THRILLS AND SPILLS IN CON & ANNIE KIRBY OPENING NIGHT
Peter Farrell
The opening round heats of the Con & Annie Kirby Memorial dominated Saturday night’s card at Limerick Greyhound Stadium and it didn’t fail to produce the goods as some terrific performances coincided with a number of big name eliminations.
Given the connection between the Con & Annie Kirby and the GAA community, it was fitting that a greyhound named ‘Left Corner Back’ would set the standard on the night as he produced another flawless display to make it four wins from just six career starts.
CORNER BACK ON THE SCORESHEET
There is only one place to start and that is with heat eight and Damien O’Connell and Thomas Leahy’s Left Corner Back. Only a June pup, the son of Here Comes Syd and Westpoint Jorgi was a winner last weekend in a swashbuckling 28.25 and this saw him installed as the 11/8 favourite to continue his rich vein of form. Taking charge early from trap five, Left Corner Back ensured the result was never in doubt as he showed the superior early pace to lead Tally Ho Socks into the bend. In doing so, Leahy’s charge opened a commanding lead as he proved a class above his rivals in sealing a six and a half length victory. The time was the fastest of the night, 28.24.
EARLY SHOCKS
Both Ballinabola Joe and Razldazl Edward had occupied first and third in the respective outright betting prior to kick-off, however, both were eliminated at the first hurdle last night through no fault of their own.
Razldazl Edward was the first major casualty as Dolores Ruth’s charge clearly went wrong at the midway point, which ultimately saw him finish fifth. It was Kournikova and Droopys Deploy that disputed early on in this contest but it was the former, who went off at big odds of 8/1, that wasn’t to be outdone. Trained by Pat Buckley for Thomas Ahern, Kournikova paced up well from trap one and he barged his way through at the opener to narrowly hold Droopys Deploy in second. The latter continued to press the leader down the back, however, Kournikova (Ballymac Cashout - Dunquin Anna) wasn’t to be deterred as he stayed on stoutly to cross the line with one and a half lengths to spare. The time was 28.32.
Indeed, while Pat Buckley secured success on that occasion, he was to suffer a luckless passage with the fancied Ballinabola Joe in heat six. The outright favorite was a short-priced 8/15 chance to land the spoils, however, he hit the deck at the opener in a contest that was eventually won by Brideside Bill (5/1). The unraced Stonepark Browne looked to have this heat sewn up as he bolted from trap four to lead, however, his stamina was tested to the full late on as both Brideside Bill and Ballymac Sorrel finished at speed. The former getting the better of his rival, Graham Holland’s tracker, which is owned by Eugene Buckley, crossed the line one and a half lengths too good, in a time of 28.33.
LIGHT WORK FOR FAYPOINT
Faypoint Ranger went to traps as one of the shortest priced favourites on the night and Graham Holland’s star duly obliged with ease in heat ten.
Owned by Patricia Flanagan, Faypoint Ranger was installed at odds of 4/7 to get his Kirby tilt off to the best possible start and he bolted from trap four to lead Razldazl Benetti into the opener. A three length advantage quickly doubled down the back as the son of Coolavanny Hoffa - Carefree Tipp stretched out majestically to gallop to a virtual solo around the bottom two bends. Showing no signs of relent in the closing yards, Faypoint Ranger crossed the line to a convincing eight length victory over kennel companion, Bushpark Rodney, in second. The time was a brisk 28.30.
JOEY BOUNCES BACK
Lemon Joey was narrowly beaten on his last start at Limerick but he went one better for Murt Leahy in heat seven as he emerged one of the most convincing winners on the night.
Owned by Billy O’Keeffe, Lemon Joey came into Kirby as a leading player and he did nothing to damage that reputation as he blitzed his rivals to win handsomely. Drawn in five, ‘Joey’ was electric at traprise and he quickly outclassed Raha Rua on the run-up to assert. Excelling in devastating fashion down the back, the son of Ballymac Best and Lemon Ariana was always in charge as he powered to a seven length win over Sole Mio in second. The time was 28.35.
HEAT WATCH
The €80,000 to the winner Classic got off to a flyer in heat one as Toolmaker Josepe (Droopys Sydney - Droopys Dancer) outlined his huge talent with an off-the-pace victory for Robert Gleeson. Indeed, William Hyslop’s charge was well-supported earlier in the day and he went off at short odds of 4/6. As expected, it was The Other Wild that set a blistering gallop in the early stages and he held all the aces midway down the back straight with ‘Josepe’ meeting all sorts of traffic when improving. However, Gleeson’s star showed brilliant determination to nip up the inside in the closing stages and he arrived with a wet sail to down The Other Wild by one and a half lengths. A thoroughly impressive performance, the time was 28.48.
Ollie Bray is always a feared individual and his Gallant Hunter sealed a trap-to-line success in heat three. 9/4 in the market behind the 7/4 jolly Silent Kobbie, the result was never in doubt as Gallant Hunter trapped lively from his middle berth in four. As a result, the son of Broadstrand Bono and Silver Penny fended off the challenge from the favourite at the three-quarter mark, before drawing clear in the closing yards to seal a four and a half length success. The time was 28.47.
There was another upset in heat four as Bogger Pat was reeled in by the hugely impressive UK raider, Ballymac Axel. ‘Pat’ had recently joined the Pat Buckley kennel and he looked set to bounce back to winning ways as he recovered from a moderate start in three to show his customary early dash and lead. Holding a two length advantage over Knockard Hero into the back, the 6/4 favourite was quickly chased down by the improving Ballymac Axel (9/2) on the approach to the bottom two bends. Edging closer with every stride thereafter, Maxine Locke’s charge pushed it up a gear in the closing yards to cross the line two lengths clear of Bogger Pat in second. The time was 28.40.
Liam Dowling got in on the act in heat five as Ballymac Nash justified his 7/4 price tag. Donning the red jacket, the son of Ballymac Kingdom and Ballymac Cameo pinged the lids to quickly assert on the run-up. In doing so, he had four lengths in hand down the back and although Bartlemy Mainoo certainly made inroads late on, it was too little too late as Dowling’s track secured a one length victory. The time was 28.37.
Heat nine saw Toolmaker Quick installed as the 1/2 favourite, however, he also bit the dust after meeting traffic at the three-quarter mark. In contrast, it was Aidan Comerford and Marie Gilbert’s Lombardy that prevailed at odds of 9/2. Drawn in two, Lombardy set out his stall early with a terrific exit to lead into the opening turn. Toolmaker Quick set off in chase and presented a live threat at the penultimate turn, before Lombardy firmly shut the door. As a result, the son of Coolavanny Hoffa - Palermo crossed the line three parts of a length better off than Snazzy Boss in second. The time was 28.88.
The penultimate heat of the night saw Adamantconqueror maintain his flawless career start as he made it three wins from as many starts for John and Connor Rainsford. This tracker has shown all sorts of pace in his two prior starts and he showed further improvement last night when sent to traps as the 5/4 favourite. Donning the black jacket, ‘Conqueror’ once again pinged the lids to open a commanding lead on the run-up. Three lengths clear down the back, Coolavanny Shona gave chase and certainly closed the gap late on, however, Rainsford charge kept plenty in reserve on the run for home. One and half lengths too strong crossing the line, the time for the local runner was a fast 28.37.
The concluding heat of the night saw Fun Inthe Run (Malachi - Love Island) emerge a narrow winner as he came out the right side of a photo finish decision. Trained by Michael Malone for Daire Malone, Fun Inthe Run took over passing the sprint boxes from the early lead Missouri Ebony. He was followed through by Jacktavern Boom and the duo had pulled clear of the rest of the field as a result. A thrilling finish was in store with Fun Inthe Run holding a narrow lead and he just about held off the flying finish of Jacktavern Boom out wide. A short-head between the pair, the time was 28.54.