Saturday March 30th (Round 2)
Remember to thank Noreen & JP
I don't know how many are quite like me when it comes to the Con & Annie Kirby Memorial but there certainly is a large portion of the Limerick track patronage at least who really do have the Kirby foremost in their mind throughout the season. For the eleven months between each renewal, we are checking the age of promising litters or quizzing the top trainers about what they might have to compete come the following March.This year's Kirby won't be all that long ended before the first January 2018 pups hit the tracks and as each one posts a smart debut victory, we'll be pointing out that they can be eligible for the Kirby in 2020.
It has been written a thousand times that what we see during the five weeks of competition in any renewal of the Kirby is future stars of the sport, stud dogs, or classic winning broods and in racing terms, this is without doubt the most significant event of the sport in terms of the influence these runners will have on the future of greyhound racing over coming seasons.
As a racing fan, I will be forever grateful to Noreen & JP McManus for bringing this event to the sport and offer thanks while imploring you to do the same at every opportunity. I'm a Tipperary man and as such am continually envious of what the McManus family have done for Limerick with so many from all walks of life benefiting from their generosity.
This sport needed the Kirby and thank heavens their generosity reached as far as Limerick Greyhound Stadium. Now I might be a bit giddy about the event, more so than many and those who know me understand that the sport really does have me grabbed but imagine for a minute that the Kirby was lost to us.....it would not just be devastating to me, Limerick or the track patrons, it would leave some hollow echo in the sport?! Just make sure you thank them whenever and however you can!
Back to racing and I don't know if we can expect the same level of wonderment this week to match the canine tsunami that hit Limerick last week. For one, the cast of 2019 have already told us that they are the best crop of youngsters we have seen in the short history of the Kirby and probably the best gathering of pups/juveniles ever assembled for the one competition.
What we can expect is white hot racing once again and don't be surprised if we get a very different set of results this week. In the first round, many of the heats saw a clear leader established before the first bend which is why the winners got the opportunity that they did to repeatedly wow us. But, what about the runners in behind these winners? How many would post similarly brilliant times if they had been the ones to break best?
Point being, there could be danger lurking for what were the front runners a week ago and it might not be as simple as the best from last week, win again this week. Many will be sharper for the outing in Round One. Many may break better than they did then and many are drawn better, or worse, this time around.
I find it fascinating and simply can't wait. I know it's not always possible but really lads, if you can get to Limerick at all this week, do. There's still 48 out of a brilliant 96 to see live. Have a meal, a drink and definitely have a punt but be there, it will be your teat to yourself!
The Race Card Review/Preview ahead of Saturday's action can be viewed HERE
The Sectional Analysis of Round One can be found HERE
HEAT 1
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Slick early pacer with rock solid Rd1 win. Ideally drawn if
defend rails, expect bold bid.
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Ran a cracker in defeat last week & better drawn now.
Pace all round, sure to feature.
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Found a hot rival last week but performed well. Must trap in
tricky draw but respected.
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Battled well with traffic last week. Strong from 2nd
bend & trio claims at the very least.
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Plenty to like despite defeat to T1 last time. Will stay well
if trap to stay front rank early.
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Better than bare figures last time & remains open to big
improvement if find clear run.
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A saucy affair to begin proceedings in the second round and
the early battle for supremacy on the inside may decide it. With benefit of the
rails pitch, the vote goes to Tullig Footpad whose victory last week came on
Thursday when the track surely was not running as fast as it was on Saturday.
Expecting the smart early pacer to lower his early sectional
figures now, the draw can prove crucial in repelling main threat Spoofer.
Footpad will have to get things right at trap rise because Spoofer ran a
cracker when too far out in Trap 6 last week and showed powerful pace down the
back. I expect these to cut out the early running and qualify if racing
independently.
You could certainly argue a case for all four of the
remainder qualifying here and I found it difficult to overlook Toast Of Cabra
who left a good impression last week but this could be tight and a tentative
vote for the trio goes to Great Eastern who may get a run if the pace is indeed
set on the inside. 1-2-3
HEAT 2
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Showed scorching early pace in Rd1 win & ideally drawn to
dictate again if well away.
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Caught the eye when staying well in Rd1 3rd. Trio
claims again, more if trap on terms?!
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On rapid upward curve with brilliant Rd1 win. Certain to go
close if repeat smart break.
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Stayed very strongly after bump in Rd1. Faces tricky draw but
expect challenge late on.
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Battled well & ran on strongly in Rd1 3rd.
Draw a concern but trio claims if find clear run.
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Better than bare figures with plenty traffic latest. Fly from
halfway, merits big respect.
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This week’s card is probably the weirdest form-guide I’ve
ever had to produce as I am feeling quite uneasy about the class of runner than
I have no choice but to omit from trio selections, but that’s the Kirby for
you.
Again here it looks like the pace will be set on the inside.
Mucky Brae posted 3.99 to the second finish line last week, which is scorching
stuff and anything like a repeat of that will see him in command to the
back-straight.
Of course the obvious danger is Michael Hogan’s wonderfully
progressive Grangeview West who was gorgeous in victory a week ago. She
produced her best break to date in that win and if this is feature going
forward, what a prospect she is. The problem now however is that even a repeat
will probably have her in a precarious position on the outside of Mucky Brae
upon turning and if she is going to win the heat, it’s likely that she will
have to round him at some point. That said, she will not be stopping on the run
to the line so don’t let me put you off. However, with the old adage that draws
win races in the mind, Mucky gets the vote to win over Grangeview while hoping
that they race independently.
You would have to be impressed with the performance of
Droopys Sim last week and the vibes from her handlers were that she can definitely
show more in the early part of the race. It is difficult to leave her out of
the trio but there is no escaping it, her draw looks very tricky indeed,
especially if trapping well (she might be best-off slipping in behind Mucky).
She, along with Milking It and Killahan Wonder all have
claims to pounce on any opportunity to qualify but on the evidence of last week
and with an ideal draw here, I’m going for Redzer. He ran so much better than
the bare form suggests last week and was likely in the process of posting a
very fast finishing split until baulked at the closing bends. A clear run on
the outer here would make him so difficult to eliminate. 1-3-6
HEAT 3
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Rock solid Rd1 effort when chasing home T2 & ideally
drawn to go close again, claims.
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Impressed when fending off T1 in gutsy Rd1 success. Obvious
claims if well away now.
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Scared the track record last week in sizzling display. Sure
to repeat if trap fast again?!
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Much to like with powerful pace from halfway in Rd1 win. Can
trap better, big respect.
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Solid effort in Rd1 but behind T4 then & will need to
dictate to the bend for trio chance.
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Good start to campaign in hot heat last week. May need to
lead T5 for a run, respected.
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I said it plenty of times in last week’s preview but again,
there is very few trio combinations I would scoff at here and even with the
event’s faster winner to date in the heat, there isn’t much simple about this.
Ok, if Tas breaks as well again it becomes very simple, very
quickly and she does of course get the nod to win because even setting aside her
early performance last week, her finishing figures were brilliant and unless
the ground opens and swallows her, you just can’t see her eliminated.
But, what if she reverts back to some of the slower breaks
that we have seen in her short career start? Well then she would have a task on
her paws with a sticky duo to her inner who would not cede ground too lightly,
even to a track record frightener!
There was little to choose between Droopys Danny and Sure
Look Listen last week but in trio terms, Danny is the one who must step up now
and find a better start for if behind Sure Look Listen again to the
back-straight, qualification will be complicated. I’m giving Sure Look Listen the
nod to claim the rail from Danny once more and in doing so, he can probably
qualify.
I’ll throw in Worseforwear for the trio because out of the
three Thursday winners last week, he left the biggest impression with powerful
back-straight pace and a finishing sectional which would probably have read
quite scary if produced on Saturday’s faster going.
Like I say, most trio combos have claims here and there is a
chance that with things possibly getting tight on the inside, that Boherna King
has a straightforward path to the next round in that if he leads Argentina to
the corner, ensuring a clear run, he makes the trio…yeah?! Many ways to qualify
and more importantly, many ways to get knocked out. C’mon Tas do it again for
the gallery! 3-4-2
Heat 4
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Quality Rd1 winner & likely has ideal draw now. Hard to
repel with repeat of good break.
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Battled well after slow start in warm Rd1 heat. Must keep
closer order to bend this time.
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Plenty to like in battling Rd1 3rd to T1 after
poor start. Stay well for trio if close early?!
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Slick early pacer with quality strike-rate. Repeat of good
break makes him a big threat.
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Ran with credit despite well held behind T1 last week. Match
T4 early, he could have say.
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Noted staying very strongly after slow start & bump last
week, expect progress, respect.
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At first glance this heat looks like it could shape-up into
an early tussle for supremacy between Cabra Firmino and Skywalker Wonder….and
that’s the way I’ll go with the prediction.
This is the first time Firmino has been drawn further in
than Trap 4 and there is no obvious reason that the red jacket can’t be ideal for
the inside seed. It won’t be a simple task to repel Skywalker Wonder to the
bend but the inside position must swing the verdict in Firmino’s favour after
such a classy showing last week.
Wonder is a sharp boy however and remains a big threat to
the selection. He would probably have to clear him to the back-straight in
order to register the win but if all goes to plan, this is the likely reverse
forecast.
The way I figured it after that was that much depended on
how much Ballydoyle Valor improves for last week’s outing. Pio Barry did admit
that he had only one 525 spin from November until commencement of the Kirby so
there is probably plenty to come, if, he improves on his tardy start from last
week.
In qualification terms, Rattling Conor could secure a place
for himself if charting a path in the wake of Skywalker Wonder which could
secure safe passage at the bends but I’ll plump for Ballydoyle Valor because he
really was one of the eye-catchers last week. My immediate thoughts after he
finished third to Manuka Man was that, “he had no right to qualify there!” It
was the first time I saw him live but you can see how he was able to go around
Waterford in 28.21 on debut and could yet be a Kirby sleeper! 1-4-6
HEAT 5
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Pace shown for battling Rd1 2nd warm heat &
ideally drawn again. Expect bold showing.
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Better than bare figures in gutsy Rd1 effort & can figure
now if trap for rails run to bend.
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Plenty to like without clear run last week & has claims
now, especially if lead inner duo.
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Slick early pace shown in quality Rd1 win over T6. Repeat pf
good start may suffice now.
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Solid effort in Rd1 3rd but may need to trap &
dictate on outside for claims to advance.
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Flew from halfway when 2nd to T4 last week &
another big late bid can be expected here.
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Another where at first glance you think that you can predict
the leader at least. Now it may not be that simple but Pat Buckley could not
have asked any more of Glengar Mac last week and the early pace shown then says
that he has every chance to dominate again this week. He earns the vote to do
just that, but, he will have to be sharp.
There was more to the run of Adis Abebba last week than
immediately met the eye. Yes he was led to the bend but it was by Mucky Brae
who was fastest of all for that stretch and Adis Abebba did in fact trap very
well and could have led more than the odd heat, or at least have been upsides a few
winners. It’s possible that the Dowling charge could lead the inner duo here
and with the ability to see out the trip well, he could be a major player in
the heat.
I found this heat very difficult because even thinking that
Adis Abebba has claims to qualify, how do you rule out Herecomedahoney who
showed such impressive back-straight pace last week and is again ideally drawn
with the ability to come away faster. Throw in the very much respected Deadly
Diamond and it could get very tight on the inside if Glengar Mac is indeed
sweeping across their snouts on the approach to the corner.
So, with the rails to guide him again, I have
Herecomesdahoney to qualify in that scrap and for a third qualifier I’ve looked
further out in the shape of last week’s flying finisher Antigua Rum. He dipped
under the 12.00 barrier when chasing home the selection last week and it’s hard
to think that he wouldn’t find a way to advance if doing so again. 4-6-1
Heat 6
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Much better than bare figures from poor draw latest &
rewarded with red, chance if trap.
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Flew from the 2nd bend last week in very decent 2nd.
Must keep closer order for late bid.
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Brave battling effort, finishing strongly in Rd1 & can
mount late trio bid if close halfway.
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Blistering early pace scorched a path to halfway last week.
Tough to reel-in if dictating.
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Solid Rd1 3rd despite well held &
qualification chances rests on being front rank early.
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Battled very well after poor start last week. Must trap
better, draw concern but will stay.
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Many won’t delve too deep into this heat with the presence
of Riverside Leo after he smashed the sectional clock last week and in
fairness, they’re probably right. Anything approaching an adept break can see
him again dominate to halfway and although you would have liked to see him come
home a little stronger last week, I suspect that he can do so on the evidence
of his career so far.
I put up Jirano Classic as a value bet in a hot heat last
week and even though I done my dough, I was super impressed with the way he
ran. Not one ounce happy to be out in Trap 6, he showed pleasing pace despite
traffic and much better drawn now, I believe he can advance by commanding the
rails position throughout.
For the final spot, I reckon it’s between El Favor and
Winetavern Don. I also stuck up El Favor at 40/1 in the long odds market and
while I’m still waiting for the penny to drop at traps, he didn’t contradict
what the eye thought it saw in the Tralee Juvenile. He powered down the
back-straight and flew home behind Mucky Brae, and although Winetavern Don also
impressed with strong running abilities, I won’t abandon the Cronin charge.
4-1-2
Heat 7
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Well held in fast Rd1 heat & will need to trap and stay
front rank to corner for trio claim.
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Ran a cracker in defeat last week & trio claims at least
here if trap for command of rail.
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Creditable effort in warm heat latest but qualification now
hinges on leading inner duo.
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Quality opening round win with pace all round, repeat of fast
start will threaten the Fav!
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Very gutsy when battling late for Rd1 win. Slick early pacer
is a player if first to corner.
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Superb in sizzling Rd1 win, will prove very difficult to
contain if trap, leading Kirby hope.
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A very saucy draw and the three impressive first round
winners will have to be sharp or trouble looms. I’m going for those three
winners in my trio selection but it is far from that simple.
One of my two against the field before commencement, you’d
forgive me for being a little smug about Ballymac Syd after his awesome display
last week. The wide seeding stays on and if he proves that he can start just as
well from trap 6, he should win again. He flew to the third bend then but his
finishing figures were equally laudable so leading is not essential in
qualification terms and I fully expect him to qualify while also getting the
vote to win.
It is not so straightforward for the brace of winners to his
immediate inside and Manuka Man did make a marked move towards the rails from
Trap 5 last week. Likely to do that again here, he will need to be sharp from
traps, but, such was his determined early gallop last week, I’ll suggest that
he can get across, although, Ardmulchan is no mug in the early stages so there
is concerns, especially as he was not far off Manuka from traps in an identical
situation last week.
With the predicted move of Manuka Man, it is wholly
conceivable then that Deadly Storm gets a run up the middle. His early pace should
ensure a forward pitch to the bend and clear passage on the way around, while
not guaranteed, should have him commanding a trio place.
Toolmaker Josie is no slouch to the corner either and if
taking the rails from West Tip, he would give himself claims to advance,
especially if Ardmulchan was to halt Manuka Man on the way across. More going
on here than meets the eye. 6-4-5
Heat 8
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Quality Rd1 winner & looks ideally drawn to back that up
if defend rails to the corner.
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Powerful runner with impressive Rd1 win. Pace either side but
will stay well, chance!
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Slick early pacer failed to last home last week but has
claims to hit the front, respect.
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Solid effort when bumped behind T1 last week. Tricky draw,
must trap well for chance.
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Ran with much credit without clear run in hot heat last week.
Trio claims if well away.
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Showed smart early pace in impressive Rd1 win. Draw is a
concern but obvious claim.
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A saucy affair to round off the night and the draw does look
ideal for Toolmaker Me Dad to back-up his impressive opening round win. He
showed pace at all points of the track last week and although there is
plausible opposition, I won’t look past him.
You couldn’t fault the performance of Cuore Di Ferro last
week amidst a Dowling team that is on fire but the obvious question mark is the
draw. Maybe it will be fine but he hasn’t raced wider than Trap 3 up to this so
it will be a very different view from traps now. Still, he has the early pace
to overcome the trap given an adept break and I expect him to qualify at the
minimum.
It’s a tight spot for Killer Bee here, especially given the
very smart early pace of Claregalway Lad to his outer. Probably easier to
predict a bump than a clear run, he however will finish with a wet sail to get
himself out of any bother that lies ahead, a brilliant competition trait which
he is developing all the while. Difficult trap draws, the presence of Cuore Di
Ferro makes this very complicated for both Jaytee and Smart Bolt, and it will
probably require a smash break for them to upset what looks the big three in
the heat. 1-6-2
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