STAR-STUDDED RENEWAL OF LIMERICK’S CON & ANNIE KIRBY MEMORIAL

Peter Farrell

Kindly sponsored by JP and Noreen McManus, the 2024 running of the Con & Annie Kirby Memorial will commence this Saturday at Limerick Greyhound Stadium and the draw for the €80,000 to the winner Classic was made earlier this morning.

As expected, the richest Juvenile Classic in the world has attracted all of the County’s best young talent and there will be twelve opening round heats with the first four qualifying from each heat.

Of the abundance of talent included in the draw, the recent Juvenile Classic winner, Ballymac Patriot, will go in heat two and he will be expected to safely advance in a heat that also includes Baby Bocko, Romeo Falco and Athlacca Arteta.

Whyaye Bonnylad is the reigning National puppy champion and he warmed up nicely for this competition with a rapid 18.64 trial around Limerick in recent weeks. The Robert Gleeson-trained star will run from trap four in heat seven where he meets the likes of Carneys Goldmine, Ballinabola Bill and the hugely exciting, Epic Chick.

The first puppy stake of the year was the Rural Kennels Unraced, held at Clonmel, and this was one of the hottest on record. Romeo Taylor emerged victorious overall and he lines out in heat six alongside Munster Juvenile Puppy Cup winner Faypoint Harvey, however, Ballymac Danica was arguably the biggest eye-catcher in that stake and she will be fancied by many to go deep into this year’s Kirby. Liam Dowling’s bitch will go in heat eight and she will be opposed by the likes of Carmac King, Clona Comet, Coolavanny Poppy, Ower Cracker and last weekend’s massive eye-catching debutant, Radical Harry. This ranks as one of, if not the, hottest heats of the night.

Mustang Fever booked her ticket to the Kirby by winning a top trial stake last Saturday night as she romped to a 28.16 success and she will don the red jacket in heat three, while Scooby Countess will kick-start the renewal in heat one where she will be expected to go close.

Others included in a star-studded 2024 renewal are recent Tralee stars Coolavanny Otto and Da Bold Falcon, while the likes of the hugely exciting Carrick Keano, Hanover Sky, Droopys Carbine, Antigua Hawk, Good Hope, De Foxy Devil, March On Freddie, Faypoint Sean, Barefoot On Fire, Ballymac Senan and Unanimous Kai are just some of the other standout entrants in what promises to be an incredible Classic.

A full preview of the opening round of the 2024 Con & Annie Kirby Memorial will appear on Talking Dogs on Saturday morning.