SETANTA HEADLINES A STELLAR KIRBY ENTRY

Peter Farrell

The draw for the first round of the 2026 Con & Annie Kirby Memorial 525 took place at Limerick Greyhound Stadium earlier today and, by all accounts, it looks one of the strongest on record.

In total, there are thirteen first-round heats and already several major clashes are evident at this early stage. The eye is immediately drawn to Heat 10 where the recently crowned Future Star and Irish Derby favourite Ballymac Setanta locks horns with Blackstone Lexus, a big eye-catcher in the recent Juvenile Classic at Kingdom Greyhound Stadium.

Another mouth-watering contest comes in Heat 6, which will see UK representative Bouncing Monarch take on one of the early stars of 2026, Newinn Spot. The latter has showcased phenomenal early speed in recent starts and is part of a very strong team from Graham Holland, who is bidding to claim Kirby glory for the fourth time in the past five runnings.

Ballymac Deniro was a terrific winner of the Juvenile Classic in recent weeks and is likely to feature prominently towards the top of the market for outright honours, alongside several of his kennel companions. He will line out in Heat 11 where he faces stiff opposition from the likes of Beanos Yank and Metallic Missile.

It promises to be a huge night of action at the Dock Road circuit with the likes of Silverhill Bucko, Bockos Gold, Droopys Map, Ballymac Duffle, Ballymac Gwennie, Ballymac Chantry, Ballydoyle Tina, Hackney Dancer, Getup The Boy, Lennies Dynamicand Lennies Eddie all set to feature.

The full draw is as follows :