GREYHOUND PREVIEW: In this week’s preview Barry focusses on the final of the Con and Annie Kirby Memorial from Limerick on Saturday evening. He also looks at Towcester on Sunday where another batch of Derby Trial stakes will take place.
We’re down to the final six in the hunt for this year’s Con and Annie Kirby Memorial Final at Limerick, and what a final it promises to be. Ballymac Setanta is still the one to beat, but the trap draw gives hope to all of his rivals. The Derby Trial Stakes continue at Towcester on Sunday as the countdown to the opening round of the English Greyhound Derby continues. Let’s take a look at the best of the action.
Con and Annie Kirby Memorial Final at Limerick
🟥 Bouncing Monarch
🟦 Beanos Yank
⬜ Bockos Gold
⬛ Ballymac Setanta
🟧 Ballycowan Frank
🔲 Jaykay Fly
Verdict: It promises to be a thrilling night’s action at Limerick this Saturday evening where the six finalists will be chasing a winner’s purse of €80,000. First run in 2013 when Owen McKenna’s Roxholme Bully took the prize, the event has gone from strength to strength. Champion trainer Graham Holland has won the competition three times in the last four years and is doubly represented in this year’s final. Mark O’Donovan, son of Michael, won it in 2021 with Stonepark Leo and his father Michael is also doubly represented with Ballycowan Frank and UK-owned Bouncing Monarch. Paul Hennessy and Liam Dowling are responsible for the remaining two runners, and remarkably neither has yet to win the classic.
It is Dowling’s Ballymac Setanta who heads the market along with Graham Holland’s Bockos Gold. The pair met in the second round where Bockos Gold got the better of Setanta, and Gold has once again been drawn on the inside of his main market rival. Bouncing Monarch has the best of the draw on the fence and will be a major player if he can hold his pitch on the run to the corner. Beanos Yank, Ballycowan Frank and Jaykay Fly are all excellent young greyhounds, but you feel they may need a little luck to get involved.
The contest is run over 525 yards, but in truth whatever leads after 100 yards will take all the beating. Bockos Gold has a best time in the event of 27.89, with Jaykay Fly the “slowest” at 28.22. There is very little to separate the six and much will depend on trap rise. If you were to take an average of the split times of all the finalists over the past four weeks, it reads as follows:
Bouncing Monarch 1.30, Beanos Yank 1.31, Bockos Gold 1.25, Ballymac Setanta 1.27, Ballycowan Frank 1.29, Jaykay Fly 1.31.
On those average figures, Bockos Gold just leads up Setanta and with the inside line surely worth a length or two, it points to a Bockos Gold victory. It’s not quite as simple as that, as all greyhounds have posted 1.27 or less around here in the past. It looks a punter’s minefield if I’m honest. If forced to make a selection, maybe I would just side with Bouncing Monarch on the fence. He hasn’t been over here that long and if he can hold his position into the opening turn he would prove hard to peg back. It’s a cracking final which will be broadcast live on terrestrial TV this Saturday evening. I wish all connections the very best of luck.
Towcester Sunday Derby Trial Stakes
A host of big names will once again head to Towcester this Sunday in preparation for the upcoming English Greyhound Derby.
The 3:13 contest sees early speedster Bockos Buster line up in trap four. He moved well in a recent trial around here and looks likely to set the pace. This trip will certainly test his stamina, and he must lead to be seen at his best. Lennies Dynamic arrives here with a huge reputation. He was well fancied to go a long way in the Kirby Memorial at Limerick after an impressive opening round victory and can step forward from his recent trial. If he can track Bockos Buster into the back straight he could just prove too strong from the third bend home. Despite making all in his last race at Shelbourne, Garfiney Warrior will be flying from the third bend but the front two may be gone beyond recall.
I was against Priceless Romeo last week, but I did mention he would come on for the run. He carried no luck on track debut last week, but better can be expected this Sunday. Unanimous Leo may have been a shade disappointing at Shelbourne earlier this month, but the draw was all against him that night and he can prove better than that effort. Rebel Alaska has caught the eye on more than one occasion and will obviously be popular in the market, as will Gaytime Joachim, but the vote goes to Priceless Romeo to step up on last week’s effort.
Recent sales purchase This Approach has his first start for new connections in the 3:51. It looks a good opportunity to make a winning debut for Ricky Holloway. If he reproduces his sales trial effort that should comfortably suffice. Happy Jet can follow him home.
Lennies Eddie was an impressive scorer last time out and lines up in the 4:09. He will need to do everything right again if he’s to make it two from two. Santas Jet flew in a recent trial and carried little luck behind Swords Style last week. This looks a good chance for Jet to get back on the scoreboard. Texas Jack is a dog I like and it will be interesting to see how he takes to the track; I don’t think we’ve seen the best of him at Monmore recently. Ballymac Kobe looks up against it.
Another who can improve for last week’s first look is Coloursaregreen. The Shelbourne Tote Gold Cup winner is high class on his day and looks a cut above his rivals. Kranky Drake is pacey but needs to sharpen up at the boxes.
It promises to be an informative Sunday. Notebooks at the ready!
All the best,
Barry.
