MONARCH REIGNS ON CON & ANNIE KIRBY CURTAIN RAISER
Peter Farrell
Kindly sponsored by the McManus Family, the opening round heats of the 2026 Con & Annie Kirby Memorial 525 commenced at Limerick Greyhound Stadium on Saturday night, producing an outstanding evening of top-class racing.
The highlight came from UK representative Bouncing Monarch, who set the early benchmark with a scintillating run, dipping beneath the 28-second barrier.
The overall calibre on show was exceptional, with no fewer than ten of the thirteen heat winners breaking the 28.20 mark, an early indication of the depth and quality in this year’s renewal. While Graham Holland dominated numerically in terms of heat winners, it was Michael O’Donovan’s UK challenger, Bouncing Monarch, who stole the spotlight and firmly announced himself as a leading contender for the Classic.
Pencilled in for heat six, Bouncing Monarch was sent to traps at odds of 4/1, with Newinn Spot a heavy 4/9 favourite following a string of impressive displays at Clonmel earlier in the year. However, it became apparent within the opening strides that ‘Monarch’, owned by Dave Fradgley, was more than capable of matching the early pace of his rival. Breaking sharply on the inside, the fawn asserted control from the opening stride and, despite edging off at the opening bend, quickly established a three-length advantage down the back straight. From that point, it was always going to require a monumental effort to reel in the son of Deerjet Sydney and Lemon Elsa. The Michael O’Donovan-trained runner extended his lead further approaching the sprint boxes, with Ballymac Gwennie improving to gave chase in second. Although the latter made notable late progress, the early damage proved decisive, as Bouncing Monarch crossed the line with two lengths to spare. The winning time was a blistering 27.97, the fastest of the thirteen heats on offer on the night.
SPECIAL SETANTA, DUFFLE SHEDS MAIDEN TAG
Ballymac Setanta was out on his own in the ante-post market at the outset of the competition, and it was easy to see why in heat ten as Liam Dowling’s terrific blue blitzed his rivals to win at his leisure.
The current Irish and English Derby favourite was a 2/9 chance heading into his opening round assignment and, from a level start with Grouchos Cossie in one, he immediately blew holes in his rivals to the opening bend. Showing explosive early gears, the strapping son of Ballymac Kingdom - Ballymac Art motored into the bend and flew down the back straight with three lengths in hand over Montana Shadow in second. Showcasing his customary power from bends two to three, ‘Setanta’ stayed on very impressively to cross the line five lengths clear of Montana Shadow, who ran with real purpose throughout in second. The time was 28.00, a perfect start to his Kirby tilt for connections.
Prior to the performance of ‘Setanta’, Ballymac Duffle (15/8) shed his maiden tag in spectacular fashion in heat four.
Drawn in red, the field broke relatively level; however, the inside line proved crucial and it was Ballymac Duffle who showed fine courage to nip around and go clear. In doing so, the strong-running son of Ballymac Cooper - Ballymac Wisdom powered into a five-length lead over Uncle Keith and, given what he showed in Tralee in regard to stamina, he was never under threat of being reeled in. Uncle Keith chased hard in second, however it was all in vain as Ballymac Duffle secured a three-and-a-half-length victory in a rapid 28.09.
FRANK KICK-STARTS O’DONOVAN DOUBLE
The Kirby opened in tremendous fashion as Ballycowen Frank ran out a comprehensive winner for Debbie Doyle, Dean Harpur and Michael O’Donovan.
A winner in a brisk 28.20 around Curraheen Park last time out, Ballycowen Frank faced some formidable rivals but was a warm order, installed as the 8/11 favourite. Drawn in trap three, ‘Frank’ meant business from the off, pinging the lids to nip around clear of Jims Gem in one. The son of Ballymac Cashout - Peckies Flyer quickly drew clear down the back and grew stronger as the race progressed, staying on with real purpose to seal a seven-and-a-half-length victory over Jims Gem in second. The time was 28.04.
BOCKOS, TINA & YANK SEAL A HOLLAND TREBLE
Graham Holland is chasing a fourth title and sealed a treble of heat winners on the night, the first of those being Bockos Gold (Coolavanny Hoffa - Newinn Cuckoo) in heat two.
The heavyweight tracker was a blistering 28.21 winner on his last Limerick start and he set his stall out early here, bolting from three to quickly take control. Owned by the Jolly-Good-Company-Syndicate, ‘Bockos’ opened up brilliantly down the back; however, Ballymac Gwennie was in hot pursuit, closing the gap swiftly between the bottom two bends. Despite ‘Gwennie’ asking plenty of questions late on, Bockos Gold (5/4) showed excellent resilience to hold on and claim a diminishing three-parts-of-a-length victory in a fast 28.07.
Ballydoyle Tina is one of the leading fancies for this competition and she got her bid off to the perfect start in heat five for Paul Ellis and Seamus Hagan.
Sent to traps as the 8/15 favourite, Ballydoyle Tina had produced an extremely encouraging performance behind Lennies Tank in her last outing and pinged out on this occasion to dictate early from trap four. Graham Holland’s daughter of Ballymac Kingdom - Ballydoyle Rossa quickly assembled a healthy lead down the back as Rapido Ivy set off in chase in second. However, ‘Tina’ shifted through the gears rounding the bottom two bends and upped the ante on the Limerick hill to pull clear of Unassuming, who ran an eye-catching race in second. The time was 28.09.
The treble on the night was sealed by Beanos Yank, who landed his heat in emphatic fashion, running out a ten-length winner for the Pups-And-Pints-Syndicate.
Another that came into the event fresh off a victory at Curraheen Park last time out, Beanos Yank produced a career-best effort as the 11/4 chance claimed a wide-margin success. In a five-dog affair, he pinged the lids from trap three and avoided early traffic to skip into a commanding advantage entering the back. In truth, this was a virtual solo for the son of Deerjet Sydney - Lemon Elsa as he romped to a decisive victory over Metallic Missile in second. The time was 28.09, and, as a brother to Bouncing Monarch, it marked two hugely impressive displays on the night for the litter comrades.
DYNAMIC & JAYKAY DOUBLE UP FOR HENNESSY
Paul Hennessy has big hopes in this year’s Con & Annie Kirby and Lennies Dynamic (Dorotas Wildcat - Pennys Jetstream) justified his 4/9 billing with an accomplished display in heat eight.
A brilliant 28.16 trial suggested Lennies Dynamic was cherry-ripe for a tilt at the Classic and he got his bid for four straight wins off to the perfect start with a slick exit from trap six. As a result, he reeled in Zenith Wizard within a matter of strides and swept around the outside to take an unassailable lead into the back. Leading by eight lengths, Ballymac Ralf set off in chase; however, the minor placings were the only elements in doubt as Lennies Dynamic stayed on stoutly to cross the line with five lengths in hand. One of the performances of the night, the time for Brendan Cocoman and Lee Craze’s charge was 28.05.
Shortly after, in the very next heat, Jaykay Fly sealed a quickfire double for Paul Hennessy.
Owned by Carol O’Riordan, ‘Jaykay’ was a winner of his last start in Limerick in 28.27, making his 10/3 starting price look generous. Drawn in trap two, the son of Serene Ace - Flaming Sahara showed his sprinting class early doors with a sizzling break to take a three-length lead into the back. Beautiful Paul set off in chase and, while Jaykay Fly was crying out for the line in the closing yards, he showed good determination to see off ‘Paul’ by one and a half lengths. The time was 28.42.
ELLO ELLO DOMINATES
Brendan Matthews has a fantastic record in the Con & Annie Kirby and Ello Ello was his standout performer on night one, producing a polished display to land his heat.
Owned by the Three-Bs-Syndicate, Ello Ello was available at double-figure odds of 10/1, but failed to read the script as he bounced from trap three, posting a 1.32 sectional. Taking a one-length lead into the back from the fancied Hackney Dancer in second, the latter had no answer to the pace and power of the Matthews runner as he upped the ante rounding the bottom two bends. A son of Airmount Nando and Million Dreams, Ello Ello grew stronger as the race progressed, powering to a comfortable five-length victory over Hackney Dancer. The time was 28.15.
GETUP THE BOY BACK IN BUSINESS
Getup The Boy has built a reputation for delivering on big nights and the Mark Robinson-trained charge was flawless in landing his heat, justifying his 7/4 favouritism.
Owned by Daniel Ornstein, Getup The Boy had been well trialled in the lead-up to this event and that stood him in good stead as he proved a cut above his rivals. Drawn in five, the son of Ballymac Cashout - Peckies Flyer (a brother to Ballycowen Frank) was quickly into stride but was tapped for early speed as Boozed Wish outpaced his rivals on the run-up. Despite that, he turned handy in second before shooting up the inside to take control passing the 750-yard box. Thereafter, he proved too strong, galloping on to a six-length victory over Ballymac Riddick. The time was 28.14.
MAJOR & PASHA CLAIM CONCLUDING HEATS
The remaining two heats saw Powerhouse Major and Zenith Pasha claim their respective contests.
The first to score was ‘Major’ for Murt Leahy and owner John Coleman. An 8/1 chance, he donned the red jacket and was quickest into stride to lead into the back straight. A closely knit affair saw several runners bunching in search of the lead, with Rallying Billy looking the most likely winner rounding the penultimate bend. However, showing superior stamina, Powerhouse Major lived up to his name, pulling out more late on to seal a one-and-a-half-length victory. The time was 29.05.
The concluding heat saw Zenith Pasha (10/1) double his career tally with an off-the-pace performance for Birol Nadir, Paschal Taggart and Garry Dempsey.
Lennies Eddie was all the rage as the 8/11 favourite and everything appeared to go to script as he bolted from trap four to lead. However, Berlin Trilogy powered up on the inside, bumping his rival aside to take control and opening a commanding lead down the back as Zenith Pasha set off in chase. With the petrol gauge beginning to flicker on the leader approaching the Limerick hill, Zenith Pasha was there to capitalise, flying home to seal a one-and-a-half-length success. The time was 28.46.