KIRBY FIELD CUT TO TWELVE AS BRIDESIDE TOPS THE BILL AT LIMERICK

Peter Farrell

The quarter finals of the Con & Annie Kirby Memorial dominated proceedings at Limerick Greyhound Stadium on Saturday night and there was little to separate all four heat winners as Brideside Bill went narrowly quickest for Eugene Buckley and Graham Holland.

The field was cut to just twelve runners last night and although there were some major casualties in the form of Toolmaker Josepe, Ballymac Lucia and Jacktavern Boom; others continued to shine with Faypoint Ranger, Brideside Bill and Fun Inthe Run all continuing their unbeaten runs in the Classic. Meanwhile, Silent Kobbie also introduced himself to this year’s prestigious event with a terrific performance for Maurice O’Connor in heat three.

BRILLIANT FROM BILL

On the night, Graham Holland accounted for fifty-percent of the heats and it was Brideside Bill (Droopys Sydney - Roaming Shari) that went quickest as he led from trap-to-line in heat two. Drawn in six, the 5/4 favourite took a flyer from his wide berth but he was joined in the early exchanges by the improving Bogger Pat on the inside. Cutting the nose off the latter at the opener, ‘Bill’ opened a three length advantage entering the back straight and it was Bubbly Charger that shot up the inside to give chase in second. At this point, Bogger Pat was forced to check, in turn allowing Flight Club to improve into third, and the qualification spots looked already set at the midway point. Closing the gap to just two lengths entering the penultimate turn, Bubbly Charger was hot on the heels of Brideside Bill, however, Eugene Buckley’s runner is very comfortable over this trip and he stayed on stoutly on the run for home to see off the eye-catching Brendan Matthews runner in second. One and a half lengths between the pair, the time was a rapid 28.24 with the Paul Hennessy-trained Flight Club claiming third.

FOUR FROM FOUR FROM FAYPOINT

Graham Holland has landed two of the last three Kirby Memorial’s and he has an extremely strong hand in the 2025 renewal.

Faypoint Ranger (5/4)would appear to be spearheading that challenge and he made it four wins from as many starts at Limerick with a determined performance for owner Patricia Flanagan. Indeed, ‘Ranger’ looked in a spot of trouble early on as both Blastoff Ricky on his inner and Toolmaker Josepe on his outer both trapped clear of Holland’s runner in two. However, showing his trademark early zip, the son of Coolavanny Hoffa quickly raced through his rivals to dictate and he was joined by another speedster in the form of Lemon Joey in six. Further back at this point was Ballymac Jester, who was unlucky to ship a bump at the opener, and he sat three lengths further back in third. Up top, however; it was very much game on as both Faypoint Ranger and Lemon Joey went toe-to-toe and it was ‘Joey’ that gained a narrow lead passing the 750-yard box. However, Faypoint Ranger was nothing if not determined and he tracked brilliantly on the inside to regain control and despite coming under serious pressure late on from both Lemon Joey and the big eye-catcher of the race, Ballymac Jester, he crossed the line with a neck to spare. The time was 28.38 with just a short-head separating both Lemon Joey and Ballymac Jester for second and third respectively.

FUN ALSO UNBEATEN

Of the remaining twelve runners, just three remain unbeaten and Fun Inthe Run is one of the selected few after another thoroughly professional performance for Michael and Daire Malone.

Fun InThe Run (11/4) has perhaps not gotten the plaudits he deserves up to this point, however, there is plenty to like about this greyhound as he continues to improve throughout this competition. Drawn in six, the son of Malachi and Love Island is a half-brother to Knockeen Dazzler and while there are certainly similar characteristics between the pair, Fun InThe Run has a bit more in the stamina department and that makes him a serious player going forward. Drawn in six, Fun Inthe Run broke well from his wide berth in six, however, it was Sole Mio in three that showed the superior early speed to lead from Peter Cronin. In doing so, ‘Mio’ took a two length lead into the back straight and Fun Inthe Run was going to have to knuckle down in his attempts to reel in the leader. That said, he was more than up to the challenge as he stuck close to the blistering gallop set by Sole Mio, before powering up the Limerick hill to storm past his rival. An extending neck was the decision crossing the line as Skywalker Schar once again finished at a rate of knots to break the heart of Tally Ho Socks. The time was 28.33.

NOT SO SILENT KOBBIE

In heat three, Droopys Deploy went to traps as the short-priced 8/11 favourite but he had no answer to Silent Kobbie as he introduced himself onto the Kirby with a sensational performance for Maurice O’Connor.

Jointly owned by Timothy and Tom Nolan, Silent Kobbie had been threatening a serious run in this Kirby and he took off last night with a performance to make everyone stand up and take note. Drawn favourably in trap one, the son of Droopys Sydney and Ballymac Beanie, a 5/2 chance, broke well from his inside berth and he raced up the inside of the fast-starting Droopys Deploy out wide. In doing so, he nudged his rival aside to open a two length advantage entering the back straight and it was a further three lengths back to Pain Barrier, who was catching the eye with a brilliant burst of speed to go third. Silent Kobbie continued to hold Droopys Deploy rounding the bottom two bends and at this point, Pain Barrier was also making rapid progress before being forced to check off the heels of Droopys Deploy in second. As a result, Silent Kobbie had created the daylight required to comfortably see off his rivals on the run up the hill and he emerged a three length winner over Droopys Deploy in second, with Pain Barrier happily settling for third. The time was a rapid 28.27.

The trap draw for the semi finals of the Con & Annie Kirby Memorial was made shortly after and is as follows :

1st Semi-Final

T1 - PAIN BARRIER

T2 - SILENT KOBBIE

T3 - FAYPOINT RANGER

T4 - BALLYMAC JESTER (m)

T5 - DROOPYS DEPLOY (m)

T6 - BRIDESIDE BILL (w)

2nd Semi-Final

T1 - SKYWALKER SCHAR

T2 - BUBBLY CHARGER

T3 - SOLE MIO

T4 - LEMON JOEY (m)

T5 - FLIGHT CLUB (m)

T6 - FUN INTHE RUN (w)

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STUNNING FROM MICK IN SEAN O’CONNOR OPENER

The opening round heats of the Sean O’Connor Memorial A1 525 also featured earlier on the card and the standard was set in phenomenal style by Kilcolgan Mick.

Running in heat one, Kilcolgan Mick went to traps as a big 5/1 chance for Karen Geoghegan and Neilus O’Connell and he blitzed his rivals to win in swashbuckling fashion. Drawn in red, ‘Mick’ was quickly into stride but it was Gortkelly Hazard that set the early pace with a rocket start from trap six. However, within a matter of strides Kilcolgan Mick had taken control and it was a case of goodnight Irene thereafter. Opening the gap with every stride, the son of Droopys Sydney and Razldazl Annie raced into a commanding six and a half length lead and he crossed the line to stop the clock in a serious 28.16. A remarkable performance from Geoghegan’s charge. Indeed, Kilcolgan Whitney sealed a double for connections on the night as she continued her purple patch to win the concluding race on the night, which was a 600-yard contest, in 32.69.

In other heats, Hearthill Rafa was another big priced winner as he came from off-the-pace to score for owner Joseph O’Connor. Arriving late, the son of Burgess Bucks and Hearthill Josie was a half-length too strong in 28.97. Heat three saw the Jack Kennelly-trained Teeming Spirit (5/4) hold on to seal a short-head victory over Blastoff Cooper in 28.64, while Tinahue Pappone (9/4), owned by John Fox, came out the right side of a ding-dong battle with Abigails King to win by one length in 28.62.