MERITS GETS THE NOD IN WIDE-OPEN CON & ANNIE KIRBY DECIDER
Peter Farrell
After four weeks of superb racing at Limerick Greyhound Stadium, the final of the 2024 Con & Annie Kirby Memorial 525 takes centre stage later tonight and those in attendance are sure to be treated to a thrilling conclusion of what has been another incredible Kirby.
Kindly sponsored by the McManus Family, this competition never fails in producing the most phenomenal action and it is testament to the quality of the Classic that we head into tonight’s €80,000 decider none the wiser in terms of predicting a winner.
A LOOK AT THE FINALISTS
T1 – ROMEO KINGPIN (Owner: David Firmager / Trainer: Graham Holland) – Bidding to give his trainer a third successive Kirby victory after landing the event with Swords Rex in 2022 and Clonbrien Treaty in 2023. ‘Kingpin’ came into the Kirby after winning the 10,000 to the winner Bart Leahy Memorial A2 525 at Cork and has gone from strength to strength upon arrival at Limerick. Narrowly beaten in his first round assignment, the son of Superman and Bockos Lass really announced himself on the Classic with a terrific 28.24 effort in round two and lost little in defeat when reeled in late by Scooby Pacemaker in the quarters. Second last time out after a far from straightforward passage, ‘Kingpin’ is once again perfectly drawn in red, a box he is three from five in, and if he can take one of ping starts, expect a bold bid from this incredible talent.
T2 – SCOOBY PACEMAKER (Owner: Scooby Trio Synd / Trainer: Jennifer O’Donnell) – Looked a star from the word go after qualifying in 28.31 around Shelbourne Park and proceeded to show glimpses of brilliance in clocking 28.29 and 28.37 thereafter. Perhaps a little stop-start prior to arriving at Limerick, the son of Droopys Sydney and Scooby Princess has really found his feet at the Munster venue and is a leading player for his back-to-back Derby winning trainer. Posted a sensational 28.28 in behind Epic Chick in round two and built on that with a 28.46 victory in the quarters when reeling in Romeo Kingpin. Ran a superb race last time out to get within a half a length of Merits Inclusion and he has been rewarded with a fine draw in trap two. That said, he is sandwiched between two fine early speedsters so will need to come away on terms to secure racing room.
T3 – MERITS INCLUSION (Owner: Brendan Matthews) – Has taken off in recent weeks and, in my eyes, the favourite to give his Northern connections a third Kirby triumph. Expertly campaigned with a couple of graded outings prior to the Classic, the son of Dromana Bucko and Million Dreams has taken to Limerick like a duck to water and this was emphasized by a career-best 28.24 effort in last week’s semi finals. Boasting a lovely turn of early speed, the strapping black has a potentially brilliant draw in trap three where his main obstacle will be to fend off both Scooby and Romeo in the opening exchanges. Given that the trapping of this June puppy has consistently improved throughout the Kirby, one would suggest that he may well have too much on the inside and it will be game on thereafter should this be the case. Massive player.
T4 – EPIC CHICK (Owner: John Kennedy Jnr) – This hugely fast fawn got her racing career off to the best possible start when clocking a superb 28.18 around Waterford and followed that up with a brilliant 28.41 victory around HQ in the opening round of the Puppy Oaks. The daughter of Grangeview Ten and Jaytee Osprey once again outlined her capabilities of producing extraordinary figures when clocking an exceptional 28.00 in the second round, a time unrivaled by her fellow finalists tonight. Off the boil at traprise in recent week’s however, she will need to rediscover her trapping in order to see off blistering speedsters on either side but it would be unwise to rule out a bitch who has already shown that she is arguably the fastest in the lineup with a clear passage.
T5 – PHOENIX TYSON (Owner: Billy Reilly / Trainer: Ian Reilly) – The rank outsider but his mere presence in the feature is fascinating and isn’t without his chance. A winner of his debut, which was in bottomless conditions at Dundalk, ‘Tyson’ then moved onto Shelbourne Park and he claimed the €5,000 to the winner Swimbooker A2 in trap to line fashion. Early pace is very much the forte for this son of Grangeview Ten and Fahy Ripley and he has showcased this brilliantly at Limerick in posting sizzling early sectionals of 1.27, 1.29 and 1.25. Anything close to this will be enough to dispute the early running and the fact that he is drawn on the inside of Knockeen Dazzler, who is another lightning starter, adds more ingredients to this thrilling decider. Must lead.
T6 – KNOCKEEN DAZZLER (Owner: Daniel O’Rahilly) – Has been a revelation in the Kirby but this should have come as no surprise given his scorching 18.52 sprint trial prior to the Classic. Defeat in round one was followed by back-to-back wins off the front for this heavyweight son of Laughil Blake and Love Island and he stepped it up a notch when clocking a blistering 28.23 last weekend. On that occasion, Romeo Kingpin had no answer to O’Rahilly’s charge and he has shown nothing to suggest his Kirby tilt will go out with a whimper later tonight. The buckle with Phoenix Tyson is a fascinating sub-plot and another fast start is required, however, he will carry plenty of support later tonight and is another massive player given his consistent improvement.
VERDICT – In what is a wide-open decider, the vote goes to Merits Inclusion. Brendan Matthew’s runner appears to be coming to the boil perfectly in this stake and incredibly, still has the scope to improve given his mantle as the youngster of the field. Well-drawn, he is sharpening up at traprise with each outing and looks cherry-ripe for another blistering performance. Both the inside and outside buckles for early supremacy will prove crucial, however, Knockeen Dazzler gets the nod to have too much for Phoenix Tyson, which can allow him to swing around in a favourable position. 3-6-2
*****
SMART TO STICK WITH SAM
The final of the €5,000 to the winner Sean O Connor Memorial A1/A2 525 serves as the supporting act to the Kirby and Smart Sam will bid to maintain his unbeaten record in the stake for Paul White.
Smart Sam posted a fine 28.70 in the opener; however, he took off last time out in clocking 1.29 on route to a 28.45 success and he has been rewarded with what looks a perfect pitch in trap one. The son of Droopys Sydney has plenty of experience on his side and if reproducing last week’s performance, he would take some stopping despite facing several classy rivals. The Kilcolgan pairing of Whitney and Mick both boast claims with the latter in particular hoping to build on his semi final victory, while Cheque For Sir is perhaps the main threat to Smart Sam as he is capable of a flying start from trap three. Throw into the mix Tinahue Pappone, who was a 28.50 winner of his opening round assignment, and the classy McNeill, and this is an absolutely brilliant final worthy of the handsome first prize on offer.
TOP CLASS CARD
As expected, the remainder of the card is littered with top-class action and the Limerick & Clare GOBA A3 525 final is another excellent contest. With €900 up for grabs, Lucy Roche will fancy her chances with Lurriga Lady after she went quickest in the semis when stopping the clock in a brisk 28.61. Well-drawn in five, the daughter of Laughil Blake loves a fast start and should she take one of customary pings, will take a bit of beating. Of her rivals, the evergreen Wizard is certainly not out of it in six, while kennel companion, Rattlefence, is also brilliantly drawn in trap one to give a good account of himself.
It is always great to see some marathon action on offer on these big cards and race five will see six novices step up to the 750-yard trip. Of the line-up, my eye is immediately drawn to Ocean Tesla, who has shown incredible gears from halfway in all her recent four-bend races. A winner of a Kirby heat, Tom Fitzgerald’s bitch looks tailor-made for this trip and she indeed could be a bit special.
In the Open 350, it’s fair to say that no-one can afford any slip-ups, however, Ballinakill Alf is surely the one to beat. Trained by Graham Holland, the son of Pestana is one of the best sprinters in the land and is perfectly housed in trap two to make-all. On this occasion, his rivals include Burgess Jack, Cree Jo Jo, Hopes Hurricane and recent Dundalk eye-catcher, Beepers Evan.
In the Istabraq AAO 525, Road Exile gets the nod to make a winning return to four-bend action. A recent winner of the Supersprint at Curraheen Park, Pat Buckley’s charge is just as effective over the standard trip and gets the vote to lead out wide. That said, with the likes of Rushy Meadows amongst his opposition, he will need to be on his toes at traprise.
The I Am Maximus AA0 550 promises to be one of the races of the night and the betting market is sure to be strong given that opinions will be split. Superfast Gorden has a phenomenal engine and this has been on full display around Limerick, none-more-so than his 28.09 clock back in February. However, he hit the deck last time out and will need to be at his very best to see off this field. Undulation showed her class throughout the Easter Cup and will be fancied by many, while my vote goes to the sensationally fast Annagh Bailey, who is currently in the midst of a purple patch having posted 29.47 over the 550-yard trip last time out at Limerick.