2019 Kirby Splits Rd 2

Wednesday April 3rd (Round 2)

Tasty Tas still tops in thrilling Kirby

The 2019 Con & Annie Kirby Memorial is definitely going by way too quickly and it's almost a disappointment that I will only have four heats to preview this week. I really don't think this five week fix will be sufficient to carry me threw until next March but in fairness, our brilliantly talented class of 2019 are doing their best for us!

Last Saturday was another wonderful night of thrilling racing action and while it may not have returned the mind boggling clocks of the opening session, the second round brought a palpable increased pressure on connections for in such a competitive renewal, prospective outright winners were invariably going to have to battle for qualifying places.

We were certain to lose runners with viable outright claims and ghosting around the washroom post race, as I do, the anguish on the faces of the handlers of those runners who just missed out brought home just what a presence in the Kirby means to even the highest achievers in the sport.

You can feel the anxiety of those handlers leaving the weigh-room and even returning with a brilliant winner, there is little change in demeanour post race for the realisation that they have only really earned the chance to go through the Kirby mill once more, hits quickly home.

It is however where everyone wants to be and the eventual winning kennel will have embraced all the torment and worry while managing to implement all the strategy and leg-work needed to present a fresh finalist come April 20th. I'm jealous however and don't pity them one ounce!

Doing her utmost to make this campaign as easy as possible for Liam Dowling, Ballymac Tas confirmed the brilliance of her opening round win when again fastest on the clock in 28.23 and sits atop the Kirby tree for another week at least. There was no treble for the Kingdom kennels this time but they did guide all three of their first round scorers through to the quarter-finals.

There was a brace of training doubles on the night and Robert Glesson confirmed the strength of his challenge when Toolmaker Me Dad was next fastest behind Tas in 28.36 while Toolmaker Josie ably backs-up the Gleeson assault, getting off the mark in heat 7.

Riverside Leo again displayed his exceptional early pace when made to work hard for a lead in defeat of Winetavern Don and Graham Holland saw his game Herecomesdahoney join the list of heat winners while promoting himself to outright contention in Heat 5.

Just like the Dowling kennels, Michael O'Donovan also returned just a single winner having landed a treble in the first round but Skywalker Wonder was fastest over the opening 300 yards this time, and, the Tipperary maestro takes a very strong team of four, all early pacers, to the quarter-finals.

Amongst the sectional numbers below you will spot two astounding finishing splits for Killer Bee and Redzer Ardfert. Throw in Antigua Rum and these look to be the strongest stayers of this year's event. With so many survivors falling into the early paced bracket, these are worth noting as many who will lead them in the early stages face a host of runners who all seek a same early lead in their races and a staying ability in big events at Limerick has always proven beneficial.

*When going through the figures below and especially if not a Limerick regular, keep in mind that the 16.00 (16.10 or lower is very slick) barrier has been the mark of brilliance for the opening 300 yards on this circuit while anything below 12.10 for the closing 225 represents staying abilities of the very top standard.

*Overall, it was generally concurred that he track was running at approximately 20 to 25 spots slower this week. Something to note when comparing clocks. The blue figures below are from Rd 2 while the black are from Rd 1.

*As always, only the leader's numbers at the respective marks are set in stone while those behind are calculated but we have done this enough now to know that even when a touch off the mark, it really will be very minor.

*Remarks are offered to indicate that a particular sectional could have been faster with a clear run but again, use your judgement to assess how much any figure is affected and I would always assert that the figures here should be analysed while watching the videos to fully appreciate the splits in the context of how the race was run.

Heat 1 28.50	Opening 300	Closing 225
Spoofer	16.18 16.17 ckd	12.32 12.28 bmp
Tullig Footpad	16.48 ckd 16.28	12.44 brush 12.35
Great Eastern	16.32 16.32*	12.62 brush 12.33

Only narrowly edged out in the opening round, the figures reveal that an almost identical effort was enough to see Spoofer gain his first heat success and these numbers could easily be held up as benchmark standards for a serious Kirby challenger.

Without a completely clear run on the opening night, being so close to his first effort in the second round lends further belief that the track was running between 20 & 25 spots slower on Saturday last. He won’t lead up every heat but especially if drawn close to the rails, he can be front rank against most rivals and his finishing split is far from shabby for a runner with early dash. Overall, this puts the Philip Gough hopeful in the mix, with a host of runners who bear a similar profile. Still a Kirby player!

Tullig Footpad’s opening round figures were very decent given that they were recorded in the Thursday session of three heats. He didn’t come away here and fed an assertion from Jack Buckley that although an inside seed, he probably doesn’t really want the red jacket. We know he has early pace, even more than he showed in the first round but without saucy figures, he impressed on Saturday with an admirable battling attitude.

I’ve stuck “brush” against the finishing figure for while not obvious, I’m sure himself and Great Eastern did inconvenience each other slightly at the final turn. He is the last survivor in Pat Buckley’s bid to win four Kirby’s in-a-row but don’t let the figures dictate that the dream is over. We know he can rush to the bend and I would assert that a saucy 300 yard split can still come. It’s quite obvious now however, he must trap going forward.

I was quite taken with Great Eastern here and I’d imagine that Martin Lanney was also for while grabbed for second place close home, this effort left plenty of scope for improvement. He was nose to tail with Spoofer at the second bend which surely affected his first sectional and it is also very conceivable that had you swapped traps, he would have been the one leading to the back-straight. In such a scenario going forward, his opening round finish sectional would look very appealing, even if not as good in that department on Saturday last.

Heat 2 28.56
Grangeview West	16.12 16.00	12.44 12.25
Redzer Ardfert	16.88 ckd 16.60 ckd	11.84 12.28 blkd
Mucky Brae	16.18 ck 16.00	12.73 ckd 12.37

I have been completely won over by Michael Hogan’s Grangeview West over the past weeks and this was another thoroughly brave and high class display to keep her unbeaten tag in the event.

She has now learned to trap at the top level and again showed smart early dash to repel the rapid Mucky Brae on the run to the bend. Her figures, again considering the slower going from the previous week, suggest that she was also repeating her same level as that in opening round victory. Challenged at the bottom bends, she again found more out front to draw clear of that rival and although 12.44 is a figure that may need to come down, there seems a bit more to this bitch than just bare figures.

There’s an engine in there and standing trackside it is obvious that she is not stopping on the run to the line. If she does have a weak point on the track, it seems to be from midway along the back-straight to the third turn. However, should she again be in command at the closing bends, she will prove extremely difficult to overhaul.

The big figure in this heat was the finishing split of Brendan Maunsell’s Redzer Ardfert. I was very anxious to get a number for him coming home in Round One but baulked on that occasion, we were denied accurate assessment of a visually stunning finish. We weren’t this time and you just knew watching it live that his closing sectional had to be awesome. He closed rapidly from halfway. Yes, he has issues with breaking and getting a clear run to the back-straight but it is going to be very difficult to keep him out of the places. He appears in the full flush of rude health at present and he only needs to turn handy once….remember Cable Bay?!

It was probably just as well for Mucky Brae that things got well strung out in this heat for with more runners closer at the final turns, he would have been in bother to qualify. However, outside of qualifying, everything else went wrong for the Michael O’Donovan charge. He was denied a lead that he needs to win heats and having showed quality back-straight pace, he had his nose cut off by the winner at the closing bends. His opening round 300 yard clock shows what he can do when leading and it’s that simple going forward, he must find his best breaks and lead. With so many in the same boat, you have to say that he is still there with his chance.

Heat 3 28.23
Ballymac Tas	16.10 16.01	12.13 11.96
Worseforwear	16.24 16.48 bmp	12.23 12.14
Argentina	16.31 16.33	12.53 12.74

No Rocket science needed here! Tas is terrific! Breaking well, her first figure is good enough to match or lead the early pacers and those that do live with her to the third bend, will not live with her on the run home. Those that can match or surpass her coming home, can’t get to the third bend within any kind of striking distance. If greyhound predicting was a science, she could have more than one paw on the Kirby.

Fantasy aside, she is booting it around Limerick and both her finishing figures reinforce last week’s assertion that it is not essential for her to lead to fill a qualifying place. When she does lead, she will win because even with so many eye-catchers in the stake, she IS the Kirby’s fastest runner. It’s not by miles however and this game remains very live. Still, Tas tops every short-list.

We had suggested that Peter Cronin’s Worseforwear was the most impressive of the Thursday heat winners in Round One and he certainly backed that up here. With figures as good as many winners and better than some, he confirmed that he is a big challenger in this event. Trap 4 definitely suited as he broke well and probably edged right more so than seeking to go inwards. That said, Tas could easily have been subjected to an even stiffer examination had the draw been reversed and the Cronin hopeful could bring down that early figure if reaching the corner with clear room to his left. There is absolutely no disgrace in ceding minor ground to Tas late on and be under no illusion, he retains realistic claims in the Kirby.

A touch better coming home this week, the plan going forward with Argentina has narrowed to a solitary opportunity to win heats, he must turn independently to be seen at his best. His latest finishing figure would serve him well if turning the third bend in front but from out wide, it is going to take a smash break for him to clear the class of runner that he faces here.

Heat 4 28.57
Skywalker Wonder	16.04 16.01	12.53 12.45
Cabra Firmino	16.29 15.99	12.38 12.25
Rattling Conor	16.36 ckd 16.57 ckd	12.52 ckd 12.26

Another runner who falls into the early pacer category, Skywalker Wonder may well be at the head of a four strong team that remain for Michael O’Donovan. Those early figures can add real plausibility to his challenge, even if he will be under pressure in the home-straight when stronger runners secure clear runs.

He has developed such a consistency from traps and that will be the key if he is indeed to lift the Kirby title. Supporters would like to see that finishing figure reduced, something Bentekes Bocko was able to do when successful two years ago. For Wonder is in that bracket of runner and it is that campaign that he would want to mirror. Right this minute however, that finishing figure puts him as an almost identical Kirby runner to Rathnasnare Champ who was behind Bentekes Bocko in that 2017 final. The fear is that if he gets it wrong at traps, he’s out! But, his early pace is of the highest quality and if you hadn’t him on your short-list coming in, you have to put him there now.

In behind, this was a rock solid effort from Pat Guilfoyle’s Cabra Firmino in defeat. He raced in tight enough quarters at the first bend but I’ve left his opening split without a remark and you only have to glance at his opening round sectional to see that he can reach the third bend faster. He would want to be closing on Wonder given his finishing figure and in fairness, he was. A solid finishing number, it still suggests that he must lead up for victory, however, this was his first time in Trap 1 which is something I’m always wary of with youngsters. That experience can possibly stand to him going forward and having started so well from the middle in Round One, this latest effort didn’t put much of a dent in his realistic Kirby aspirations.

Mossy O’Connor is responsible for much local support with the Bev Lockhead & Pa Sheedy owned Rattling Conor and although now twice defeated in the heats, I would imagine that connections were suitably encouraged by his brave display again on Saturday. If we’re going to praise the winner’s early dash, Conor was right on his tail and suffered as a consequence upon turning. Gathering himself, he matched-up very well with Firmino down the back and did in fact gain ground before checked at the third turn. He has only one unaffected split out of four but his finishing 12.26 in Round One reads very well and would be a nice addition to what I suspect would be a very smart 300 yard sectional if racing without interference.

Heat 5 28.51
Herecomesdahoney	16.24 16.45 brush	12.27 12.13
Antigua Rum	16.39 16.67 crd	12.19 ckd 11.98
Deadly Diamond	16.25 touch 16.62 ckd	12.57 12.36

The first of a quick double for Graham Holland and the numbers pretty much confirm that Herecomesdahoney is an all-round strong runner with no obvious weak points anywhere on the circuit.

His Trap 1 draw was an aid here in defending the lead while in command of the rails and not threatening the fastest in either sectional, it all adds up to an even paced runner whose sum total is very impressive. There will be problems going forward in that this Kirby houses a host of runners who can lead him to the back-straight and while he can threaten the early pacers with his rock solid finishing split, victories will be dependent on gaining first run ahead of the strong finishers. He’s going to be hard to keep out of the places and if rewarded with inside draws late on, can put all to the sword.

Having posted such an impressive finishing figure in Round One, I was keeping a close watch on Antigua Rum here and watching him live in the home-straight I actually commented that he looked like he was going to the first bend when flying along the finishing straight. The winner wasn’t coming back to him and he was galloping with the enthusiasm of dog that was starting, and not finishing his race. He had to check at the closing bend so that 12.19 would have been lower so knowing that he can touch on the 12.00 for that finishing sectional, his 16.39 here is very interesting because that would give him claims to reel-in many an early pacer. The Tom O’Neill charge could hang around for a while yet!

I’ve just commented “touch” after the early split of Deadly Diamond for he did brush off a rival to his outer soon after leaving traps but much like kennelmate Mucky Brae, he had his best race denied to him here when led to the bend. As such, he must be praised for being upsides the winner at the third turn and his early effort is better than 16.25 suggests. That can come down if leading to the corner! I wouldn’t be over hard on him regarding the finish split either though for he is yet another who will need to lead in order to be seen at his best and if leading, the finish split would come down without being forced to run wider than optimum with runners to his inner.

Heat 6 28.59
Riverside Leo	16.07 15.88	12.52 12.49
Winetavern Don	16.47 ckd / bmp 16.64 bmp	12.35 touch 11.99
Jirano Classic	16.49 bmp 16.71 crd-blkd	12.34 12.30

More or less what we expected from Riverside Leo as he completed the Holland double but although not as blistering on the early sectional clock this time, is arguably as impressive as he was forced to turn on the burners to claim the opening bend having been out-trapped and led in the initial exchanges by Winetavern Don.

He had to get around that rival which was no mean feat in itself and again, he was visually stunning along the back-straight when displaying the blistering early pace that we know he has. Yes the same concern over the finishing split remains but if he keeps leading up, he will only have to worry about that in the final because assuming adept breaking, there is hardly a way that three runners will pass him in a heat before that stage. In a Kirby with so many early pacers, connections of runners with similar racing styles need Leo gone before that final because what he will do going forward is deny other early pacers the opportunity to execute their best race. You can almost start to see the final scenario already - Leo leads with whatever strong runners remain, scrambling to get first run at him……..that’s a long way off yet but not a pipe-dream for the Golden kennels.

I was hugely taken with the performance of Winetavern Don here. He gave himself every chance of victory with a fast start and in win terms was unlucky to encounter Leo who inconvenienced him while sweeping to the front at the bend. We still don’t know what figure the Francie Murray runner could post to the 300 yard mark but he was good all over the track on Saturday and was very strong late on, even if the number is back on the previous week. He was racing the bottom bends on the outside of Jurano Classic and there did seem to be a brief touch to set him back at that point. He hinted that he could be a player in Round One and for me, he reinforced that this time.

I gave Jurano Classic an outside chance in this heat and although done for early pace by Leo, it was all in all another pleasing display. Delivering a bump to Winetavern Don, which admittedly he came away best from at the first bend, would have affected his early clock and I’m sure that can come down. He still retains claims to lead in heats if finding his best break and the finishing split was once again very solid. A similar story to many others however, in the context of the event he must lead around the first bend for victories.

Heat 7 28.89
Toolmaker Josie	16.34 touch 16.22 brush	12.55 12.33
Ballymac Syd	16.57 blk 15.93	12.33 crd 12.14
Deadly Storm	16.34 bmp 16.06	12.53 12.38 bmp

The slowest heat of the round so we’ll just draw a line through the three of them…..yeah right!

Although winning, Josie was well back on his clock and granted there wasn’t any big bump to justify the time but you see it so often when runners are racing in tight quarters throughout that the time is invariably affected, that’s surely the case here. Both his figures can come down on the evidence of his opening round effort and he can provide able back-up in the Robert Gleeson challenge.

A blistering winner last week, Ballymac Syd was arguably as impressive in defeat this time. A ponderous start led to a hefty bump at the opening bend but having tipped him up before commencement, I had no major concerns as he raced off the pace in fourth at the top of the back-straight. He was powerful down the back and his first round figure still stands up as brilliant, so, he retains the ability to lead many of his Kirby rivals if fixing his break.

His finishing figure was also back on last week but he had tails in his face and could be seen stalling while waiting to gain a clear run between runners off the final bend. He was flying up the home-straight and surely filled supporters with confidence going forward.

I’d imagine that Michael O’Donovan was plenty happy with Deadly Storm here also. The same qualification regarding the time applies here having raced in close quarters with Josie for much of the race and he did well to maintain his forward bid in the face of a bump at the opening bend. Repetitive I know, but another in that early paced bracket who will need to lead to be seen at their best.

Heat 8 28.36
Toolmaker Me Dad	16.15 16.10	12.21 12.17
Killer Bee	16.70 bmps 16.46 crd	11.90 12.06
Cuore Di Ferro	16.43 bmp / ckd 16.06	12.65 12.32

We said it here last week that Robert Gleeson had a real contender on his hands with Toolmaker Me Dad and he confirmed that in emphatic fashion with only Tas going faster on the night.

Robert was not wholly convinced that he wants Trap 1 for his leading challenger but it came in handy in the context of this race as Killer Bee moved outward from Trap 2, leaving Toolmaker with the freedom of the inside and he showed smart early pace to defend a narrow advantage at the opening bend.

16.15 is very smart for the first 330 yards and is brilliant when he’s able to post the finishing numbers of a strong runner. He, along with a couple of other survivors, is capable of getting a run on the tail of even the fastest early pacers while retaining the strength to pass them coming home, a big outright player!

That last comment must also apply to Peter Comerford’s Killer Bee. We haven’t seen him get a clear run for the opening 300 yards yet but he has the hallmark of a runner that you just couldn’t eliminate unless tripping him up. He might be better off housed in the middle traps on this showing as it was much his own doing that he got a bump on the run-up and that had him in a precarious position at the crown of the bends but it was his back-straight pace which impressed so much.

He had little right to gain so much ground a winner that was not stopping out front and like Redzer earlier, his finishing sectional was scary. With a clear run, he is most likely as strong a contender as any that remain.

You have to hand it to Cuore Di Ferro here also. He was clearly ill at ease in the stripes and got in a bit of a tangle when edging left on the run-up but his early pace was impressive and saw him practically join Toolmaker at the first bend. Another nudge before being checked didn’t aid his cause but he ceded little along the back-straight before tiring late on. He did have his best race execution denied to him and had plenty of work done before he tired so it may be harsh to strictly compare his finish to his better numbers in round one, but, it probably should have been faster and maybe he just tweaked something in that early part of the race?!