Saturday March 23rd (Round 1)
It really was an astounding night of racing at Limerick last Saturday as the Con & Annie Kirby Memorial goes from strength to strength. 2019 houses such an immense depth of talent that it can almost already be labelled our best yet.
Yes the track was surely running fast on the night but even so, the cast of 2019 returned what was for this track patron, the best night of racing that I have ever attended, anywhere, never mind on the Dock Road and to think that it was a crop of comparatively inexperienced youngsters who delivered this relentless wave of brilliance, is simply astounding.
Currently qualifying pups from the home kennels, what we saw on Saturday was very, very scary!
We saw the track record get a real fright from Ballymac Tas when the Liam Dowling bitch scorched a path in the Limerick sand to clock a phenomenal 27.97, just two spots off the record of College Maybe, and amidst a treble for the kennels, next fastest of the first round was her litter comrade Ballymac Syd in 28.07.
As you will see from the sectional breakdown below, they are close to the fastest early pacers while also coming home with the best stayers. Another stroke of genius from a kennel who are gifted at matching their dams with the most suitable sires. It's very early yet but the Dowling team are in pole position.
Ballymac Syd did in fact set a new record for the 300 yard sectional on his way to victory but it would not last long as on a night of impressive figures across the board, Riverside Leo smashed the same split record when clocking 15.88. Even if the track was fast, the fact that the old record was 15.95 which only Clares Rocket and Droopys Davy managed, puts into perspective how talented Leo and so many of our Kirby survivors are in 2019.
When going through the figures below and especially if not a Limerick regular, keep in mind that the 16.00 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.
**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.
*The race card preview ahead of Round 2 is available HERE
Heat 4 27.97
|
Opening 300
|
Closing 225
|
Ballymac Tas
|
16.01
|
11.96
|
Winetavern Don
|
16.64 bmp
|
11.99
|
Milking It
|
16.71 bmp
|
12.10
|
Some very out of the ordinary numbers here and the winner’s
run was simply astounding. A noted strong runner before arriving for the Kirby,
the first figure for the 300 yards will have been a surprise for most
onlookers. It will remain a question going forward, whether she can produce the
kind of starts to afford her the opportunity to record that manner of early
sectional again. If she was to, she would deserve to be odds-on for the Kirby
because she, which was more predictable, flew from halfway.
The finishing figures here are very good across the board
which feeds the notion that the track was indeed running fast because until
this Kirby at least, it was a rarity to see runners dip under the 12.00 coming
home. We may not see this kind of run repeated in the 2019 Kirby, but, this was
classic winning material from a bitch that must be a supreme talent.
You could have a bit of a headache trying to calculate the
splits in behind as Tas was so far in front by halfway but we’re fairly on the
ball with Winetavern Don and even visually, he lost little to Tas from halfway
which is very laudable in context. That finishing figure will give hopes of
qualification again and confirms him as a strong runner, which may not have
been so obvious to those of us who had not seen his career start live before
Saturday.
Neither he or Milking It got a clean run at the opening
bends so obviously that early figure can come down and on any other Saturday we
would be admiring that very decent finishing split of Milking It. This was
burny burny, even behind the Tas-manian devil out front!
Heat 5 28.38
|
||
Cuore Di Ferro
|
16.06
|
12.32
|
Toolmaker Josie
|
16.22 brush
|
12.33
|
Izzys Legend
|
16.38 bump
|
12.52
|
A confirmed early pacer, supporters of Cuore Di Ferro should
be reassured by these figures. We have seen faster on what was a unique night
at Limerick but these are the splits of a top class early pacer. You may be a
little worried that so many were able to match and surpass his early split time
on the night but if continuing to be so sharp from traps, he will take plenty
of beating as his 12.32 coming home is very respectable indeed for an early
pacer. His Kirby task looks straight forward, lead up and try fend off the
staying types.
Led by the winner at trap rise, Josie used his rails pitch to
good effect when just nudging third placed Izzys Legend at the bend and the
numbers would probably be identical to the winner in a situation where
Toolmaker managed to lead-up. That is what will probably be required going
forward. Izzy did get a bump but in fairness, maintained momentum well at the
opening bends but the numbers say that we essentially have three similar
runners here. Izzys finishing sectional has to come down because 12.52 will
have him under threat in the home-straight going forward.
It seems so harsh not be more impressed with the winner here
and just emphasises the incredulous heights that Saturday’s heats reached.
Heat 6 28.27
|
||
Toolmaker Me Dad
|
16.10
|
12.17
|
Herecomesdahoney
|
16.45 brush
|
12.13
|
Smart Bolt
|
16.60 bmp
|
12.30
|
The winner here will not have the fastest starting or
finishing figures but what he does have is pace all over the circuit. He
displayed a very smart initial turn of speed to lead and with this his first
look at the track having been in Monmore the previous Saturday, his early split
can probably come down if in the same leading position going forward.
He has
looked a strong runner in his early career and the finishing split backs that up to a large extent. Others will stay stronger, but, very few will do it
from the front which this fellow has claims to do. Overall a cracking first run
at the track and Robert Gleeson has a rock solid Kirby contender on his hands
because qualification will not be dependent on leading as it will be for many.
The pair behind did get very close at the first bend and
it’s difficult to gauge just how much it affected the time but still, they did
not have the winners early dash. Both however posted very respectable finishing
figures, especially Herecomesdahoney which endorses the strong running traits
that we have seen in his career thus far. You would suggest that he will prove
difficult to keep out of the places, especially when drawn inside as he was
here.
There is also some positives to taken by Barney Mooney from
the numbers of Smart Bolt. He can come away quicker and has looked a smart
early pacer in his career start. Should he manage to lead going forward, that
finishing 12.30 is very decent for an early pacer and if we see anything like the
sub 2.00 sectionals that he produced at SPK, it could bring a huge leap forward
in context.
Heat 7 28.24
|
||
Cabra Firmino
|
15.99
|
12.25
|
Rattling Conor
|
16.57 ckd
|
12.26
|
Burren Ripple
|
16.96 bmp
|
12.26
|
One of the nightmare heats to calculate as they were well
strung-out but I reckon we’re as close as makes no difference and in fairness,
it is all about the winner even allowing for the fact that his fellow
qualifiers can improve.
Firmino broke very well but still only put up a 1.21 short
sectional which was bettered on more than the odd occasion. The reason for
pointing that out is to emphasise that he was properly booting it down the back
to produce 15.99. Yep, that figure was also bettered on the night but no matter
how fast the track was running, that is serious and will only be done by truly
top class Kirby contenders.
12.25 for the closing split will win most every race in any
company when in command to the closing bends and the numbers tell a very simple
story; keep doing this and he can win the Kirby. Simple that is until you
consider that there seems a host of runners capable of doing the same thing.
Still, this was from the very top drawer.
Rattling Conor was forced wide when on the winner’s tail at
the crown of the bends so it must be noted how close he was to Firmino for that
to happen and that his early split can consequently come down markedly. It was
a tardy start from Burren Ripple and he did not show enough on the run to the
bend in context but to be fair, he was an inside seed in Trap 6 and I’m
probably on the harsh side. He did show very pleasing back-straight pace and
stayed-on to qualify. He will however have to break better and show more dash
to the corner.
Heat 8 28.25
|
||
Grangeview West
|
16.00
|
12.25
|
Boherna King
|
16.16 ck
|
12.40
|
Laughil Josh
|
16.69 ck
|
12.15
|
Again it’s pretty much all about the winner here and what a
brilliant performance from the Michael Hogan bitch having prompted an entry to
the Kirby with a slick A3 success just days in advance of commencement.
You could take all the comments labelled at Cabra above and
apply them again here but you just have to admire the way she done it,
especially when pulling out extra in the home-straight. Hers was also a 1.21
early split so an almost carbon copy of the previous heat, it puts Grangeview
amongst a host of runners who have displayed a similar style in the opening
round. This was the best break that she has produced thus far and she will need
to repeat it but from being led to the bend in A3 last Saturday week to live
Kirby contention, what a prospect Michael has on his hands.
The runner-up was back to something like what made me admire
him in his career start here at Limerick and I’m quite sure he would be capable
of a similar 300 yard sectional if he had it all his own way. He’s going to
have to trap and lead on this evidence going forward however as 12.40 will be
all out in the home-straight, although, we have had early pacers go a long way
on worse in previous renewals.
Laughil Josh made a sluggish start here and looked ponderous
on the run to the bend. He will need to sharpen that aspect of his race if he
is to survive going forward but 12.15 coming home will give claims of passing a
few late on as he did here having galloped more attractively down the back.
Heat 9 28.37
|
||
Manuka Man
|
16.07
|
12.30
|
Ardmulchan
|
16.39 crd
|
12.54
|
Ballydoyle Valor
|
16.93 bmp
|
12.09
|
Not the most straightforward to assess but clearly the
winner was extremely impressive while displaying smart early pace. Uneasy out
in Trap 5 however, he sought to move left almost immediately upon leaving the
boxes and although I’ve put no remark after his early split, he did brush off
the runner-up while drifting across. All said, he can probably lower that first
figure when drawn closer to the rails and is another who falls into the early
paced category with the finishing figure plenty good enough if hitting the
closing bends in front.
Ardmulchan was most inconvenienced by the winner who forced
him to check shortly after breaking but he showed highly impressive early pace
to secure second position at the crown of the bend and must be feared by any
going forward as you would suspect that he could post saucy figures also, if
getting loose. He will however have to lead for that finishing figure will have
runners closing fast in the home-straight.
And, that is exactly what Ballydoyle Valor did. He surely
won’t break as bad again but having found himself well adrift as he made his
way to fourth at the top of the back-straight following a bump, he thoroughly
impressed from halfway and if this run has shaken off the cobwebs following an
absence, there appears much, much more to come!
Heat 10 28.30
|
||
Glengar Mac
|
16.03
|
12.27
|
Antigua Rum
|
16.67 crd
|
11.98
|
Toast Of Cabra
|
16.32
|
12.36 ck
|
Such was the talent we saw on Saturday that repeatedly
trying to come with new words to analyse the winners has me bored…(not) but
again, Glengar Mac falls into the same category as so many of the first round
winners. A smashing early paced performance with a highly respectable finishing
figure. The scary thing about it is that if this becomes the norm, what hope
for the rest of us?! God forbid brilliant ever gets boring, I’ll take brilliant
every time please.
I’ve stuck crowded in after Antigua Rum’s early split and
that is just to prompt readers to watch him down the back for I think he may
have been inconvenience when appearing to be squeezed out towards the hare
rail, judge for yourselves. Aside from that, he didn’t show much early pace and
I thought he could have run the opening bend smoother, especially having raced
and won here the week before but the big attraction is that finishing split.
Not simple to calculate, it’s fairly accurate nonetheless and you only have to
watch the video to know that he was flying from halfway. That’s the kind of
stamina that could see him continue to pick off qualifying places going
forward, especially as there are so many runners doing it the opposite way!
An inexperienced Toast Of Cabra ran well here and although
both figures are “only” solid in context, he is clearly a survivor who is open
to as much progress as any in the field.
Heat 11 28.07
|
||
Ballymac Syd
|
15.93
|
12.14
|
Jaytee General
|
16.59 ckd
|
12.28
|
Redzer Ardfert
|
16.60 ckd
|
12.28 blkd
|
Where do you start? The finishing kick of a strong runner
while at the same time, he was lowering the 300 yard sectional record at the
new Limerick track. Syd was sensational and was only bettered on the night by
his litter sister.
I don’t care how hot the track was on the night, Clares
Rocket & Droopys Davy in their fastest runs at Limerick hit 15.95, so that
puts it in perspective; and to then finish off with 12.14, simply brilliant.
Just like Tas, he has shown that he could dominate any heat if getting it right
going forward but crucially, and when things tighten up as they invariably
will, the finishing split says that it is not essential for him to lead in
order to qualify, which may prove very valuable indeed. Dowling in
pole-position!
You have to hand it to Jaytee General here who didn’t arrive
with a big reputation as many a runner could from the Paul Hennessy kennels.
Essentially graduating to Open class here, he had his path blocked at the crown
of the bends but matched-up well with the powerful Redzer Ardfert down the back
before battling gamely around the bottom bends. More needed in overall terms
but this was encouraging.
As for my mate Redzer, I’d suggest that he was threatening a
return to his old self here. Never going to lead these up, he appeared spritely
on the run to the bend before checked when turning. Powering to the closing
bends, he had his run stopped in it’s tracks and a runner of lesser resolve
would have been eliminated. He did what we know he is capable of however and
stayed strongly up the straight; his finishing figure could have been much
lower. He needs clear runs but we know he can qualify from almost anywhere when
given a sniff beyond halfway. I’d say Brendan was happy enough with him!
Heat 12 28.44
|
||
Deadly Storm
|
16.06
|
12.38 bmp
|
Spoofer
|
16.17 ckd
|
12.28 bmp
|
Killahan Wonder
|
16.50 ckd
|
12.16
|
This might not have been the fastest heat but it was plenty
classy I’d suggest with the winner confirming the form shown in his Trial Stake
win at Limerick, and his smart early dash.
He had to run to fend off Spoofer at the bend and did give
him a bit of a nudge, but without any interruption to his gallop. Again he is
in the category of early pacer and his finishing number can come down as he and
Spoofer did race in tight quarters at the bottom bends before exchanging a bump
on the run to the line. You have to admire the winner’s resolve in the
home-straight also and overall, this puts him firmly in the mix although he
will probably have to continue to lead up to win heats.
As for Spoofer, this was a very encouraging first outing at
Limerick and against a runner that was moving well out front, he gained ground
along the back and actually stuck his head in front before just run out of it
late on. With a clear run at the opening bends, there appears a fast clock
imminent.
That last comment can apply to Killahan Wonder also and his
early split can certainly come down. He was on the tails of the leading duo
before running off the opening bend and ceding plenty of ground. However, he
showed powerful pace along the back-straight and posted a smart finishing
figure. Could be a bit of a Kirby sleeper!
Heat 13 28.46
|
||
Skywalker Wonder
|
16.01
|
12.45
|
Likely Gift
|
16.55
|
12.29
|
Deadly Diamond
|
16.62 ckd
|
12.36
|
More of the same in terms of the winner here, at least in
the early part of the race and Wonder is a very able contender within a strong
Michael O’Donovan challenge. You would be a little concerned about the
finishing figure in fairness but it would be interesting to see if he could
bring that down if leading this week because there was a sense, although very
difficult to accurately assess, that the track was slowing as the evening drew
to a close on Saturday.
Likely Gift absolutely walked out of traps so his effort to
qualify at all was very laudable indeed. Clearly he can lower that figure if
breaking better and that will be an interesting watch as his finishing number
is very decent. Curly Mike himself would be the man to ask about Deadly Diamond
and whether he can produce something like Wonder’s early split. He was
inconvenienced more than once on the run to the back-straight but with a solid
finishing figure, it is that early part of the race that must improve to be a
player going forward.
Heat 14 28.52
|
||
Killer Bee
|
16.46 crd
|
12.06
|
Vigorous Luke
|
16.56 crd
|
12.27
|
Jirano Classic
|
16.71 crd-blkd
|
12.30
|
Bringing up a double for Peter Comerford, Killer Bee
confirmed an earlier assertion here that he already appears a runner who can
get the job done in all manner of situations. No doubt that his rails pitch was
an aid here as the race was contested in very tight quarters to the
back-straight but once in command, he was emphatic in the latter half of this
contest. That finishing number means that he will hold qualification hopes
without needing to lead at halfway and everything points to him being the ideal
competition greyhound. It may have been the slowest of the winning times on
Saturday, but, this was very impressive!
The race was never going to throw up a fast early split when
so tight in the initial stages and we will just have to wait and see what kind of number
that these qualifiers can post to 300 yards but Luke put in a solid performance
in what was his graduation from novice company, able back-up within a strong
team for Curly Mike who really came to the fore late on Saturday.
Just a glance at the figures would not attract much
attention for Johnny O’Sullivan’s Jirano Classic but watch the video, he ran a
cracker! Uneasy out in Trap 6, he was all but out of the Kirby on the run to
the bend and especially when baulked at the crown of the bends but he
thoroughly impressed down the back and having sneakily banked him on the trio
last week, I would have to chance it again when this fellow is drawn closer to
the rails.
Heat 15 28.37
|
||
Riverside Leo
|
15.88
|
12.49
|
Great Eastern
|
16.32*
|
12.33
|
West Tip
|
16.70 brush
|
12.37
|
With the clocks that Leo had been doing in Shelbourne, I
spent most of the build-up hoping that he would indeed take a flyer in the
first round as he would prove an ideal guide in terms of this sectional
analysis. Well, he didn’t let me down and with all the praise already heaped on
Ballymac Syd for lowering the 300 yard sectional record, the Graham Holland
speedster smashed it out of the park!
Simply sensational and all in attendance knew he was doing
it once he straightened off the second bend. He showed himself to be the
fastest early pacer of the first round and it looks simple enough from here,
keep breaking well and he can very conceivably win the Kirby. Yeah the
finishing number will concern many but the track may have indeed been slowing
and if he keeps breaking, how far in front will he be before running out of gas
in the home-straight?!
There isn’t much to add to the numbers in behind but Great
Eastern could well have the capability to lower that first split because
although there was no contact, he was probably inconvenienced by Leo’s backside
around the first bend which cost some ground and to be that close at all
suggests that he must have been fairly moving in the early stages himself!
Heat 16 28.37
|
||
Mucky Brae
|
16.00
|
12.37
|
El Favor
|
16.73 ckd
|
11.95
|
Adis Abebba
|
16.56
|
12.19
|
O’Donovan rounding off a brilliant night! Brae was hugely
impressive and if the track was slowing as suspected, this must rank as one of
the performances of the round. He was in fact fastest to the short split mark,
one of the few runners to ever dip under 4.00 to the second finish line, 3.99!
He wasn’t doing what Leo was doing to 300 yards but there
was still a touch of the X-factor along the back-straight and if able to repeat
this going forward, that finishing 12.37 wouldn’t be much of a worry. A player!
His fellow qualifiers had already looked strong sorts in
their career starts but Peter Cronin’s El Favor firmly confirmed the column
suspicion that he possesses proper pace when flying along the back-straight to
recover from his poor start and that finishing split is simply superb. Breaking
is a skill that he clearly has not mastered yet but with finishing powers like
this, he may get a few more chances to get it right in this Kirby!
Thursday Mar 21st Round 1
It's early but just for a taste of what we'll be looking at over the next few weeks of Kirby action, we'll go through the sectionals from the opening three heats on Thursday. Highly informative, those actively punting should be taking notice but always apply your own racing knowledge to the figures.
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 28.65
|
Opening 300
|
Closing 225
|
Sure Look Listen
|
16.30
|
|
Droopys Danny
|
16.39
|
|
Droopys Sim
|
16.46 crd
|
A clear run for the winner and solid numbers to begin the campaign. I learned after the race that this was just his second look at the track and I wouldn't be surprised if he could indeed improve as he appeared a little ponderous on the approach to, and at, the third turn before running on well thereafter. Neither figure would blow you away but if you believe there is improvement imminent, you'd be plenty happy with these.
It was more or less a clean run for Danny in second who did well after a slow start and he was tight enough to the rail around the opening bends so there could certainly be scope to lower the early split. You'd like to see it lowered as I had expected that he could come home a little stronger. The school report will say...could do better!
You'd have to offer plaudits to Droopys Sim here in what was an admirable battling passage. crowded on the run-up, the early split can come down with either a better break or a clear run but she showed gears down the back and having been shied out a little when tackling the third turn, she gathered herself to make rapid ground close home. An encouraging start given that there is scope to lower both times.
HEAT 2 28.63
|
||
Tullig Footpad
|
16.28
|
|
Garrai Rua
|
16.51 crd
|
12.42 touch
|
Camps Star
|
16.44 touch
|
A solid opening win for the four-in-a-row seeking Pat Buckley with his Tullig Footpad and those who weren't in attendance will look at the video and call me a clown but he didn't actually get his break right, he was fidgity at trap rise and could have got it wrong. He can certainly come away on a better stride as he has shown on many occasions but the impressive thing here was that he really had to work for his first bend lead and when he got there, he really wanted it.
There may even have been a slight touch around his hinds upon turning but I wasn't certain enough to factor that in. The moral is, I think he can go faster than 16.28 for the 300 yards and 12.35 is more than decent for an early pacer coming home at Limerick. If he can get that first figure down, it puts him in the Bentekes Bocko bracket of Kirby runner.
There probably should be some other remark behind Garrai Rua's first split for while he didn't really suffer a bump, he did have backsides in his face at the corner without actually striking a rival. That first figure can come down but without showing too much early on the run-up, he could be surrounded by bodies again going forward.
It was off the second bend and down the back where he showed his pace but although he was probably shied out a bit at the bottom bends, his finish appeared on video to be stronger than the numbers suggest.
Camps Star did just get inconvenienced by the winner after leaving traps but showed smart early pace. His first figure can come down and the numbers say that it will have to. He will have to dictate early to progress in the Kirby for while he did maintain a good gallop to the third bend in relation to the winner, that finishing figure will have him eliminated unless in command to the home-straight.
HEAT 3 28.62
|
||
Worseforwear
|
16.48 bmp
|
|
Claregalway Lad
|
16.23 touch
|
|
Argentina
|
16.33
|
Definitely the most interesting figures from the three heat winners on Thursday. The winner didn't break all that well but paced-up smartly enough given that there was early pace to his immediate outside, you could probably even argue that he was inconvenienced by Claregalway Lad's presence, being almost exactly where the Cronin charge wanted to be on the run to the corner.
The remark says bump and he did get one but in fairness, he was in the right spot on the rail when he did and it allowed him to claim third position to the back-straight. All in all though, there clearly can be paths to more clear runs for a runner who has more early pace than may have been evident on Thursday.
It was from the second bend to home however where he revealed his Kirby credentials. Steady progress saw him close on the leader before passing Argentine on the inside and leader Claregalway Lad on the outer while posting a very impressive finishing figure. It looks like Peter Cronin has a live one!
For the two qualifiers behind, Claregalway Lad will be a feared early paced opponent for any next week but the finishing figure will simply have to come down at some point if he is to be a player and the same applies to Argentina who had a good look at the hare throughout here and must do better next week.
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