S/Final Preview

2017 Con & Annie Kirby Memorial Puppy Stake………………..The story so far

With two rounds under their belts ahead of last Saturday’s action it was reasonable to expect that those runners with serious outright claims in the 2017 Con & Annie Kirby Memorial Puppy Stake would come to the fore amidst a cauldron of intense and palpable racing tension at a crucial stage of the world's richest puppy event. And so it proved in a wonderful quarter-final session as we witnessed some truly remarkable performances not only in victory but also by those who produced game battling displays to qualify for the semi-finals which now houses twelve immensely talented youngsters who can all script a plausible path to victory from this point in an open and exceptionally high quality renewal of this most prestigious greyhound racing event.

We will enter the semi-final showdowns with three unbeaten Kirby runners and cementing his place at the top the outright market, Fraser Black's Vancouver Shea was first to complete his hat-trick in the opening quarter-final. Aided in the early exchanges by crowding on his inner after a level start from Trap 6, he paced up with intent on the outside before forcefully taking command upon turning the first bend and would proceed to complete a brilliant five length victory in 28.40. Clearly back to his sizzling Round One form, he was never seriously threatened throughout when posting the fastest time once more but the pair of qualifiers behind him were equally as impressive for theirs was a much more complicated passage. At trap rise, Clonbrien Hero sought to move towards the middle from Trap 1 while Ivy Hill Blitz drifted to the inside from his Trap 5 berth. A concertina effect brought crowding for all but determinedly refusing to cede his claims in the event, our 2016 Leger runner-up Native Chimes battled his way to second place at the bend and would chase the leader home in an equally laudable performance while pursued by Ivy Hill Blitz who too deserves huge credit as an inexperienced runner who is improving for each outing.

Vancouver Shea

Bocko the boss, again!
The exceptional early pace of Bentekes Bocko has ensured the safest passage of all to the semi-finals and the Pat Buckley charge could be forgiven for believing that he is being brought to Limerick for a solo trial every Saturday for he has hardly sighted a rival in the stake thus far. Again dominating from Trap 2, his early pace saw him in command on the fence in the second quarter-final but although impressively leading throughout, Bocko was all out to defend his lead at the line when posting 28.65 in a half length verdict over Jaytee Barracuda and the latter must be labelled as the quarter-final eye-catcher. Bumped on the outside at the first bend, he showed exceptional pace on the back-straight and would likely have claimed victory but for finding Bocko's tail flashing in his face at the wrong time when turning into the bottom bends. Underwhelming a week prior, Jaytee put himself back in Kirby contention with this display. Filling third here was Borsalino when only a length further back and he too was crowded more than once and lost little in defeat while showing impressive pace throughout after a moderate break on the fence.

Pet pounces late to Snare the Champ
The early part of Heat 3 may have been predictable with the vicious early pace of Rathnasnare Champ ensuring that he would get a clear sight of the hare while others sought a run behind him. Again responding to fervent cheers from his large swell of support, he flew to the opening bend after a level break from Trap 4 and took a four length lead to the back-straight when chased by Coolavanny Pet who railed tightly to secure a safe passage at the bends following her moderate start from Trap 2. These would fight out the win with Pet certain to be staying strongly and the qualifying positions were all but decided at halfway when Shewhodareswins had negotiated her way to a battle for third place as she too was certain to be doing her best work late on. Up front, Champ was maintaining a powerful forward momentum and still held a length over the Dowling darling entering the home-straight but railing tightly, the game bitch found a gap on the fence and just managed to deny the long time leader on the line for a short-head verdict in 28.68. It was a wonderful display of their respective talents by both who treated us to a thriller but take note of a phenomenal staying performance by another powerful bitch in third as Shewhodareswins reduced a once seven length deficit to just a solitary length at the line!

Cometwopass

Remember Crokers Champ??
Peter Cronin ran-up this event in 2014 with his brilliant early pacer Crokers Champ and his Cometwopass has been sparking memories of that superstar in this renewal with his similar early paced racing style. He would become the third runner to register a Kirby hat-trick in the final heat when crucially outpacing Drive On Tipp to the turn before skipping clear off the second bend. Bumping in behind saw the latter emerge at the top of the back-straight in a battle for second with Higher Level and these three would fill the qualifying places. Cometwopass duly converted the opportunity that his early dash had brought in what was another impressive victory but again it was a bitch who showed the strongest staying power as Paula Heffernan's Higher Level powered from halfway to reduce her once five length arrears to just a half length at the line in 28.75 with Drive On Tipp a length further back. The half-sister to Country Legend, who reached three major event semi-finals on this track, bears all the strong running qualities of that Limerick favourite and remains a contender for the Kirby, let alone the €5000 bitch prize that she will race for in this week's second semi-final where all three remaining ladies have been drawn alongside each other.

First Semi-Final

It should almost be guess work as to who will lead up at this stage of a major event and especially with pups but such have been the brilliant displays of early pace from Rathnasnare Champ thus far that the only viable assumption now is that he leads again. Using that same logic and taking past performance as the best predictor for future outcome, we must then look to what will pass him in the home-straight. Francis Murray's speedster has been mugged close home on the past two Kirby Saturday's and the prediction is for the same again now as Native Chimes has seen his latest brave endeavour rewarded with an ideal draw on the fence. Fancied to defend his rails pitch and turn in a threatening position at the top of the back-straight, the Leger runner-up can continue to build on the progression he is showing from round to round and is the choice for victory. Housed between the aforementioned pair is far from ideal for either Borsalino or Ivy Hill Blitz and they will roll the dice for clear passage at the bends. Both are strong runners who will power along the back-straight and whoever comes off best at the second bend, will have claims to qualify.

Of course, the unbeaten Cometwopass must come into the equation but being drawn outside Rathnasnare Champ is far from ideal and much will depend on his own behaviour if, as suspected, he is led from traps by that rival. If Cometwopass seeks to move inward and thus negate his best weapon which is his brilliant early pace, his chance could well be gone and although he has never been drawn further out than Trap 3 in his short career so far, the suspicion is that he will want to move left at the earliest opportunity. The best drawn runner in the race is certainly Jaytee Barracuda and he bounced back to top form in no uncertain manner last time. A repeat of last week's battling effort looks almost assured to see him through with a highly likely clear run. Verdict 1-4-6

Second Semi-Final

Coolavanny Pet

A fascinating mix of early pace and staying power and of course we have a race within a race here for the three remaining bitches in the event are all housed beside each other as they do battle for the €5000 bonus prize. Qualification is paramount however and is a complicated prediction for any of the three bitches, unlike two perfectly drawn unbeaten runners who look set to dominate the early part of this semi-final. Benetekes Bocko has been displaying brilliant early pace and is ideally suited by Trap 2. It is reasonable to expect that he can lead on the inside again now and his path to the final appears straightforward, if he breaks he qualifies! Also perfectly drawn is Vancouver Shea and the fastest runner so far is the most likely to gain clear racing room. The obvious choice for victory, he can get first run at Bocko and can prove too strong in the home-straight. However, discount Drive On Tipp at your peril. Possessing smart early pace, if he did produce his best break, he could defend the rails and severely dent Bocko's challenge while bringing a winning opportunity for himself.

So to the bitches and the most certain aspect of their challenge now is that all three will be finishing with a wet sail. It's likely that there may only be one place up for grabs between the trio and where they are positioned at the top of the back-straight will dictate who claims it. The draw is key and being on the inside of her lady rivals may swing this for Coolavanny Pet. A tenacious performer, she may benefit greatly on the inner if the pair of dogs on her left produce their best early paced form as she would track them and claim a rails run in behind. Both Shewhodareswins and Higher Level are powerful from the second bend to home and the former can also produce a fast break. They will need to match Coolavanny Pet in the early exchanges to deliver a telling late blow but victory in their personal €5000 decider would likely bring an opportunity to race for €80,000 next week! Verdict: 6-2-3