TEDDY QUICKEST AS LIMERICK HAND OUT SIX KIRBY TICKETS
Peter Farrell
There were six golden tickets for the upcoming Con & Annie Kirby Memorial on offer at Limerick Greyhound Stadium last night and Pat Buckley accounted for 50% of the qualifiers with Bens Teddy the unsurprising standout performer.
Owned by Kim Pritchard, Bens Teddy came into the event with a stunning 28.12 trial around Tralee and given his previous form around Limerick, he looked difficult to oppose despite the calibre of opposition in the AAO trial stake. Running from trap one, Bens Teddy made full use of his inside berth with a good start and he came out the right side of the early buckle with Boylesports Gift, who suffered a bump. Bens Teddy opened a two length lead down the back and his strong-running style saw him gallop into an unassailable lead around the bottom two bends as he stepped it up several gears. Extending his lead with every stride up the home straight, the son of Droopys Sydney and Beechgrove Bell sealed an impressive victory by crossing the line with over six lengths in hand over nearest rival, Run Faster, in second. The time was a rapid 28.37.
Kyletaun Jerry was the first qualifier for team Buckley as he landed the opening A1 stake with an off-the-pace performance. A wide-open contest saw Blackstone Bobby go off the 2/1 favourite and it was Michael O’Donovan’s charge who showed first from trap three to lead. However, Kyletaun Jerry, owned by Kenny Glen, slipped through in second and although four lengths adrift at halfway, he ate up the ground to reel in the longtime leader close home. Sealing a first career victory for connections, the son of Laugil Blake and Killaheen Queen crossed one length clear of Blackstown Bobby, with Mr Incredible also catching the eye as he made up monstrous ground to finish just a further short-head back in third. The time was 28.91.
The second of the Buckley qualifiers came in race seven, an A3 trial stake, as Road Exile blitzed the field to win comfortably. A winner of his debut in a smart 29.22 .30s around Youghal, Road Exile has clear ability and this was on full display last night. Owned by R.A Colton, the son of Droopys Sydney and Trusted Exile came away well from six and he showed sizzling early gears to take over at the opener. From here, Road Exile set a brilliant gallop down the back to draw clear of his rivals and win with ease. The brindle was five and a half lengths clear of Deadly Kyogo crossing the line as the clock returned a swift 28.71.
STORYS NEXT BEST
The next best in terms of the clock came in the AAO/AO trial stake as Storys Law got back to winning ways for Murt Leahy.
Jointly owned by Gavin O’Mahony and Peter McMunn, Storys Law started his career with a bang, winning five of his first six starts but has found life difficult in recent months prior to last night’s descent onto Limerick. After last week's hugely impressive performance, it was Boylesports Dazl who went off the 4/7 favourite but Storys Law, a 7/1 shot, meant business from the off as he pinged from trap three to lead the jolly early on. In truth, it was all over from there on in as the son of Loughteen Blanco and Droopys Berry set an electric gallop down the back, before staying on stoutly to see off Boylesports Dazl in second. Two lengths separating the duo, the time was a brilliant 28.39.
SERVICE SUCURES TICKET
Indeed, Murt Leahy sent out another trial stake winner in race eleven as Droopys Service ran out a wide-margin winner. Also owned by Gavin O’Mahony, the 4/1 shot was a beaten favourite in both his starts to date but he made no such mistakes despite a sluggish start from trap six. Turning second into the back, Droopys Service had four lengths to overturn but he made rapid progress down the back and he swept to the front rounding the final turn. From here, the son of Malachi and Droopys Meteor drew to win very impressively by six lengths from Sporting Montana in second. The time was 28.85.
JO JO IMPRESSES
Race eight saw the A2 trial stake go down for decision and this went the way of the favourite as the Owen McKenna-trained Cree Jo Jo won in style.
Owned by Paul Carpenter, the choicely bred son of Laughil Blake and Coolavanny Chick looked a lovely prospect before descending onto Limerick and he duly delivered an emphatic performance to win with plenty in hand. Quickly into stride from trap three, Cree Jo Jo proved too hot to handle for his rivals and he maintained a relentless gallop all the way to the winning line to inflict a four length defeat on nearest rival, Ballymac Samuel, in second. The time was 28.59.