RECOVERY EARNS KIRBY TICKET AT DUNDALK

Ian Fortune

Less than a week after being inducted into the Hall of Fame, Brendan Matthews was back to business at Dundalk, sending out the promising and rapidly improving Recovery to win the Con & Annie Kirby Memorial Trial Stake at Dundalk on Saturday night.

The son of Malachi and Love Island was disputing second into the turn behind Snazzy Hawk but moved off the fence, finding traffic. He remained second but had a number of lengths to make up on the leader. Showing fine pace and strength, Recovery would close rapidly on the leader before charging through a gap on the fence at the final turn to take over. From there he drove clear to eventually win by three and three-quarter lengths from the long-time leader Snazzy Hawk in 28.71.

CANTER FASTEST IN MARCH STAKES

Earlier on the Dundalk card, the aptly named Common Canter set a strong standard in the semi-finals of the March Stakes, an A3 525.

Representing Brian O’Neill and handler Damien Maginn, the son of Ballymac Bolger and Redzer Ruby went to the front early to emerge a facile three and a quarter length winner over Whirling Wind in a fast 28.56.

Brian Robinson’s Reenaderry Road took the opening heat in similar fashion. The improving son of Serene Ace and Cricket Wall would make all to emerge a comfortable four and a quarter length winner over Sing Hallelujah in 28.81.