XANA & DUTY UPSET THE ODDS IN GAMMELL CARS KENNEDY CUP SEMIS

Peter Farrell

The semi-finals of the Gammell Car Sales Kennedy Cup 525 featured at Limerick Greyhound Stadium on Saturday night and there was very little to separate the two winners on the clock, setting things up nicely ahead of the decider in six days’ time.

Of the two semi-finals, it was Vigorous Xana who went narrowly quicker, winning for the third time in her career and putting a line through her fourth-place finish in the opening round. Sent off at odds of 5/1 for owner Ronny Wuyts, ‘Xana’ was noted staying on well in round one, but she sat much closer to the pace on this occasion, allowing her to build momentum before arriving late to score. Drawn in one, the daughter of Dorotas Wildcat - Vigorous Orla held her inside line well on the run-up as she turned two lengths adrift of Maybe in three. Making steady progress down the back, Wuyts’ charge built up a head of steam at the three-quarter mark before powering up the Limerick hill to chin the longtime leader, Maybe, by half a length. The final qualifying position went the way of Bright Malachi, with the clock stopping at 28.80.

In the second semi-final, there was another upset on the cards as 4/7 favourite Magical Elouise was turned over at the expense of Duty First.

Trained by Owen McKenna for Tom Smyth and Paul Duffy, Duty First landed his opening-round assignment in a workmanlike 29.29, but improved considerably on that performance with a hard-fought trap-to-line victory. Sent off at odds of 4/1, ‘Duty’ broke level with Ingortroe in one, with the inside line proving key as the latter held a narrow advantage entering the back. Duty First was nothing if not game, however, and the son of Ballymac Cashout - Goldcash Ice edged in front passing the 750 box. Not to be outdone thereafter, McKenna’s tracker kept on strongly to the line, crossing with three-quarters of a length to spare over Ingortroe in second. Magical Elouise, meanwhile, recovered very well from a tardy start to fly home, a further three-quarters of a length back in third. The time was 28.85.

The trap draw for the final of the 2026 Gammell Car Sales Kennedy Cup 525 was made shortly after and is as follows :

T1 - VIGOROUS XANA

T2 - INGORTROE

T3 - MAYBE

T4 - DUTY FIRST

T5 - BRIGHT MALACHI

T6 - MAGICAL ELOUISE

UNDERCARD

Elsewhere on the card, there was a good win for Stick With Me in the Open 525. Owned by the Mullins-Curtin-Syndicate, the son of the brilliant Dana Point took charge passing the pick-up before drawing clear of his rivals to win by six and a half lengths. That victory marked his first success since February, with the clock stopping at 28.61. Incidentally, there was also a nice victory for the same connections at Galway as Cooleys Reel impressed in a Novice contest. Stepping away lively from trap three, the son of Ballymac Cashout - Kiss An Angel made light work of his fellow debutants, drawing clear to win by five and a half lengths over the 350-yard trip. The time was a smart 19.32 .10s.

In race four, Airfield Ollie won handsomely at odds of 7/2 for Fergus Walsh and Molly Finn. Just a January pup, the son of Dorotas Wildcat - Airfield Biddy was in charge throughout, coming home a dominant nine lengths clear in a fast 28.62.

Tyrap Malachi may be celebrating his fourth birthday this month, classifying him as a veteran, but he continues to notch up the victories for owner David Carroll. In search of a fifteenth career success, the brilliant son of Malachi arrived late with his customary strong finish to come out on the right side of a photo-finish for the second straight week. Rallyingairfield was his victim on this occasion, with Tyrap Malachi stopping the clock in a good 28.75.