STAR-STUDDED CON & ANNIE KIRBY SET TO COMMENCE AT LIMERICK

Peter Farrell

Kindly sponsored by the McManus Family, the twelfth running of the Con & Annie Kirby Memorial 525 gets underway at Limerick Greyhound Stadium later tonight and it promises to be a special night with twelve top-class heats on offer.

In recent years, the €80,000 to the winner Classic has been won by the likes of Swords Rex, Clonbrien Treaty and Knockeen Dazzler, all of which have either gone on to have sterling careers for their respective connections. As expected, this year’s renewal is stacked full of the Country’s best young trackers and each heat is hotly anticipated as a result.

EXPLOSIVE START IN STORE

Indeed, the large crowd that will be expected to descend onto Limerick won’t have long to wait for the fireworks as heat one looks like a mouthwatering contest. Jennifer O’Donnell will hope to go deep into this year’s Classic and she is represented by her brilliantly early-paced star, The Other Wild. The son of Ballymac Wild remains unbeaten after four starts and he showed electric early speed in Clonmel when winning the prestigious Rural Kennels Unraced. He certainly has similar attributes the likes of previous winners, Stonepark Leo and Knockeen Dazzler, so don’t be surprised if he lays down an early marker. That said, he has some superb rivals to overcome. Ballymac Lucia is a UK representative and she has a stunning 28.17 to her name. The talented blue dons the white jacket tonight and she is a frightening prospect should she step up on that trial effort. Other rivals include the powerful Toolmaker Josepe, who looked tailor made for this circuit when debuting at Clonmel and he of course represents a Kirby winning trainer in the shape of Robert Gleeson.

EDWARD KICK-STARTS KIRBY BID

In heat two, Razldazl Edward makes his much anticipated return since landing the Gold Collar at Shelbourne at the start of the year. Dolores Ruth brings a big team to Limerick this year, however, there is little doubt that ‘Edward’ is the ace card. Recent trials of 18.25 for the 350-yards and 27.93 suggest he has gone to another level since landing the Gold Collar and that could be ominous for his rivals later tonight. Of said rivals, Droopys Deploy is a worthy challenger for Robert Gleeson. Installed as the joint favourite for outright success, he too tasted success in recent weeks when landing the Puppy Derby across the water and he returns with big expectations as a result. Throw into the mix Pain Barrier, who posted a superb 28.15 last time out at Shelbourne and represents double winning trainer, Brendan Matthews, and this has all the makings of the heat of the night.

TOUGHEST TEST TO DATE FOR PAT

Bogger Pat tasted his first defeat last time out when luckless in behind Fairy Footsteps, however, he can get back to winning ways for new trainer, Pat Buckley. The son of Glengar Bale has shown massive early speed in each of his starts thus far and he is drawn a lot more favourably this time around in trap three. As a result, although this is certainly his toughest test to date, he is a proven 28.20 performer already and the sky really is the limit for Liam Peacock’s charge. Of his rivals, the obvious threat is Ballymac Axel in five. Another UK raider, he too came in with a blistering 28.17 trial effort and the heavyweight son of Ballymac Cooper looks a huge player in this contest. Indeed, Pat Buckley is doubly represented with the unbeaten Southwind Wild in trap two. The strapping black looked a little special when posting 21.23 around Dundalk on debut and he has progressed nicely with two subsequent victories since. Drawn in two, the battle to the bend with Bogger Pat could prove crucial and this looks like another intriguing contest as a result.

HEAT WATCH

Rebel Pine will bid to defend his unbeaten record in heat three and Gearoid O’Brien’s charge gets the vote to do just that from trap five. The son of Broadstrand Bono has posted some impressive times around the tough Youghal circuit and his 18.68 trial at Limerick also reads well. His rivals include Blossoms Syd in three and Silent Kobbie in one.

In heat five, Ballymac Jester will bid to bounce back from defeat last weekend and he should take plenty from that outing. Prior to that, Liam Dowling’s tracker posted a rapid 28.21 clock around Tralee and expect a sharper effort tonight from the son of Ballymac Wild. His rivals include Darbys Dancer, who hails from the same Dam as last year’s winner, Knockeen Dazzler.

There is a really interesting runner in heat six as the unraced Stonepark Browne lines out for former Kirby winning connections, Michael Sean O’Dwyer and Michael J. O’Donovan. Indeed, he may be coming into the Classic unraced but he has a stunning 18.34 trial to his name and that suggests he is one to keep on the right side of. His rivals include Ballymac Sorrel, who ran up the recent Kilcolgan Castle Connacht Derby at Galway, while Ballinabola Joe has been installed as the joint outright favourite for success after his stunning performances in the recent Juvenile Classic. All signs suggest he should relish the Limerick circuit and he could lay down a big marker in his first start tonight.

Lemon Joey was chinned in the dying strides in his recent start at Limerick but he can get back to winning ways for Murt Leahy and Billy O’Keeffe tonight. The brindle possesses big speed throughout and he has all the attributes to go deep into this valuable event. Drawn in five, he is a likely leader based on last week’s line of form and should this be the case, he will be difficult to peg back. Of his rivals, Ballymac Tibet has a good makeup in six, while Sole Mio will also be expected to produce the goods for Peter Cronin in trap two.

Heat eight is another red-hot affair with Left Corner Back likely to go off favourite for Thomas Leahy in five. The son of Here Comes Syd posted a brilliant 28.25 in his last start at Limerick and although this is tougher, won’t be far away with a repeat performance. Shebetheone is the obvious danger in three as she has a rapid 28.13 to her name over course and distance, and while the penny still hasn’t dropped for Skywalker Schar, it would be unwise to ignore Ray Patterson’s star.

Robert Gleeson brings a hugely talented team to Limerick in his attempts to land the Classic for a second time and Toolmaker Quick gets the vote to land heat nine. Owned by William Hyslop, the son of Droopys Buick has some lovely Shelbourne Park to his name prior to his exploits in the UK and he is a leading player from a favourable draw in trap one. His rivals include Razldazl Kamaria in five and Ballymac Jade in three.

There are some relatively unexposed runners in heat ten and the narrow vote goes the way of Faypoint Ranger in trap four. Graham Holland’s runner was one of the standout performers in Clonmel in the Rural Kennels Unraced and he was very impressive when holding off Shebetheone last time out. As a result, he has a favourites chance despite facing some formidable rivals in the shape of Born Braver, who caught the eye at Thurles, and Bushpark Rodney in trap three.

Owen McKenna landed the inaugural Con & Annie Kirby and he has a strong contender in the shape of Clonncloch Cliste. After winning a sprint in fine style around Tralee, the son of Ballymac Vic was narrowly ousted by Ballymac Tibet last time out but he lost little in defeat on that occasion. Drawn in two, he looks a likely leader and he should have enough if turning in front. Of his rivals, Adamantconqueror remains unbeaten and clocks suggest he won’t be far away, while Barnfield Molly posted a rapid 29.86 for the 550-yard trip last weekend and can stake a claim from trap six.

In the concluding heat of the night, Daleroad Mya is the class animal in the field and looks the one to beat for the in-form kennel of Pat Guilfoyle. This lady has some terrific clocks to her name and while she has tasted a couple of recent defeats, they have come against top trackers in the shape of Barefoot On Song and Rinnwood Gem. Her rivals include Ballymac Abel, who is much better than what she has shown thus far, while Fun Inthe Run has a good pitch out wide to go well.