There will no doubt be a string of leading open racers to emerge as usual from the Kirby Memorial at Limerick. The star of the second round was Graham Holland’s Swords Rex whose record now stands at six wins and three seconds from nine outings.
A year ago, Explosive Boy clocked 28.08 in the semi final of the same stake only to be beaten in the final. On Saturday though he was among the cash at Waterford when taking the €9,500 Select Stakes.
At Shelbourne Park there were two fabulous semi final wins in the Open 600 from Sentimental Lad and Hello Hammond. The latter was only four spots off the FOY for 2021 recorded by the mighty Beach Avenue.
One track record that might have gone under the radar was the 16.40 recorded by Sniper Ria for the 300 yard course at Derry. Look out too for the fastest 525 of the year to date at Kilkenny by puppy Lujaneo. Look out too for the second fastest sprint so far this year at Tralee from 17 month old Ballymac Finn. (Suspect we’ll be hearing more of him).
| CLONMEL | 28.71 | GETOUTTAMYWAY | (Droopys Sydney-Lady Midnight, Aug 20) |
| CURRAHEEN PARK | 17.73 | FLASHING WILLOW | (Laughil Blake-Cabbage, May 20) |
| DERRY | 16.40 | SNIPER RIA | (Ela Ela Genie-Glenbowen Jewel, Oct 18) |
| DRUMBO PARK | 29.15 | THORIN | (Ballymac Best-Corduff Flame, Sep 20) |
| DUNDALK | 21.47 | OLD FORT PEDRO | (Crash-Old Fort Dakota, Oct 20) |
| ENNISCORTHY | 28.79 | JIM BE SLICK | (Skywalker Rafa-Notimetotalk, Sep 20) |
| GALWAY | 19.08 | OUGHAM SKY | (Ballymac Best-Portumna West, Oct 19) |
| KILKENNY | 28.85 | LUJANEO | (Dorotas Wildcat-Droopys Ant, May 20) |
| LIMERICK | 28.20 | SWORDS REX | (Droopys Sydney-Starry Display, Jul 20) |
| MULLINGAR | 29.36 | RACECOURSE TONI | (Ballymac Best-Portumna West, Oct 19) |
| NEWBRIDGE | 17.67 | GENTLEMAN RED | (Ballymac Best-Taylors Lie, Aug 20) |
| SHELBOURNE PARK | 32.14 | SENTIMENTAL LAD | (Droopys Jet-Vigorous Hilary, Sep 19) |
| 32.04 | HELLO HAMMOND | (Jaytee Jet-Jaytee Pearl, Aug 18) | |
| 29.56 | CROKERS SPIRIT | (Scolari Me Daddy-Boleys Ace, Sep 19) | |
| THURLES | NO RACING | ||
| TRALEE | 17.43 | BALLYMAC FINN | (Droopys Sydney-Ballymac Petsy, Nov 20) |
| WATERFORD | 28.20 | EXPLOSIVE BOY | (Good News-Delightful Girl, Apr 19) |
| YOUGHAL | 28.97 | YOUNG BULL | (Bull Marker-Garryvoe Budgie, Mar 20) |
