FAYPOINT RANGER CROWNED CON & ANNIE KIRBY MEMORIAL CHAMP FOR 2025

    FAYPOINT RANGER CROWNED CON & ANNIE KIRBY MEMORIAL CHAMP FOR 2025

    Peter Farrell

    All roads led to Limerick on Saturday night as the 2025 Con & Annie Kirby Memorial came to a head and the night belonged to Faypoint Ranger as he completed a clean sweep in the Classic with what can only be described as a demolition job in the decider.

    There is no doubt that the Con & Annie Kirby Memorial has firmly cemented its place at the top table in greyhound racing circles and the 2025 renewal has again followed suit with a string of hugely talented youngsters showcasing their talent throughout the event. A leading name on what is a lengthy list of stars is a certain Faypoint Ranger and he was all the rage heading into the final given his sensational unbeaten run in the preliminaries. Indeed, an incredible 27.98 semi final display saw Patricia Flanangan’s charge installed as the 4/6 favourite for glory and to add more fuel to the fire, he was also bidding to hand his trainer, Graham Holland, a third Kirby triumph in just four years.

    2025 Con and Annie Kirby Memorial Champion, Faypoint Ranger

     

    RANGER HOT FAVOURITE

    Kindly sponsored by the ever-generous McManus Family, a phenomenal €80,000 was up for grabs and in terms of the betting, Faypoint Ranger was a very hot odds-on shot. Thereafter, the first of two Brendan Matthews runners in Bubbly Charger was a 10/3 chance, with Droopys Deploy shortening to 11/2 minutes from the off. Sole Mio was an 8/1 chance to hand Peter Cronin a first Kirby success, while it was double figures for both Pain Barrier (16/1) and Skywalker Schar (28/1).

    SAVING HIS BEST TO LAST

    Given the make-up of the final with so many strong runners in the line-up, Faypoint Ranger was expected to take charge at traprise and it certainly was a case of saving his best to last in that respect. Although headed briefly by a thunderous start from Pain Barrier in three, his lead was short-lived as Faypoint Ranger immediately pegged back his rival to hold all the aces on the run-up. In doing so, he stopped the sectional clock at a rapid 1.22, shaving some four spots off his previous best, which was recorded seven days prior in the semi final. As a result, Holland’s charge led the way from the improving Sole Mio in second, while Pain Barrier was shuffled back to third. Elsewhere, both Droopys Deploy and Skywalker Schar completely fluffed their lines to occupy the rear positions, with Bubbly Charger also left behind in the early exchanges despite a decent break from trap one.

    WRITING ON THE WALL EARLY

    At this point, Faypoint Ranger was already on his way to sealing a sixth straight victory as he held a narrow lead rounding the opener, however, his chances increased ten-fold within one stride as the improving Sole Mio ran off the opening bend, in turn creating a domino-effect on Pain Barrier in third. As a result, while Bubbly Charger was the beneficiary to slip into third, the bird had well and truly flown in front as Faypoint Ranger stretched out majestically to hold a six length lead at the halfway mark. Barring incident, Graham Holland now had one hand on the trophy with his heavyweight star set to join previous winners Swords Rex and Clonbrien Treaty in landing the prestigious Classic.

    NEVER IN DOUBT

    While Faypoint Ranger had manufactured a commanding lead passing the sprint box, Sole Mio had taken full control of second place as he too showed an impressive turn of speed from the second bend. In doing so, he opened a healthy lead of his own over third-placed Bubbly Charger, however, his efforts to bridge the gap on the leader were to be all in vain. Scraping the paintwork around the bottom two bends, Faypoint Ranger continued to set a frantic gallop out in front and while Sole Mio began to close the gap, the damage had been done early as the son of Coolavanny Hoffa and Roaming Shari could afford to relinquish some ground in his quest for glory.

    THIRD KIRBY TRIUMPH FOR GRAHAM HOLLAND

    Over the course of five weeks, ‘Ranger’ had amassed just over a sixteen length aggregate winning margin over his rivals and he was to add a further four and a half to that tally in the decider. Staying on well to cross the line clear of Sole Mio, who ran a brilliant race in second, Flanagan’s charge, bred by Bernadette Connolly, romped to a deserved victory in the richest juvenile event in the world. It was a further four lengths back to Bubbly Charger in third, while Skywalker Schar claimed fourth. Pain Barrier was luckless in defeat as he finished fifth and Droopys Deploy never really got going in the final as he occupied sixth place. In winning, Faypoint Ranger handed Graham Holland a third Kirby triumph in just four years and that saw him join Pat Buckley at the top of the tree in that regard. Many congratulations are extended to Patricia Flanagan, Bernadette Connolly and everyone associated with the Riverside Kennels, while great appreciation is also extended to JP and Noreen McManus for their continued support of this terrific event. The time in the decider was a fitting 28.05.

    *****

    BACK-TO-BACK SEAN O’CONNOR TITLE FOR TINAHUE PAPPONE

    For the second straight year, Tinahue Pappone was to land the supporting act on the card, which was the Sean O’Connor Memorial A1 525.

    Worth a brilliant €5,000 to the winner, John Foxes charge was bidding to defend his crown and despite what looked a tricky draw in six, he made light work of his rivals to justify his 11/10 billing. A level break in this contest saw Hearthill Rafa narrowly lead, however, this was short-lived as a determined Tinahue Pappone motored around the outside to sweep the corner. In doing so, the talented son of Toker Forest avoided traffic in behind to open an unassailable eight length lead over Millroad Victory in second. Setting a blistering gallop passing the 750-yard box, ‘Pappone’ was producing something special out in front and he duly motored up the Limerick straight to cross the line eight and a half lengths clear of ‘Millroad’ in second. The time was 28.59 and congratulations go to John Fox on achieving back-to-back wins in this very valuable and prestigious event.

    SOUTHWIND GOES WILD

    Elsewhere on the card, there were a number of sensational performances in the Open events and the first of those came in the ‘I Am Maximus Open 350’ as Southwind Wild got back to winning ways.

    Trained by Pat Buckley for William Wood, Southwind Wild had endured a couple of tough tasks of late, however, he made no mistakes in making a winning return to two-bend action. Installed as the 15/8 second favourite behind Born Racer, the son of Dorotas Wildcat and Mucky Harbour bolted from trap six and he held a narrow lead over Burgess Jack early doors. Occupying a wide berth, this allowed ‘Wild’ to swing the opening bend in control and he was to power up the Limerick straight thereafter to cross the line three and a half lengths clear. The winning time was a red-hot 18.46.

    BORN TO STAY

    In race five, which was the ‘Mister Donovan Novice 750’, Born To Perform produced an exceptional display to run riot for Jennifer O’Donnell and John Mitchell.

    With the retirement of a certain Tuono Charlie in recent months, there is a gap there for the next staying sensation and we may just have seen him last night as Born To Perform made the most emphatic of six-bend debuts. The 6/4 favourite at the off, ‘Born’ broke well from three to squeeze his way through Rosy Cross and Droopys Glamour early on. In doing so, the son of Malachi and Cheeky Chloe opened a two length lead passing the stands and he quickly began to turn the screw at the halfway mark. Posting a sensational 28.03 for the 525-yards, the gap only widened thereafter as Born To Perform romped to a ten length victory over Rosy Cross in second. The time was an incredible 41.06.

    BAREFOOT DOWNS JOSEPE

    In the ‘Bet On The Tote Open 550’, Barefoot On Fire (Grangeview Ten - Jaytee Osprey) got the first leg of a Murphy/Hennessy double off and running with a terrific performance to see off the fancied Toolmaker Josepe.

    Running from trap one, Barefoot On Fire was only moderately into stride as Toolmaker Josepe broke best of all from three, however, he barged his way through at the opener to contest into the back. At this point, ‘Josepe’ was shuffled back into the pack and it was Snazzy Boss that held a narrow lead over ‘Barefoot’ at the midway point. Outpacing his rival on the approach to the penultimate bend, Bryan and Kathleen Murphy’s was to take charge thereafter and despite coming under serious pressure from the luckless Toolmaker Josepe in second, the strapping fawn crossed the line with two lengths in hand. The time was a very fast 29.54.

    PRICELESS SCORES A HAT-TRICK

    The double was completed for Paul Hennessy and the Murphy Family in the ‘Synchronised Open 750’ as Priceless On Ice continued her purple patch with another polished performance.

    Stepping back up in trip after winning with ease over 525-yards last time out, Priceless On Ice was well-supported into 6/5 prior to the off and she sat second early on from trap two as Call Me Quick broke best of all in the stripes. However, ‘On Ice’ quickly breezed past her rival rounding the third bend and in doing so, she opened a healthy seven length lead down the back. Posting 28.32 for the 525-yards, the daughter of Ballyhimikin Jet and Ballinabola Ruby was home and hosed thereafter as she romped to a seven length victory over Callaway Hybrid in second. The time was a fast 41.37.

    JOE SHOWCASES HIS TALENTS

    While the Kirby may have proved luckless for the incredibly talented Ballinabola Joe, he bounced back to winning ways in the top-class ‘Istabraq Open 525’.

    Pat Buckley saw both Lady Farrah and Southwind Wild score earlier in the night and Ballinabola Joe was to seal a fine treble as he justified his starting price of 6/5. Running from trap two, the son of Ballyhimikin Jet - Ballinabola Ruby, owned by Brendan Murphy, broke well from his inside berth and he quickly excelled past the fast-starting Fun Inthe Run early on. In doing so, ‘Joe’ built up ahead of steam down the back and he ran to a virtual solo thereafter to easily score by an impressive seven lengths over Hot Wood, who was an impressive eye-catcher in second. The time was a smart 28.24.