TINA TURNS ON THE STYLE IN CON & ANNIE KIRBY SECOND ROUND HEATS

Peter Farrell

After a sensational start to the 2026 Con & Annie Kirby Memorial at Limerick last weekend, it looked a hard act to follow. However, Saturday night’s second round delivered in equal measure, producing two sub-28-second performances across the eight heats.

Seven of the eight winners had also scored seven days earlier, highlighting the strength in depth.While the likes of Bockos Gold, Ello Ello, Getup The Boy and Bouncing Monarch all enhanced their outright claims as we move into the last twenty-four, the standout performance came from Ballydoyle Tina, as the Graham Holland-trained bitch romped to a blistering 27.87, just .04 outside Ballymac Danica’s track record.

Pencilled in to run in the concluding heat of the night, Ballydoyle Tina was installed as the 8/15 favourite after a scintillating 28.09 in round one, and she justified that price tag with a scorching break from trap four to lead. Posting a rapid 1.23 sectional, Paul Ellis and Seamus Hagan’s charge quickly excelled in the early yards to manufacture a healthy three-length advantage on the run-up. Chased in second by Montana Secret, he had five lengths to make up passing the sprint boxes and, in truth, was chasing a qualification place only as ‘Tina’ tightened the screw approaching the penultimate bend. Getting stronger as the race progressed, the daughter of Ballymac Kingdom - Ballydoyle Rossa powered up the Limerick hill to cross the line eight and a half lengths clear of Montana Shadow in second. The final qualifying position went the way of Powerhouse Major in a red-hot 27.87. (Sec: 4.09, 15.91).

MONARCH CONTINUES ASSAULT

Bouncing Monarch was the standout performer in round one as he dipped under 28 seconds on his return to Irish soil, and he continued to impress, again breaking the 28-barrier to land heat seven for owner Dave Fradgley.

Installed as the 8/11 favourite, Bouncing Monarch was drawn wider this time, but it proved a blessing in disguise as he trapped smartly from four. In doing so, the Michael O’Donovan-trained fawn showed superior early speed to edge ahead of Jaykay Fly in five. While the latter gained the inside line into the back, Bouncing Monarch was firmly in control passing the sprint box and stopped the third-bend sectional clock in a brisk 15.90. Jaykay Fly kept the leader honest to the three-quarter mark, however, the son of Deerjet Sydney - Lemon Elsa came into his own late on, pulling clear to claim a three-and-a-half-length victory over Paul Hennessy’s charge. The time was a phenomenal 27.98, with Riverside Rex claiming the final qualifying place in third. (Sec: 4.15, 15.90).

BOCKOS DOWNS SETANTA

One of the most mouth-watering heats of the night came in heat two, as Ballymac Setanta locked horns with Bockos Gold, and it was the latter who came out on top with a devastating performance for Graham Holland and the Jolly-Good-Company Syndicate.

Ballymac Setanta went to traps as the 1/2 favourite after getting his campaign off to the perfect start in round one, but traprise was always likely to prove crucial given the abundance of early speed inside. Indeed, as the boxes opened, it was Berlin Trilogy and Droopys Map that broke best, but both were quickly outpaced by the sensational early speed of Bockos Gold in trap one.The 86-pounder quickly took command on the run-up, while Ballymac Setanta recovered well from a moderate start to slot in behind entering the back straight. A two-length advantage remained at halfway, but despite Setanta’s efforts to bridge the gap, Bockos Gold was setting a ferocious gallop, one his rival had no answer to. Staying on strongly around the bottom bends, the son of Coolavanny Hoffa - Newinn Cuckoo crossed the line three and a half lengths clear of Ballymac Setanta, with Droopys Map taking the final qualifying spot in 28.00. (Sec: 4.10, 15.83).

BEANOS SEALS HOLLAND TREBLE

Just like round one, Graham Holland completed a treble on the night as Beanos Yank (Deerjet Sydney - Lemon Elsa) continued his upward trajectory with another powerful display in heat five.

Sent off at odds-on (4/5), Beanos Yank was expected to dictate and, despite a slight peck on landing, showed blistering early speed to narrowly oust Boozed Wish on the run-up. Owned by the Pups-And-Pints Syndicate, the white and brindle quickly asserted down the back and held a two-length lead approaching the penultimate bend. Shudacudawouda made eye-catching progress in third, but despite a strong late surge from the Brendan Matthews-trained runner, the line came in time for Beanos Yank, who crossed with a two-and-a-half-length advantage. Boozed Wish was a length further back in third in 28.22. (Sec: 4.14, 15.96).

BACK-TO-BACK FOR ELLO, LENNIES EXITS

The opening heat set tongues wagging as Ello Ello proved his round one success was no fluke, while one of the outright favourites, Lennies Dynamic, made an earlier-than-expected exit.

Ello Ello, a 10/1 winner last weekend, was installed as the 9/2 second favourite behind Lennies Dynamic (1/2). At traprise, however, there was only ever going to be one winner, as the Brendan Matthews runner pinged from trap three to show a clean pair of heels early.

Meanwhile, Lennies Dynamic fluffed his lines at the start, trailing the field before encountering traffic at the opening bend. Up front, Ello Ello was chased by Rapido Ivy, but a two-length advantage quickly doubled approaching the three-quarter mark. The son of Airmount Nando - Million Dreams again showed his stamina to draw clear and cross the line with a commanding six-and-a-half-length victory. Rapido Ivy took second, with Waitingforastar also qualifying in third. The time was 28.03 (Sec: 4.18, 16.05).

BRILLIANT FROM GETUP THE BOY

Getup The Boy made a winning return in round one and followed up in heat four with a dominant display to reach the last twenty-four.

Trained by Mark Robinson for Daniel Ornstein, Getup The Boy is one of the most experienced runners left in the Kirby, and that could prove crucial as the competition progresses. Sent off at 7/2, he broke well to show excellent early dash, leading around the bend by a length from Ballymac Gwennie. Running a strong bend, the son of Ballymac Cashout - Peckies Flyer quickly stretched clear down the back. With the minor placings contested behind, Getup The Boy set a relentless gallop and extended his advantage late on, powering up the hill to secure a five-length victory. Ballymac Gwennie held second, with Ballycowen Frank a length and a half back in third. The time was 28.03. (Sec: 4.17, 15.94).

CUSHIE PERFORMANCE FROM FLYTPLAN

One of the most comfortable victories of the night came in heat three, as Cushie Flytplan (13/8) took full advantage of trap one to score impressively for John Codd, Diana Brodie and Michael O’Donovan.

In a tightly contested run to the bend, all six runners were in contention, but ‘Flytplan’ forced his way through to take control. From there, he powered down the back to open up a four-length lead over Hackney Buck at the three-quarter mark. Setting a strong gallop, the son of Droopys Flytplan - Fatboyz Storm only grew stronger, coming into his own up the Limerick hill to cross seven and a half lengths clear. Hackney Buck took second, with Grouchos Cossie third. The time was 28.22. (Sec: 4.17, 16.21).

DUFFLE DOUBLES UP

Heat six saw another unbeaten runner as Ballymac Duffle made it two wins from two for Liam Dowling.

A strapping fawn, Ballymac Duffle broke his maiden in style in round one and, while the 6/5 favourite had more to do here, he answered in determined fashion. Rallying Billy showed the best early pace to lead by two lengths, but ‘Duffle’ tracked closely and began to wind up his challenge approaching the penultimate bend. Drawing level at the third bend, the son of Ballymac Cooper - Ballymac Wisdom asserted around the final turn and pulled clear to score by two lengths. Canavour Bucko and Ballymac Chantry both stayed on well to qualify in second and third respectively. The time was 28.30. (Sec: 4.13, 16.13).

The draw for the Quarter-Finals of the 2026 Con & Annie Kirby Memorial was made shortly after and is as follows :

Heat1

T1 - Grouchos Cossie

T2 - Bockos Gold

T3 - Waitingforastar

T4 - Rapido Ivy

T5 - Shudacudawouda

T6 - Ballymac Gwennie

Heat2

T1 - Beanos Yank

T2 - Bouncing Monarch

T3 - Ballydoyle Tine

T4 - Droopys Map

T5 - Montana Secret

T6 - Ballymac Chantry

Heat3

T1 - Ballycowen Frank

T2 - Ballymac Duffle

T3 - Riverside Rex

T4 - Ballymac Setanta

T5 - Ello Elle

T6 - Hackney Buck

Heat4

T1 - Jaykay Fly

T2 - Getup The Boy

T3 - Cushie Flytplan

T4 - Boozed Wish

T5 - Carnivore Bucko

T6 - Powerhouse Major