ALL EYES ON LIMERICK AS 2025 CON & ANNIE KIRBY MEMORIAL COMES TO A CLOSE

Peter Farrell

After four weeks of sparkling action at Limerick Greyhound Stadium, it all boils down to one more race in the quest to crown the 2025 Con & Annie Kirby Memorial champion.

Kindly sponsored by the McManus Family, this event has once again delivered with an endless string of superstar trackers that will no doubt dominate Irish greyhound racing for the foreseeable future. Leading that charge tonight is the unbeaten Faypoint Ranger as he bids to emulate just two previous winners in Bentekes Bocko and Droopys Roddick in going unbeaten throughout the Classic.

A LOOK AT THE FINALISTS

T1 - BUBBLY CHARGER (Owner: The-Champagne-Synd - Trainer: Brendan Matthews)

The first of two litter brothers trained by Brendan Matthews, who is a two-time winner of the Kirby coming into the decider. The son of Ballymac Bolger came into the event unraced and he has steadily progressed throughout, culminating in what was a terrific 28.19 winning performance in the semis. Given his racing inexperience, there is no telling how much improvement is left in the ‘Charger’ but he dons the favourable red jacket tonight and that can only be a plus in a race boasting no fewer than five inside seeded runners. Another 1.28 sectional will be required, however, expect a bold display from the Northern raider as he bids to join Boylesports Hero and Cable Bay, who are the previous winners that hailed from the famed Townview kennels.

T2 - SOLE MIO (Owner: Aidan Comerford - Trainer: Peter Cronin)

Bidding to give a trainer his first taste of Kirby glory, ‘Mio’ was hotly touted as a potential winner prior to the Classic and although he has failed to win a round, he has done little to damage his glowing reputation. The second of two finalists hailing from Coolavanny Hoffa, Cronin’s blue posted a rapid 28.28 on debut at Tralee and has a 28.35 best effort in defeat around Limerick in the quarter finals of this event. Another well-drawn in two, a flying start is required, however, the ability is clear for all to see and it would be unwise to totally discount the strapping blue as a result.

T3 - PAIN BARRIER (Owner & Trainer: Brendan Matthews)

The second of the Matthews runners and another offspring from Dolce Vita, who is proving a revelation in the breeding paddocks. A winner in a blistering 28.15 around Shelbourne prior to venturing to Limerick, he has performed admirably up to this point and his semi final performance, in particular, really caught the eye when storming past Brideside Bill to claim second. A lively outsider in this decider and one suspects he has plenty up his sleeve in his bid to produce a shock on the night that matters most.

T4 - FAYPOINT RANGER (Owner: Patricia Flanagan - Trainer: Graham Holland)

Graham Holland is another that is bidding for a hat-trick of Kirby wins and he couldn’t ask for a better representative in the form of the flying machine affectionately known as ‘Hoffa’. A winner of his last five on the trot and seven from nine in total, ‘Ranger’ is all about early speed and he showcased that brilliantly when dipping under 28-seconds in the semi finals. A worthy odds-on favourite, trap four is unlikely to pose any problems for the heavyweight black and white and a level break could be all that is required in his bid to complete a magical unbeaten run throughout the event.

T5 - SKYWALKER SCHAR (Owner: Raymond Patterson - Trainer: Michael J. O’Donovan)

While ‘Schar’ may be scoring at all angles on the pitch, this canine athlete is incredibly still searching for a first career victory. That said, the son of Ballyhimikin Jet has raced in the hottest of company from the outset and he is starting to show real signs that he is getting to grips with racing life. A brilliant semi final performance saw him finish just two lengths adrift of Bubbly Charger and although facing a very tricky draw in five, he packs a big finishing kick and could capitalise in the event of any traffic. Throw in the fact that he is handled by one of the shrewdest men in the game and there are certainly more pros than cons when it comes to the May whelp.

T6 - DROOPYS DEPLOY (Owner: Paul Allen - Trainer: Robert Gleeson)

Representing the Gleeson kennel, who won this event with 6/1 shot Toolmaker Josie in 2019, ‘Deploy’ has been thereabouts at the head of the outright betting market since the outset, however, is another without a victory up to this point. Despite that fact, the son of Malachi has produced some big performances in defeat, none more so than in the semis when flying home to grab the final qualifying position behind Bubbly Charger. The UK Northern Puppy Champion, Paul Allen’s runner is likely to receive plenty of racing room early on tonight and one suspects a massive display on the horizon from this hugely talented individual.

VERDICT

Even the most pessimistic of greyhound enthusiasts would struggle not to select Faypoint Ranger, who has been simply sensational in the Kirby up to this point. There isn’t an abundance of early pace in the feature and given this is his main asset, and he is unrivaled in that particular department, a level start should suffice in his quest for immortality. While the likes of Pain Barrier, Skywalker Schar and Sole Mio are offered much respect in the decider, it is Droopys Deploy that gets the vote to chase home the leader, while the rapidly improving Bubbly Charger is taken to fill the podium in third. Selection : 4-6-1

SUPER SEAN O’CONNOR RENEWAL

As always, the Sean O’Connor Memorial A1 525 serves as the supporting act to the Con & Annie Kirby and this year’s €5,000 to the winner decider is beautifully poised.

The likely favourite in the contest is Tinahue Pappone after John Fox’s runner posted a rapid 28.40 in the semi finals. Indeed, he is the only unbeaten runner coming into the decider, however, he will need to negotiate what looks a tough draw in trap six. The son of Toker Forest has returned to his best form around Limerick over the past few weeks and his draw may not be as big an obstacle as it looks given he is two from four when donning the stripes. That said, he will need another ping start in order to dictate. Of his rivals, Gwan My Boy clocked a career best in the semis when scoring in 28.59 for Theresa, Caoimhe and Pat O’Connell. The inexperienced brindle looks to be coming to the boil nicely, however, he too has been handed a far from ideal pitch in trap four. Abigails King looks the best drawn dog in the race in the red jacket. Owned by Abigail Morrissey, whose kennel is in fine form of late, the son of King Elvis is very consistent on the clock and is more than capable of disputing early given his 1.26 sectional in the semis. As a result, he gets the narrow vote to seal a first win in the stake on the night that matters most. Other finalists are Blastoff Cooper, who packs a big finish but is poorly drawn in five, while both Hearthill Rafa and Millroad Victory have the ability to make the frame but will need to produce some of their very best stuff in order to land the spoils.

STRONG SUPPORTING CARD

As you would expect for the occasion, there is a strong supporting card throughout with a number of top-class open races, all boasting €2,000 to the winner.

The first of the open contests is race three, which is the ‘I Am Maximus Open 350’ and Born Racer is likely to go off favourite after landing the Supersprint at Cork on his last start. Jennifer O’Donnell’s speedster is also the reigning Fair Warrior champ and it would be unwise to rule against the son of Ballymac Anton making it four straight wins over the two-bend trip. He has some fierce rivals to contend with, however. The likes of Southwind Wild scored on debut in a rapid 21.23 around Dundalk and is well-drawn in six to get back to winning ways, while Burgess Jack is as game as a pheasant for Sarah Shannon and the veteran rarely runs a bad race.

The ‘Bet On The Tote Open 550’ is also stacked with the Country’s best trackers but Toolmaker Josepe looks the one to beat given how he performed in this year’s Kirby. Trained by Robert Gleeson for William Hyslop, the son of Droopys Sydney has an incredible engine and he will certainly appreciate the step up in yardage tonight. That said, he will have to contend with the blistering Clona Ice on his immediate outer. The Pat Buckley-trained star posted a phenomenal 28.02 in a recent trial at HQ and is clearly a bit special despite having just the two starts under his belt. Others of interest here are Barefoot On Fire in trap one and the talented Syds Button in two.

Ballinabola Joe was desperately unlucky in the opening round on the Kirby when hitting the deck, however, he can get back to winning ways emphatically in the ‘Istabraq Open 525’. Pat Buckley’s charge was the outright favourite for success coming into the Kirby after some sensational performances in the Juvenile Classic at Tralee and he has shown no ill-effects from his tumble having clocked 28.13 in a solo around HQ last time out. He has some big talents to outgun, however. The likes of Hot Wood posted a sensational 18.28 around Limerick in a sprint trial, while AdamantConqueror is another worthy of big respect after catching the eye impressively in the Kirby. Throw in the likes of Fun Inthe Run, Gallant Hunter and Strideaway Kid, and this really is an intriguing contest that is sure to attract plenty of interest.

It’s always great to see marathon action on offer on big nights such as this and race ten will see the ‘Synchronized Open 750’ go down for decision. This is a brilliant contest with many of the six certain to dominate the six-bend competitions over the coming months. Priceless On Ice is on fire at present and powered to a 14/1 victory around Shelbourne earlier this month in 41.36. On that basis, Paul Hennessy’s bitch is a leading player despite this being a much tougher contest on paper. Kennel companion Youandme Babe will also bid to take home the bragging rights. This lady has incredible gears from the halfway mark and she is perfectly drawn on the fence to go close. Outside of that, Callaway Hybrid has already produced some big runs over the six-bends at Waterford and is likely to go well, while Call Me Quick has winning form over course and distance and shouldn’t be completely discounted.