Peter Farrell
Within the blink of an eye, we are down to just twenty four runners in the 2025 Con & Annie Kirby Memorial and the stage is set for four thrilling quarter-final contests at Limerick Greyhound Stadium later tonight.
Earlier this week, both Faypoint Ranger and Toolmaker Josepe were installed as one and two in the outright betting market and both will lock horns in the concluding quarter final for two previous Kirby winning trainers in Graham Holland and Robert Gleeson.
TOUGHEST TEST TO DATE
Toolmaker Josepe maintained his unbeaten record in the Classic last Saturday night as he once again came from off-the-pace to score in an incredible time of 28.19. William Hyslop’s son of Droopys Sydney is a real machine of a greyhound and he continues to improve at a rate of knots. While the strapping blue may not be blessed with early speed, he has an incredible burst of pace from the halfway mark and this has very much come to the forefront around Limerick. He will step out of the red jacket for the first time in this contest as he goes from trap three later tonight and he will, without doubt, face his trickiest test to date as he attempts to overcome the likes of Faypoint Ranger. The latter has been flawless up to this point and he remains unbeaten around Limerick having won his preparation race comfortably prior to the Kirby. Owned by Patricia Flanagan, the son of Coolavanny Hoffa is all about early speed and he looks set to dictate once again when donning the blue jacket later tonight. His sub 1.30 sectionals are arriving on a more consistent basis and he remains the favourite in this contest, despite the presence of both Toolmaker Josepe and Lemon Joey. The latter is another that cannot be dismissed. Trained by Murt Leahy for Billy O’Keeffe, he blew his rivals away last weekend as he showed another thread to his bow in coming from off-the-pace to win in 28.31. The brindle son of Ballymac Best possesses awesome all-round pace and power and he could blaze a trail from a favourable wide berth in six. Indeed, given the performance of ‘Joey’ from the halfway mark last week, he is a major player for his respective connections. Of the others, Blastoff Ricky landed his second round assignment and is well drawn in one, while Ballymac Jester flew home to score in 28.33 for Liam Dowling. Both trackers will be hopeful of securing one of those all-important qualifying spots, however, Coolavanny Shona has a bit to find for Neilus O’Connell and will likely require traffic in order to advance.
LUCIA THE SELECTION
In the opening quarter final of the night, the vote goes to Ballymac Lucia after a brilliant performance in defeat last time out.
Trained by U.K handler, Maxine Locke, the pacey blue was a notably fast-finisher in behind Toolmaker Josepe on that occasion and she was just as strong as the likes of ‘Josepe’ and Droopys Deploy come the business end of proceedings. Indeed, the daughter of Ballymac Cashout knocked around forty spots off her time and given she is much better drawn in trap one, the chips look to be falling in the right direction for this lady. Of her rivals, Fun Inthe Run bids to make it three from three when donning the striped jacket for Michael and Daire Malone. The son of Malachi certainly benefited from massive traffic last time out, however, he went about his business in fine style to clock 25.81. He is unlikely to trap as poorly as he did on that occasion, so he rates as a leading player as a result. Elsewhere, Sole Mio is going under the radar somewhat for Aidan Comerford and Peter Cronin. The son of Coolavanny Hoffa arrived at Kirby with a big reputation after performing very well in the Juvenile Classic at Tralee, however, he hasn’t quite got to grips with Limerick as of yet. That said, the fact he still remains in the Classic is testament to his ability and he showed rapid improvement last time out when clocking 28.49 in defeat. Drawn in three, he could be the dark horse going forward given he has just four starts under his belt. Of the others, Tally Ho Socks is giving his connections a terrific spin and is not dismissed, while Ballymac Dave and Skywalker Schar are more than capable of advancing given prior performances.
IMPROVING BOOM CAN ASSERT
The second quarter final is likely to see Jacktavern Boom installed as the favourite after a brilliant performance last time out for David Byrne and The-Pillar-Syndicate.
A full brother of Toolmaker Josepe, there are a lot of similarities between the pair, however, Jacktavern Boom is less exposed and he looks to be coming to the boil nicely. A winner in 28.31 last time out, ‘Boom’ is drawn in trap two this time around and although he will have to negotiate a lightning starter on his inside, he should nestle into a favourable position entering the back straight, in turn allowing him to showcase his huge engine. Bubbly Charger and Brideside Bill were responsible for a thrilling buckle last Saturday night as the latter just came out the right side of a photo-finish. Eugene Buckley’s charge, trained by Graham Holland, has the edge on the draw this time around also and he looks the main threat to Jacktavern Boom as a result. In contrast, Bubbly Charge must negotiate a tricky trap four berth and he will need to get loose early on in order to enter calculations. Another that still warrants respect is Bogger Pat. The son of Glengar Bale was disappointing last time out when comfortably reeled in by Blastoff Ricky in 28.64. Indeed, this was a far cry from his blistering performances last month, however, it’s worth noting that he continues to settle into new surroundings and will relish his draw in red. Of the others, Flight Club and Ballymac Sorrel are both hugely fast individuals and are certainly not seen as ‘also-rans’. Flight Club was a flying finisher behind Brideside Bill and Bubbly Charger last time out and he is improving at a rate of knots for Paul Hennessy and Carol O’Riordan. It would be unwise to rule out the son of Good News as a result, while Ballymac Sorrel also falls into that bracket. In truth, this is arguably the closest of the quarter finals in terms of qualification and it should make for fascinating viewing with a place in the final twelve at stake.
DEPLOY TO TAKE OFF
Droopys Deploy may be without a win thus far in the Classic, however, he has lost little in defeat and remains a leading player for outright glory.
Having landed the Northern Puppy Derby across the water, Droopys Deploy has returned to Irish soil in fine fettle and he was a massive eye-catcher in defeat behind kennel companion, Toolmaker Josepe, last time out. Owned by Paul Allen, the son of Malachi clocked 28.29 on that occasion and all indications are that he is primed for a strong finish to the Kirby. Housed in five, he is likely to go off as the short favourite in this contest and it would be wise to stay on the right side of this brilliant youngster. Of his rivals, the main threat can come in the form of Silent Kobbie in trap one. Trained by Maurice O’Connor for Tom and Timothy Nolan, like ‘Deploy’ he has yet to raise a flag, however, has caught the eye in defeat. His most recent effort of 28.48 was very encouraging and he is well-housed in trap one to stake a claim. Elsewhere, the likes of Beaming Joe and Knockard Hero have performed admirably up to this point. These two trackers would have been massive outsiders in the betting prior to the Classic, however, they have not looked out of place and have once again no forlorn hope of reaching the semis. ‘Joe’ packs a wicked finishing kick, while ‘Hero’ is all about his early speed and both could spring another surprise in this contest. Pain Barrier is another that warrants respect. Trained by double winning Kirby trainer, Brendan Matthews, he is a 28.15 winner around Shelbourne Park and he ran a blinder in behind Jacktavern Boom last time out. His draw in four is not ideal, however, it is a case of ruling out at your peril. Daleroad Mya is the remaining runner and she stepped up nicely last weekend to shave the guts of five lengths off her time. The daughter of Explosive Boy, trained by Pat Guilfoyle for Thomas O’Keeffe, will need a lightning break to figure but qualification is certainly within her grasp.
SEAN O’CONNOR CUP KICKS-OFF
With €5,000 on offer to the eventual winner, the Sean O’Connor Memorial A1 525 always proves an ultra-competitive competition and the opening heats get underway earlier on the card.
In heat one, Kapuka Warrior looks the one to beat for Karol Ramsbottom in trap three. A top-class tracker on his day, this is an ease in class for the recent McCalmont Cup finalist and he should prove too hot to handle for connections. Heat two is a close affair with the narrow vote going towards the rather unexposed Ballymac Ron in five, while Flashing Fender gets the nod to break his maiden tag at the sixth time of asking in heat three. In the final heat of the night, Drombeg Banner comes into the event fresh from a fine 18.71 around Limerick, however, Tinahue Pappone is the class animal in the field and is difficult to oppose from a good draw in three.