The Con & Annie Kirby Memorial with a winners prize of €80,000 and kindly sponsored by the McManus family gets underway at Limerick greyhound stadium this evening. A competition which time and time again throws up no end of future racing talent is an eagerly anticipated event on the calendar and this year is no different. Tonight many will be dreaming of emulating the 2022 achievement of Swords Rex whose stunning final victory saw trainer Graham Holland and owner Barbara Lowndes proudly lifting the trophy.
Limerick Stadium Grandstand
Michael Donovan see’s his lightly raced Ryhope Beach heading the ante post betting for the competition with him installed as a 7/1 chance. He was flawless in each of his opening two rounds of the Juvenile Classic at Tralee recently producing runs of 2812 on both occasions and though beaten into last place in a troubled semi final run he’s since shown his well being with what can only be described as a scintillating trial around Limerick of 2810 just last week. He without doubt has the pace to become a leading player not just in this competition but in all the big competitions ahead and in the hands of Donovan he will have every chance. At single figure odds however there is value laying further down the field and one such greyhound who makes each way appeal at just over twice the price of the favourite is the Liam Dowling trained BALLYMAC JOHNJO. This son of Ballymac Anton and Art Of Illusion comes into the Kirby with an experience edge on a lot of his rivals with 14 races already on his card he’s capable of huge runs off the front but importantly in a competition of this nature he’s also highly unlikely to give up from a qualifying perspective if laying off the pace with some eye catching runs from behind also attached to his CV. One such run came early in December at Shelbourne Park in the final of the I.G.B.O.F Puppy 525 Final. After missing the kick and encountering crowding on the run up and around the opening turns he lay 8 lengths off the pace in fifth place at half way as the pacesetting Up The Style and eventual winner had taken full advantage of the inside crowding to cut across from his trap 6 berth at the bend and kick clear. It would have been easy for a pup to down tools and save himself for another day but Johnjo showed that he’s all heart as he dug deep to come with a huge late rattle eventually beaten just 2 ½ lengths. Soon after the finish he was in front and many lengths clear at the pick up marking him out as a potential stayer of the future. He was more recently eliminated from the Kingdom Derby at the Dowling teams home venue Tralee at the first round stage but there is no doubting this 80lb greyhound looks to be much more suited to the galloping contours of Limerick and so it has proved with him running out an impressive winner on his first two starts here over the 550yard and 600yard trips respectively. It has to be noted that a wide seed has now been attached to his card and this too seems to have helped. Though as previously mentioned his future looks to be over further he also looks like he will be tough to keep out of the frame throughout the Kirby and at 16/1 Paddy Power and Boylesports he warrants an each way investment. Johnjo goes to traps in heat 7 this evening with the scheduled off time of 909pm.
