FAIRY FOOTSTEPS LANDS TOM REAL MEMORIAL AT LIMERICK

Peter Farrell

Just one week out from the Con & Annie Kirby Memorial for 2025, a number of potential challengers were put through their paces at Limerick Greyhound Stadium on Saturday night, however, the feature on what was a twelve-race card was the final of the Tom Real Memorial A2 525.

Kindly sponsored by the Real Family, the competition boasted a winner’s purse of €3,000 and it has produced some fantastic racing over the past three weeks. In truth, it was A2 in name only as it was evident from the outset that it consisted of several top-class trackers and this was outlined by some blistering clocks throughout the stake.

Coming into the event, all eyes were on Bogger Pat as he attempted to make it five wins from as many starts and maintain his unbeaten run through the stake. This fellow has shown all sorts of ability in recent starts and his 28.24 semi final clock was unrivaled heading into the decider. As a result, it wasn’t surprising to see Liam Peacock’s pup installed as the 4/5 favourite, however, a spanner was thrown into the works after he was handed a horrid draw in trap five.

In contrast, the Willie Rigney and K.R Allsop-owned Fairy Footsteps (5/2) was handed a lovely draw in trap three and it was the pacey black that pinged out to head the field in the early exchanges. At this point, Knockard Hero was displaying fine speed out wide, while Bogger Pat, who had missed the kick from five, was also showing his customary early zip to quickly improve between runners. All to play for heading into the back straight, Knockard Hero briefly headed proceedings passing the sprint boxes but this was short-lived as Fairy Footsteps regained the ascendancy, while Bogger Pat was now showing rapid improvement as he went for a daring run between his two rivals. However, racing room was very much at a premium for the favourite as he was forced to check off the heels of Fairy Footsteps, which in turn ultimately decided the contest. Trained by Pat Guilfoyle, who landed the Connacht Derby twenty-four hours prior, Fairy Footsteps proved very strong thereafter as the daughter of Droopys Sydney and Enable stayed on in a powerful manner to cross the line four lengths clear of the luckless Bogger Pat in second. The time was a fast 28.33.

TIBET BOOKS KIRBY TICKET

Aside from the Tom Real Memorial, there was a strong supporting card on offer and the Con & Annie Kirby A3 Trial Stake took place in race four.

Ballymac Tibet came into this contest with some promising Tralee form and he was installed as the even money favourite to make it two wins from just three starts. Trained by Liam Dowling for the Metinthehalfway-Synd, the son of Ballymac Best and Ballymac Minton left it late but showed brilliant speed to more than warrant his entry into the Classic next weekend. Running from five, ‘Tibet’ walked from traps as the early speed was set by Clonnlock Cliste in trap one. That latter continued to set a sizzling gallop thereafter, however, Ballymac Tibet arrived with a late flurry to narrowly down his rival by a short-head. The time was 28.47.

GORTKELLY SETS THE GOBA STANDARD

There were two semi finals of the Limerick & Clare GOBA A4 525 on offer earlier on the card and Gortkelly Hazard set the standard as he brought up his half-dozen for Andrew Murray. 5/2 at the off, the son of Broadstrand Bono - Gortkelly Sorcha was on his game from the outset with a slick exit from six to lead. In doing so, he took a two length lead into the back straight, before cementing his superiority as he stayed on well to secure a one a half length victory over Corgrigg Lady in second. The time was 28.72.

ELSEWHERE

The Go Greyhound Racing A1/A2 550

Race five saw a 550-yard contest on offer and Barnfield Molly justified her even money favouritism as she broke her maiden tag for Pat Buckley and Tomas Leahy. Drawn in trap six, ‘Molly’ was heading by Tyrap Phantom early on, however, she held her course well out wide to turn just two lengths adrift heading into the back straight. Quickly outpacing her rival down the back, the daughter of Malachi - Glowing Exile hit the front entering the penultimate turn and despite steering a wide course on the run for home, had too much in reserve to cross the line with one and a half lengths to spare. The time was a rapid 29.86.

The Talking Dogs AA0/AO 525

There was a red-hot contest in race seven with some promising pups on display, however, it was the experienced Boylesports Blue (Ballymac Cashout - Hugh Dream) that landed the spoils as John Boyle’s star recorded a third career victory. Trained by Paul Hennessy, the strapping blue was well-housed in red but was on the receiving end of a poor break to sit some six lengths adrift entering the back straight. At this point, Lemon Joey held all the aces up top with Brideside Bill in second, however, ‘Blue’ edged closer as the race progressed before delivering the killer blow late on. Scraping the paintwork on the run for home, Boylesports Blue stuck his head out to narrowly oust Lemon Joey crossing the line and win by a neck in a time of 28.33.

Greyhounds Make Great Pets A2/A3 525

Pat Buckley was on double form on the card and it was his Raha Rua that notched his first career win in race nine. Sent to traps as the 2/1 joint favourite, this proved a straightforward assignment for Buckley’s charge as he rocketed from trap two to take a three length lead into the back. That lead quickly doubled at the midway point as the son of Ballymac Bolger - Raha Gogo set a blistering gallop to the three-quarter mark. Thereafter, it proved a formality for ‘Rua’ as he stayed on stoutly to cross the line with seven and a half lengths to spare. The time was a swift 28.62.

Limerick Sales AO 525

Race ten saw Syds Button (Knocknaboul Syd - Conans Lass) return to winning ways for David Flanagan and The-Button-Syndicate. An open contest saw ‘Syd’ go off at odds of 5/2 but he was forced to settle for second early on as Tally Ho Storm set a blistering standard in the opening exchanges. Syds Button made rapid inroads midway down the back, however, was forced to check at the penultimate bend, which looked to have derailed any further progress. Not to be outdone however, Flanagan’s star returned for more in the closing stages as a big finish saw him storm past his rivals and seal a one length victory over Mollys Mango in second. The time was 28.76.