ANOTHER NIGHT OF KIRBY UPSETS AS FIELD HALVED TO TWELVE
Peter Farrell
The quarter finals of the 2024 Con & Annie Kirby Memorial 525 took place at Limerick Greyhound Stadium on Saturday night and such as the pattern of this year’s Classic, there were more shock results in terms of the heat winners.
Prior to the four quarters, the head of the outright betting market had Droopys Metaphor, Da Bold Falcon and Epic Chick share 6/1 favouritism, however, only one progressed into next week’s semi finals as Epic Chick was forced to play second fiddle behind the fastest quarter final winner, Merits Inclusion.
Indeed, we are now getting down to the business end of this competition and an owner who knows what it takes to win a Kirby, having won on two separate occasions, is Brendan Matthews of Newry. The Northern handler was represented by Merits Inclusion in the third quarter final and he finally got things right as he handed a comfortable defeat to 4/6 favourite, Epic Chick. A big priced 5/1 chance prior to the start, Merits Inclusion was very well-housed on the fence in red and he trapped well to soar up the inside of his fast-starting rival, Coolavanny Poppy. Drifting slightly middle at this point, Merits Inclusion gave a nudge to ‘Poppy’ which allowed the son of Dromana Bucko and Million Dreams to open up a six length advantage down the back. Chased in second by Barefoot On Fire, Epic Chick was now improving into second and loomed alongside ‘Barefoot’ approaching the penultimate turn. Merits Inclusion; however, continued to go about his business in terrific fashion and he extended his lead before stopping the third bend sectional clock in a brisk 16.12. No doubt about the winner at this point, it was all about qualification in behind and it was Epic Chick that finished with real intent to close the deficit to four lengths as she followed Merits Inclusion home. The final qualifier was Barefoot On Fire and the time was a fast 28.31.
SCOOBY MORE THAN A PACEMAKER
With the withdrawal of Serene Rex earlier in the day, the opening quarter final was a five-dog affair and this saw Scooby Pacemaker come from off-the-pace to deny Romeo Kingpin back-to-back wins.
It was Stonepark King who went off as the 4/5 favourite, however, his chances were dealt a massive blow at the opener as he met traffic. In turn, it was Romeo Kingpin that took control of proceedings from trap three and in what was a closely knit pack, the Graham Holland-trained tracker held a lead of just one length over Radical Harry in second. Meanwhile, Scooby Pacemaker was a close third and it’s fair to say that he looked a huge threat midway down the back as he loomed alongside Radical Harry. At this point, just two lengths separated three of the four greyhounds rounding the penultimate turn but Romeo Kingpin remained in charge as he took a slender advantage into the home straight. However, out wide was the strong finishing Scooby Pacemaker and Jennifer O’Donnell’s charge showed brilliant determination to power home and get the verdict by a short-head. In what proved a blanket finish, Romeo Kingpin was a one and a half lengths clear in second, while the final qualification position was also sealed by a judges call as Radical Harry just held off the luckless Stonepark King in third. The time was 28.46. (Sec: 16.17)
PATRIOT OFF THE MARK
It may have taken a little longer than originally anticipated, but Ballymac Patriot got off the mark in the second quarter final as he too finished at speed for owner Liam Dowling.
It really is testament to the greyhound that we are now down the final twelve in this €80,000 to the winner Classic, yet we are still waiting for the reigning Juvenile Classic champion to really click at Limerick. That said, he showed big signs of a tracker coming to the boil nicely as he finished with a wet sail to score at odds of 7/2. Ower Cracker had been running out of skin in this stake and as such, he was installed as the 5/4 favourite to maintain his brilliant run for Pat Buckley. However, despite showing an abundance of speed to recover from a tardy start, he moved off the final turn which ultimately ended his chances of advancing further. It was Feshtys Mo and Knockeen Dazzler who came away best of all early doors as they once again displayed awesome early gears to round the opener in tandem. The inside line proved crucial on this occasion as Feshtys Mo took charge off the second bend and there was very little to separate the duo as Ower Cracker occupied third, with Ballymac Patriot certainly not out of it back in fourth. As mentioned, the complexity of the contest changed off the final turn as the improving Ower Cracker found space at a premium and drifted wide, in turn leaving the door wide-open for the fast finishing Ballymac Patriot. Feshtys Mo and Knockeen Dazzler continued to assert up top, however, Ballymac Patriot was flying at this point and it was the son of Ballymac Cashout and Ballymac Wisdom who got his head in front at the line. Crossing just half a length clear of Feshtys Mo in second, Knockeen Dazzler desperately held off the power-packed finish of Da Bold Falcon, who only got into the mix in the final twenty-five yards. The time was 28.66. (Sec: 16.17)
BACK TO BACK FOR FAYPOINT SEAN
While Graham Holland was busy recording a one-two in the final of BresBet Easter Cup at Shelbourne Park, Faypoint Sean (Droopys Sydney - Roaming Shari) was representing his kennel brilliantly in the final quarter final.
After showing huge pace to come from behind last time out, Faypoint Sean was installed as the 5/2 second favourite behind Droopys Metaphor and he produced a similar performance to seven days prior as he again came with a wet sail to seal victory. It was Phoenix Tyson who shot from trap five to lead early on and Ian Reilly’s tracker took a two length advantage into the back from In Good Time in second. At this point, Faypoint Sean occupied third and he was comfortably holding both Ballymac Dapper and Droopys Metaphor in behind. Phoenix Tyson was setting a fine gallop up top however, and he galloped into the third bend to stop the clock at 16.24, just one length clear of In Good Time in second. Tiring up top rounding the final turn, both Phoenix Tyson and In Good Time drifted wide late on and Faypoint Sean showed a different thread to his bow as he stormed home on the inside as opposed to his power-pack finish out wide last time out. A neck clear of Phoenix Tyson crossing the line, In Good Time was just a short-head further back in third. The time was identical to the second quarter final, 28.66.
The draw for the semi- finals of the 2024 Con & Annie Kirby:
1st Semi-final
T1 - ROMEO KINGPIN
T2 - BALLYMAC PATRIOT
T3 - IN GOOD TIME
T4 - BAREFOOT ON FIRE
T5 - EPIC CHICK (M)
T6 - KNOCKEEN DAZZLER (W)
2nd Semi-final
T1 - SCOOBY PACEMAKER
T2 - MERITS INCLUSION
T3 - FESHTYS MO
T4 - RADICAL HARRY
T5 - FAYPOINT SEAN (M)
T6 - PHOENIX TYSON (M)
******
SEAN O’CONNOR MEMORIAL
Elsewhere on the card, the opening round heats of the Sean O’Connor Memorial A1/A2 525 also got underway and it was Tinahue Pappone that set the standard.
Running in heat two, Tinahue Pappone was the 7/4 favourite and John Fox’s tracker made every yard to secure victory. Quickest into stride from five, the son of Toker Forest and Tinahue Lady took a clear advantage into the back straight and despite Kilcolgan Whitney making rapid inroads late on, held his challenger by two lengths, in 28.50.
HEAT WATCH
In heat one, Ballymac Rebel took charge at the midway point to record a first career victory for Liam Dowling. Only moderately away from six, the son of Ballymac Kingdom and Ballymac Diva showed blistering early speed to follow Miss Mini Holly around the bend and he outpaced his rival down the back to take charge. Maintaining a powerful gallop thereafter, ‘Rebel’ crossed the line to win by two and a half lengths to spare over Piccadilly Attic in second. The time was 28.55.
In heat three, Smart Sam sealed a shock 8/1 upset for Paul White. Bidding for a brilliant eighth career victory, the son of Droopys Sydney and Ballyoran Maid didn’t come away too fluently but showed terrific early speed to race through runners and take control off the second turn. Setting a fine gallop thereafter, ‘Sam’ was two lengths too strong for Churchtown Syd crossing the line. The time was 28.70.
Cheque For Sir went to boxes as the 6/4 favourite in heat four and he duly obliged for Karol Ramsbottom and the Cash-Back-Syndicate. Running from trap three, the son of Droopys Sydney and Yahoo Ava just about avoided being the meat in the sandwich early on and he showed brilliant track craft to shoot up the inside entering the back. From here, Cheque For Sir proved a tough nut to crack as he galloped to a convincing two and a half length victory over Kilcolgan Zeus in second. The time was 28.80.
The final heat was landed by Kilcolgan Mick at odds of 2/1. Trained by Neilus O’Connell for Karen Geoghegan, ‘Mick’ had some five lengths to make up as Mail Road Rebel set the pace down the back, however, he did just that with a wonderful display of determination. Powering around the final two bends, the son of Droopys Sydney and Razldazl Annie came home three lengths clear of Mail Road Rebel, in 29.03.