JOSEPE THE STAR PERFORMER IN CON & ANNIE KIRBY SECOND ROUND

Peter Farrell

The opening round heats of the Con & Annie Kirby Memorial was very much a case of shadow-boxing, however, the action ramped up at Limerick Greyhound Stadium on Saturday night as several trackers stepped up their bid for the €80,000 to the winner Classic.

Of the eight heats on offer, Toolmaker Josepe posted the quickest time on the night as he made it back-to-back wins and indeed led home a one-two for his trainer Robert Gleeson. Thereafter, the likes of Faypoint Ranger spearheaded a fine double for Graham Holland with Brideside Bill also scoring, while Lemon Joey also maintained his unbeaten tag with another trap-to-line victory for Murt Leahy.

JOSEPE POUNCES LATE

It didn’t take long for the fireworks to start as in the very first heat, Toolmaker Josepe (Droopys Sydney - Droopys Dancer) built on a brilliant opening round victory by scoring in a sizzling 28.19. A level break in this contest saw the blistering early speed of Stonepark Browne take charge and he opened up an eye-catching lead as he stretched five lengths clear into the back. At this point, despite the large gap, Toolmaker Josepe had managed to hold his pitch on the rail and it looked a case of ‘when’ as opposed to ‘if’ midway down the back. Owned by William Hyslop, ‘Josepe’ got to work passing the 750-yard box and he closed the gap on Stonepark Browne, whose petrol gauge was already under pressure approaching the penultimate bend. Further back, Droopys Deploy was going stride for stride with his kennel companion and he was another who had live claims rounding the third-bend. Storming to the front off the final turn, Toolmaker Josepe almost blew Stonepark Browne off his feet as he flew past his rival and he stayed on with his usual gusto to cross the line one and a half lengths clear of the equally powerful, Droopys Deploy. The final qualifying position went to Ballymac Lucia, who was mightily impressive in finishing just a short-head adrift for Maxine Locke.

RANGER HEADS A HOLLAND DOUBLE

Faypoint Ranger was disputing outright favouritism prior to the second round and he did nothing to damage those claims as he blitzed his rivals to win in style.

Bidding for a fifth win from just seven starts, Patricia Flanagan’s charge was a winner in 28.30 last time out and he outlined his credentials early on with a slick exit from three. He had Knockard Hero for company in the opening exchanges, however, his early speed saw him hold the brindle and take a commanding lead into the back. Further back at this point was the strong-running Skywalker Schar and there was a two length gap further back to the remaining trio. Up top however, there was never any doubt surrounding the outcome, as Faypoint Ranger had built up ahead of steam in his quest to remain unbeaten at Limerick. Holding his three length lead off the final bend, the son of Coolavanny Hoffa and Carefree Tipp stayed on strongly up the hill to cross the line three clear of the impressive Knockard Hero, who continued to defy his starting prices for Larry Enright. The final qualifying position went the way of Skywalker Schar and the time was a rapid 28.22.

The double for the Golden kennels was secured in heat nine as Brideside Bill also maintained his unbeaten run in the Classic. The early exchanges were occupied by the two book-ends as both Bubby Charger and Brideside Bill disputed for the ascendancy. Bubbly Charge crucially held the inside line however, and this allowed Brendan Matthew’s charge to narrowly head his rival into the back. Thereafter, he impressively opened a one length lead over Brideside Bill and he looked set to grab his first win of the Classic as a result. However, despite the wide-running style of Brideside Bill, Eugene Buckley’s black wasn’t finished yet. Coursing the hare off the final bend, the son of Droopys Sydney - Roaming Shari was to produce a power-packed finish and he just collared Bubbly Charger in the shadows of the winning line. A thrilling buckle saw a short-head called in favour of Holland’s tracker, the time was 28.35. The final qualifying position was landed by Flight Club as he finished fast to book his ticket into the quarter-finals.

JOEY REMAINS UNBEATEN

The concluding heat of the night was expected to be a ding-dong battle between Lemon Joey and Left Corner Back, however, it ultimately saw Lemon Joey (Ballymac Best - Lemon Ariana) run out a comfortable winner for Murt Leahy.

The run to the opening bend saw Left Corner Back recover from a tardy start in five to power past Lemon Joey and track brilliantly between the latter and Sole Mio on the inside. As a result, Thomas Leahy’s charge opened a two-length lead down the back, however, Lemon Joey, owned by Billy O’Keeffe, showed an eye-catching turn of speed at this point to motor up the inside of Left Corner Back, who was forced to check his stride as a result. Thereafter, it was all about Lemon Joey as the Murt Leahy-trained star hit the front between the bottom two bends, before showing ultimate professionalism in staying on well to score by two and a half lengths. The battle was well and truly on in the closing stages and it was Silent Kobbie that arrived with a wet sail to claim second, with Sole Mio just a short-head back in third. The time was 28.31.

RICKY WEARS DOWN PAT

There was a shock on the cards in heat two as Blastoff Ricky, owned by the High-Handicappers-Syndicate, got back to winning ways at the expense of the long-time leader Bogger Pat.

The opening exchanges were expected to be dominated by Bogger Pat and Adamantconqueror, however, the former showed a clean pair of paws to his rivals as he took a commanding lead into the back for R.A Colwell and Pat Buckley. In doing so, it was Blastoff Ricky (Dorotas Wildcat - Blastoff Kat)that sat two and a half lengths adrift midway down the far side, while Adamantconqueror was under pressure at this point by the strong-running Beaming Joe in fourth. The contest looked signed, sealed and delivered as Bogger Pat continued to set a blistering gallop around the final two bends, however, he faded notably in the closing stages, which in turn allowed Blastoff Ricky to soar past his rival and win by an extending half-length. The time was 28.64 as Beaming Joe also finished fast to claim third for Corona Ryan.

JACKTAVERN GOES BOOM

Heat three was a five-dog affair and it was Jacktavern Boom that went one better than last week’s effort for the Pillar-Syndicate and David Byrne.

Indeed, Jacktavern Boom was one of the eye-catchers from night one as he went down by a mere short-head to Fun Inthe Run, so it looked a foregone conclusion as he broke best of all on this occasion to lead from trap three. In doing so, ‘Boom’ opened a healthy lead over Daleroad Mya in second, while Pain Barrier occupied the third qualifying position for Brendan Matthews. Setting a blistering gallop midway down the back, it was all over as a contest at the three-quarter mark as Jacktavern Boom continued to comfortably assert and in truth, he was never under any serious pressure for his respected connections. As a result, the son of Droopys Sydney - Droopys Dancer duly obliged by three lengths over the staying-on Pain Barrier in second, while the final qualifying position was claimed by Pat Guilfoyle’s Daleroad Mya in third. The time was 28.31.

FUN INTHE RUN BENEFITS FROM TRAFFIC

Heat four saw a traffic-filled contest claimed by Fun Inthe Run as he made it back-to-back wins for Daire and Michael Malone.

In truth, Fun InThe Run looked to have cooked his goose early on as he completely fluffed his lines at traprise. In contrast, it was the inside runners of Ballymac Dave and Lombardi that disputed, while Ballymac Axel was also in the thick of it on the run-up. However, heavy traffic was to ensue and the aforementioned trio were all to suffer at the expense of the beneficiary, Fun Inthe Run. Quickly swooping to go five clear into the back, Fun Inthe Run ran to a virtual solo as a result and he crossed the line five lengths clear of Coolavanny Shona in second. Ballymac Dave was one length further back in third as the clock returned 28.51.

JESTER SHINES

In heat six, Ballymac Jester grabbed his first win of the Classic in emphatic style as Liam Dowling’s powerful tracker flew to a convincing victory.

It was the local runner, Tally Ho Socks, that set the pace in this contest as he narrowly cleared his rivals at the opening bend and he held a half-length lead over Ballymac Jester into the back straight. Holding his rivals for large parts, Ballymac Jester began to turn the screw passing the 750-yard box and the son of Ballymac Wild quickly cut the nose off his rival to go clear. To the credit of Tally Ho Socks, he implemented similar tactics on Ballymac Sorrel in third and stuck to his task well to chase down Ballymac Jester, however, the leader was in a class of his own as he powered to a five length victory. The time was 28.33 with Ballymac Sorrel claiming the final qualifying position in third.