LIMERICK BRACED FOR MOUTH-WATERING CON & ANNIE KIRBY MEMORIAL OPENER
Peter Farrell
Kindly sponsored by the McManus Family, the eagerly anticipated opening round of the 2024 Con & Annie Kirby Memorial 525 gets underway later tonight at Limerick Greyhound Stadium and expect some special performances as all of the Country’s top talent flock to the Munster circuit.
On the night, there are twelve first round heats and there will be four qualifiers from each heat, allowing for forty-eight trackers to progress into round two in seven days’ time.
PATRIOT TO GET KIRBY CAMPAIGN OFF TO A FLIER
It won’t take long for the Classic to catch fire as in heat two, the reigning Juvenile Classic winner, Ballymac Patriot, gets his bid for an historic juvenile double up and running. Liam Dowling’s charge is likely to feature at the top of the outright market and he should safely advance when he dons the black jacket on his first start at Limerick. The son of Ballymac Cashout has shown tremendous pace and power in his last three starts at Tralee and he looks a serious prospect, which should be tailor made for the tough galloping Limerick circuit. Of his rivals, Baby Bocko is likely to make the frame, while Romeo Falco has shown big promise in previous outings and shouldn’t be ignored.
HOT CONTEST
Heat four is a strong test for several runners but the likely favourite is Good Hope for Paul Hennessy, Paul Byrne and Emmett Mullins. A fawn son of Grangeview Ten, he recently posted a red-hot 28.23 around Limerick in a trial and based on that alone, is leading player. That said, there are some serious trackers in this heat and the likes of Da Bold Falcon, who displayed massive speed in Tralee, and De Foxy Devil warrant big respect and both the ability to string the field along.
HARVEY TO BOUNCE BACK
Heat six will see the Rural Kennels Unraced winner in Romeo Taylor come up against the Munster Juvenile Cup winner, Faypoint Harvey, and it is the latter who gets the vote to emerge victorious. Trained by Graham Holland for Patricia Flanagan, the son of Droopys Sydney was one of the standout puppies towards the end of 2023 and he has shown from previous starts, most notably his 28.31 clock around Clonmel, that he is more than up to the task. Romeo Taylor is the obvious threat with his stunning early speed, while Grouchos Finn, Ballymac Senan and Prince Naseem all possess big engines and have no forlorn hope of making the frame.
BONNYLAD TO ASSERT
Whyaye Bonnylad claimed the valuable National Puppy Stake at Shelbourne Park last year and the Robert Gleeson-trained black will be fancied by many to add the Kirby to his growing CV. A winner of seven from just eleven starts, the son of Ballymac Cashout has some sensational times to his name at HQ and will be hot order to land heat seven. Of his rivals, Ballinabola Bill ran a fine race last time out to claim the trial stake, while Epic Chick has plenty of pace and will have her followers in trap six.
TOUGHEST TEST TO DATE FOR DANICA
Heat eight is arguably the hottest of the night. Ballymac Danica has been simply sensational since kick-starting her career at Clonmel in the Rural Kennels stake and despite not winning said event, she was the one to take away from it given her terrific clocks of 28.29 and 28.24 respectively. Liam Dowling’s bitch is the one to beat from trap three, however, this is without doubt her toughest test to date. Radical Harry produced one of the fastest debuts on record last weekend when posting 28.18 around Limerick and he is sure to improve with race experience, which is a frightening prospect, while the likes of Carmac King and Clona Comet aren’t exactly making up the numbers.
HEAT WATCH
In the opening heat of the night, Scooby Countess should take plenty of beating for Jennifer O’Donnell. A winner in 28.20 around HQ, she is superbly drawn in trap two and should have too much for her rivals if on top form. Of her rivals, Tarsna Maasai was a notable eye-catcher on debut when posting 28.84 around Thurles Park, while Ballymac Rebel can also play a part. Keep an eye on this contest for local runner, Ocean Tesla, as well. Tom Fitzgerald’s bitch may be only A2, however, her last outing is well worth a watch and could go a few rounds of this event at some massive odds.
The standout performance seven days ago came from the Pat Guilfoyle-trained Mustang Fever and she is likely to dispute favourtism in heat three. A winner in 28.16 last week, and a finalist in the Champion Bitch Stake at Thurles, she has a plumb draw in red and should take some stopping. Of her rivals, Romeo Kingpin looks like a machine who could go deep into the Classic, while Ballinabola Jim will be finishing like a train out wide in six.
The only runner classed as AAO in heat five is Rushy Meadows and Brendan Matthew’s bitch showed her well-being with a fine 28.49 trial around Limerick earlier this month. Drawn in two, she has competed against the likes of Singalong Dolly and Ballymac Katie in her short career and should take a bit of beating in this contest. Romeo Steel and March On Freddie are also in with a big shout, the latter in particular was a brilliant debut scorer in 28.44 .10s at Clonmel.
There will be two trackers making their debuts in heat nine in the shape of Serene Rex and Unanimouspanther and both have shown promise in qualifying. However, the one greyhound that stands out massively in this contest is the hugely fast Coolavanny Otto. Pat Buckley’s well-marked puppy showed incredible speed in Tralee and he posted an exceptional 28.04 on debut in the Juvenile Classic. An eventual second in that event, he should relish the bigger galloping track of Limerick and is likely to set a very high bar in this contest.
Carrick Keano was another to emerge from the Rural Kennels Unraced at Clonmel and he franked his ability with a brilliant 28.34 win at Shelbourne Park last time out. Trained by Robert Gleeson, who has won this event in the past, he is another leading contender in outright terms and he dons a favourable draw in one in his bid to get off to a flier. Of his rivals, the strong-running Fashion Model is a threat, while Faypoint Sydney is another worth keeping an eye on for Peter Cronin.
Heat eleven is another wide-open contest and opinions are sure to be split on the outcome. Faypoint Sean was a fine winner when coming from off-the-pace to win his trial stake in 28.50 and he certainly has more in his locker, while Unanimous Kai was very impressive as he breezed past March On Freddie to win in 28.59 last time out. However, on this occasion, the vote goes to the Pat Kiely runner of Droopys Carbine who was mighty impressive in drawing clear to win his last assignment at Cork. Throw into the mix one of the ’Talking Dogs’ of Galway, Hanover Sky, and Scooby Pacemaker and this is a real mouthwatering clash.
The final heat of the night is sure to send patrons home satisfied with a superb night’s racing. Antigua Hawk had no answer to Radical Harry last time out but a 28.32 estimate on debut is sensational, while Phoenix Tyson was a recent winner of a valuable stake at HQ and his early speed will stand him in good stead. That said, the vote goes to the Michael O’Donovan-trained Stonepark King in trap two. A winner in 28.47 last time out, he is still improving and could be a dark horse in this competition.