Preview Rd 1

All set for the fifth annual Con & Annie Kirby Memorial Puppy Stake

The 2017 Con & Annie Kirby Memorial Puppy Stake commences tonight and when the lids lift for our opening heat it will end an eleven month wait for the return of the most valuable puppy race on the planet which has enriched the greyhound racing world with stunning sporting action from future stars of the sport in just a short history, leaving an indelible mark on the entire industry.

Indeed it is almost surprising that in just four renewals, the Con & Annie Kirby Memorial is now such a prestigious and influential event on the calendar. When pups are born soon after the turn of the year we find ourselves declaring that they will be a perfect age for the Kirby or when we see a young tracker impress in their early career we take a quick glance at their age to check if they will be eligible to contest come early March.

But, when blessed with such sponsors as Noreen & JP McManus who possess the foresight and commitment to create something this special then it was surely inevitable that the event which is named in honour of Noreen’s late parents was certain to become the unmissable annual highlight that attracts attention from around the globe.

Our generous sponsors

Their most generous sponsorship package allows a total prize fund of €160,000 which in monetary terms leaves only the Irish Derby as a more lucrative event throughout the entire season but the McManus initiative to include a further €20,000 prize for participating Limerick GAA Clubs whose associated greyhound reaches the final on April 8th, ensures a colourful influx of flag bearing supporters which adds greatly to an already intense atmosphere. With young and old mixing from these respective sporting backgrounds, Limerick Greyhound Stadium, the GAA and the McManus family have created an event which extends our sport’s reach in a unique and wonderfully social manner.

Limerick form must be respected

Limerick Trial Stake winner & Leger 2nd Native Chimes

With varying lines of form from different venues and runners with little or no racing behind them before the first round, it is always difficult to be adamant about the outright prospects of many in the line-up but a natural starting point when studying ahead of this year’s event must be the brilliant Irish St Leger runner-up Native Chimes. Inexperienced when contesting against older rivals in November, his greenness was counteracted by raw ability when endearing himself to Leger patrons and the Johnny O’Sullivan trained speedster should be on every shortlist ahead of a big clash with Droopys Almond in Heat 9.

Heat 11 will also have St Leger form to the fore where Sheila Spillane & JJ Fennelly’s Burgess Dubh will seek to find the form that brought him a semi-final appearance in the Limerick classic. He faces a stiff test from the sharp Graham Holland runner Hovex Mick who impressed in his first Limerick outing last time and Burgess Dubh will need to better his recent poor starts. However, already proven in all-aged company, he was spotted staying very strongly in defeat last week and a return to his early career form could certainly bring a deep run in the event.

A Roddick repeat?

2016 winner Droopys Roddick

News only broke in the past week about the retirement of our phenomenal Kirby winner from 2016 as Droopys Roddick failed to recover from a wrist injury sustained in his bid to add the Irish Derby to his list of brilliant achievements. A worthy champion in 2016, he carried his crown with grace while adding victory in the Dundalk International and only failed to claim the English Derby in a tight photo-finish behind Paul Hennessy’s Jaytee Jet.

It was a memorable night for his trainer Pat Buckley when he claimed his first Kirby title twelve months ago and amongst a strong team for this year’s event he returns with a half-brother of our current title holder. Droopys Dresden will contest a hugely competitive Heat 7 when making his Irish debut and only connections will truly know if he can emulate his big brother but with nothing to answer in terms of breeding, his passage through the event could certainly be worth noting. He faces a live outright contender here though in the form of Paul Hennessy’s Jaytee Barracuda who built well on his promising career start with an eye-catching display a week ago and may take all the beating in the heat.

Amongst the Buckley team this year there is also three half-brothers to the brilliant Droopys Nidge and these all bring influential form from the recent Juvenile Classic at Tralee. That event in the Kingdom offers many formlines throughout the first round action and nowhere more than in Heat 8 where the Buckley duo of Droopys Pogba and Droopys Giroud occupy the outside traps when facing Denis Fitzgerald’s Loskeran Vardy who started favourite for the final of that prestigious event having been fastest in the heats. A draw on the fence might swing this heat in the latter’s favour but take note, for the form of this heat ties closely with many contenders for Kirby 2017.

There are many more who go to traps with realistic claims this year and Whoops Jack brings impressive Shelbourne Park form to a stacked Heat 2 where the Holland duo of Rackethall Jess and Clonbrien Hero along with Damien Flannery’s Merciful Joey add significant strength in depth.

Boylesports Hero in 2014

The following Heat 3 sees the formidable Brendan Matthews with his only runner of the event as Slouane Wonder bids to give the Newry maestro a third victory in the event. A half-brother to 2015 Kirby hero Cable Bay, he warrants the utmost respect for the competition’s leading trainer who also claimed the event with Boylesports Hero in 2014.

These are just some of our first round contenders who may dictate next week’s headlines but enjoy the night’s action and mark every result in detail for as past renewals have taught us, future Derby contenders, Classic winners, award winners and stud dogs are scattered throughout every Con & Annie Kirby card. 

Having learned their trade at various venues throughout the country, they come here with intent to exit Limerick as the next superstar of greyhound racing and over the next month they will bring us the most enthralling sporting action in the unique and colourful atmosphere that can only be the Con & Annie Kirby Memorial Puppy Stake.

Trainers with multiple entries: Pat Buckley (8), Paul Hennessy (8), Graham Holland (7), Liam Dowling (6), Owen McKenna (3), Peter Cronin (3), Ian Reilly (2), Pat O’Connor (2), Rachel Wheeler (2).

We begin the action with 59 Inside seeds, 10 Middle and 3 Wide while 16 bitches will go in search of the €5000 bonus prize for the last girl standing.

Betting: 10/1 Drive On Tipp, Whoops Jack, Droopys Almond, Native Chimes 12/1 Burgess Dubh, Sidarian Victor (from 25)

14/1 Droopys Giroud, Droopys Dresden, Hovex Mick, Vancouver Shea 16/1 Nitro Notorious, Burnt Beans.

20/1 Clonbrien Hero, Allen Tank, Allen Junior, Bentekes Bocko, Hazel Mixture, Jaytee Barracuda, Frankies Lady, Toocoolforschool, Coolavanny Pet, Loskeran Vardy 25/1 Bar.