TRAPRISE - Brilliant Boy bounces back in Explosive Kirby quarter final
From behind closed doors, the 2021 renewal of the Con & Annie Kirby Memorial is certainly doing its best to deliver thrilling entertainment to a captivated audience watching from afar.
Now down to just twelve aspiring champions following an unpredictable quarterfinal session in keeping with what went before, it was the stars of round one who shone brightest at Limerick on Saturday as the Pat Guilfoyle trained Explosive Boy climbed back to the top of the Kirby market.
Igniting the event with a stunning 28.08 for the 525-yards on opening night, the Peter Sutcliffe owned Explosive Boy (Good News-Delightful Girl) was made to settle for a qualifying third when not so swift from traps in the second round.
Facing a daunting task from a first time draw in Trap 6 for the opening quarterfinal, the Guilfoyle star did, however, bounce back to his sparkling best when finding a crucial fast break to immediately take command of a hot heat. Establishing a near three length lead before reaching the opening turn, blistering early pace saw Explosive Boy stretch to a five-length advantage over Luminous Light at halfway. We could have been forgiven for declaring the Guilfoyle youngster a winner at that point but with powerful finisher De Machine advancing to second place at the third bend, the verdict was still in the balance as that Brendan Matthews powerhouse closed steadily into the home stretch. Remaining resolute out front however, Explosive Boy kept hopes of a first Kirby title for the Moneygall kennels well and truly alive when fending off De Machine by half a length. Posting a sublime fastest of the round 28.15, Explosive Boy is now just 2/1 with the bookies in his chase for the €80,000 first prize.
Finding the flanks in the draw each week, Explosive Boy will contest the opening semi-final this Saturday when back in the Trap 1 box which brought both victory and defeat in the opening two rounds.With most to fear in the early strides from 28.40 winner Agent Stanley in Trap 4, it is fair to assert that the heat once again revolves around the breaking of our local hope. With an adept start, Explosive Boy can defend his rails pitch for a lead into the backstraight and he is confidently expected to negotiate his way to the final, at the very least!
Occupying Trap 1 in the second semi-final will be the wonderful Singalong Sally who was next best on Saturday last when also bouncing back from defeat for a brilliant five-length verdict over Kevin Loughnane’s Benalmadena Roxy in 28.21.
The Juvenile Classic heroine is one of the most exciting bitches in racing and is seeking to deliver a fourth Kirby title for the Cappawhite kennels of Pat Buckley. A confirmed rails runner, she is the obvious selection for the second semi, despite the presence of quarter-final winner Ballymac Belvult and the afore mentioned, fellow fast finisher, De Machine.
The entire semi-final meeting at Limerick, along with the Shelbourne Open 600 Final programme at Shelbourne Park, can be viewed live this Saturday on the newly launched Talking Dogs TV. The broadcast can be accessed by visiting Greyhound Racing Ireland website at: griireland.ie.
Ballingarry Boss is Coolest at Galway
Crossing the line with victory in the bag more often than the Connacht Rugby team at the Sportsground in Galway, our sporting cohabitants in the west could do well to take direction from the true boss of the Galway venue, the Four Culchies Syndicate’s Coolemount Boss (Iso Octane-Coolemount Bally), who completed a high quality hattrick when landing Friday’s A1 525 in typically game fashion.
Trained in Ballingarry by Michael Rafferty, Coolemount Boss has now had ten career starts but with seven of those coming on the College Road circuit, he has suffered defeat in just one of those while becoming the most prolific racer at the Galway track.
Successful in the same grade last time, a suitable draw on the fence saw the March 2019 youngster take command of the race on the run to the first bend and turning with a length in hand, he bravely defended that advantage to the home straight while persistently challenged by a familiar foe. Extending on the run to the line while seeing out the trip stoutly, Coolemount Boss posted a career best of 28.76 when two and a half lengths in advance of Cloneyogan Blaze who was chasing the Ballingarry charge home for the third time in succession!
With the track rated as normal on the night and thus missing a usual -20 rating, Coolemount Boss narrowly escapes a rise to A0 for his next outing and given his current form, none will wish to face the hugely exciting prospect while seeking a four-timer in the same A1 grade next time.
It was another busy week for local kennels with Pat Guilfoyle guiding Magical Poppy (Confident Rankin-Cabra Twister) to the second round of the Puppy Oaks at Shelbourne Park as the exciting young starlet posted 28.52 while claiming the opening heat.
The kennels also guided Akay Forty-Seven (Holdem Spy-Mustang Vienna) to the final of the Killeacle Dowling Memorial A1 570 Final at Tralee when a length second to Floco in 31.03 for owners Sean Bourke & Labour leader Alan Kelly; we will catch up on their fortunes next week.
The Guilfoyle kennels were also on the scoresheet at Thurles when the wonderful Magical Jasper (Head Bound-Laughil Louise) registered a hattrick at the circuit, claiming his Open 525 in 29.35 (-40) while leading throughout and that came after a hugely promising debut from Christy Fitzgerald’s Cagey Tom (Pat C Sabbath-Forest Tess) as the Roscrea pup left a very pleasing impression while claiming his ON2 525 in 29.82 (-40).
Cagey Tom will no doubt feature here again with a promising career ahead but at the opposite end of his racing campaign, Paul Hogan’s Five Alley Crakl (Skywalker Puma-Maldini Pops) returned arguably the most pleasing victory at Thurles on Saturday as the veteran again confirmed his immense appetite for racing on the approach to his fifth birthday.
Successful in A3 grade a Clonmel in February, the September 2016 whelp only lost out by a shorthead at that venue in his double bid, but switching to Thurles for Saturday’s A3 570, the old boy atoned in brave fashion.
Slow to stride from Trap 1, the Hogan stalwart relished the long run to the first bend and securing clear passage on the rail while turning, settled the race on the run to halfway. Fending off a strong staying rival late on, the evergreen Five Alley Crakl secured his fourteenth race win while posting 32.02 (-40).