engine which has perhaps taken a little while to warm up. There is little doubt however, that he has now arrived and will be a force to be reckoned with going forward in the Classic. Jointly owned by Graham Ashe and Shaun Gresham, Hovex Tommy was much slicker into stride this weekend from trap two and he immediately took ownership of the rails to assert into the opening corner. Bumping in behind saw Ballymac Pete hit the deck at this point and it was Clonbrien Treaty, another Holland representative, who was to follow his kennel companion into the back straight. Hovex Tommy was a dog on a mission however, and the son of Laughil Blake and Emers Velvet was relentless as he rounded the bottom two bends in full control. Staying on stoutly up the Limerick straight, Hovex Tommy was two and a half lengths clear of Clonbrien Treaty, who also ran a magnificent race, in second. Blastoff Mac a popular qualifier in third and the time was 28.27. (Sec: 16.08)

A BUCKLEY DOUBLE

Graham Holland may have a stranglehold on the 2023 Kirby in his bids for back-to-back triumphs but Pat Buckley won’t go down easily and he also sent out two really impressive heat winners last night.

The first leg of the Buckley double got off and running in the opening heat of the night as Singalong Eimear produced a 5/1 shock in running out a comfortable winner. A bitch who recorded 28.22 in just her second career start at Drumbo Park, Gilbert Anderson was to step in to purchase the 70-pounder and although he has had to be patient with his charge, he was rewarded in devastating fashion last night. Running from trap one, which is a key factor for this bitch, Singalong Eimear got things right at traprise as she popped out in front to lead. Once doing so, there was never any concerns about the victory as the daughter of Droopys Sydney and Orange Theresa romped to a virtual solo. Setting a magnificent gallop throughout, she was to come home three and a half lengths clear of the strong-running Gaytime Hugo in second. The final qualifying position was landed by Sober Glory who was a further three lengths back in third. The time was a scintillating 28.08. (Sec: 15.96)

Pat Buckley’s double was completed in heat five as Bens Teddy produced his customary big finish to reel in Boylesports Gift and maintain his unbeaten run in the Kirby.

Under the ownership of Kim Pritchard, Bens Teddy is a joy to watch and the crowd favourite was once again exceptional in reeling in a top-class opponent last night at Limerick. Running from trap five, Bens Teddy posted an identical opening sectional to last weekend as he broke only moderately to sit third early on. In contrast, Boylesports Gift was paw-perfect at traprise as he bulleted from trap one to set a frantic pace on the inside. The latter continued to lead for Paul Hennessay down the back but Bens Teddy was at this point improving nicely in behind as he challenged Glengar Ace for second place. Boylesports Gift was going about his business in electric fashion up front but there was a certain air of inevitability about the result once Bens Teddy stormed into second and closed on the leader around the bottom two bends. The son of Droopys Sydney and Beechgrove Bell was to deliver on that assumption on the run for home as he continued to up the ante and stay on powerfully to cross the line with two lengths to spare over the gallant Boylesports Gift in second. Ballymac Johnjoe, as expected, came home fast to claim the final qualifying position in third. The time was a rapid 28.10. (Sec: 16.08)

BACK-TO-BACK FOR LARIAT

One of the standout performances from last week was that of the Leonard O’ Hanlon-owned Beepers Lariat and he made it back-to-back wins in heat three.

Trained by Jack Kennelly, Beepers Lariat caught the eye with an off-the-pace performance last weekend and as such, he was installed as the 2/1 second favourite in behind Scaglietti at even money. Running from trap one, the son of Droopys Sydney and Beaming Smasher didn’t come away too well from his inside berth and it was Knockboy Curragh and Storys Law who were to dispute for the lead. However, traffic ensued at the opener and this played right into the paws of Beepers Lariat as he nipped around unscathed to take control. From here, Kennelly’s charge kept Scaglietti at bay for the duration of the contest and he was to emerge a one and a half length victor over his rival. The time was 28.53 as Belindas Finn claimed the final qualifying position. (Sec: 16.35)

WHYAYE IMPRESSIVE

Heat six saw Whyaye Man also maintain his unbeaten record in the stake with a runaway victory for trainer Robert Gleeson.

Owned by Martin Langley, Whyaye Man was a narrow winner of his opening round assignment but this proved much more straightforward as he romped to a fifth career win. A 2/1 chance at the off, Whyaye Man took one of his better starts from trap five as he quickly took control from Sogna In Grande in second. The latter suffered a bump at this point which allowed Whyaye Man to manufacture a comfortable lead heading into the back and it was to be lights out thereafter for this strong-running greyhound. Setting a terrific gallop into the third bend, the son of Droopys Jet and Droopys Megan got stronger and stronger as the contest progressed and he proved five and a half lengths too strong for nearest rival, Terezas Mendoza, in second. The final qualifier was Blastoff Salah in third and the time was a fantastic 28.18. (Sec: 16.09)

BRILLIANT BOLGER

The remaining heat saw yet another huge performance as Burgess Bolger upset the odds to win for JJ Fennelly and recent hall of fame inductee, Sheila Spillane.

Ryhope Beach would have been expected to right a few wrongs from last weekend but Burgess Bolger was to have other ideas as he never gave his rivals a sniff in running out an easy winner in the end. An experienced tracker coming into the Kirby, Burgess Bolger was a 5/1 shot at the off and he was quickly into stride from trap one to show a nice turn of earlies to lead. Holding a two length advantage into the back from Road Exile in second, the son of Ballymac Bolger and Clear Mountain was always in control upon entrance to the penultimate turn. In behind however, Road Exile was coming under pressure from the strong-running duo of Mr Incredible and Ryhope Beach and the both were revving their engines as they attempted to bridge the gap on Burgess Bolger up top. The bird had flown in that respect and the striking black crossed the line with four lengths in hand over Mr Incredible, who once again caught the eye in second. Ryhope Beach was another finishing like a train and he claimed the final qualifying position in third. The time for Burgess Bolger was a rapid 28.23. (Sec: 16.17)

The draw for the quarter finals of the 2023 Con & Annie Kirby Memorial is as follows: 

Heat 1

T1 - TEREZAS MENDOZA

T2 - BENS TEDDY

T3 - RUN FASTER

T4 - SCAGLIETTI

T5 - BURGESS BOLGER

T6 - BALLYMAC JOHNJOE

Heat 2

T1 - BLASTOFF SALAH

T2 - WHYAYE MAN

T3 - BELINDAS FINN

T4 - CLONBRIEN TREATY

T5 - BEEPERS LARIAT

T6 - ROMEO HANZO

Heat 3

T1 - HOVEX TOMMY

T2 - CLONA DUKE

T3 - JAYS SWALLOW

T4 - SOBER GLORY

T5 - BALLYMAC SEANIE

T6 - BOGGER LUCKY

Heat 4

T1 - GAYTIME HUGO

T2 - MR INCREDIBLE

T3 - BLASTOFF MAC

T4 - SINGALONG EIMEAR

T5 - BOYLESPORTS GIFT

T6 - RYHOPE BEACH