TRAPRISE - Kuba keeps Kirby hopes alive in semi-final shake-up at Limerick

On the face of bare results in the semi-finals of the 2022 Con & Annie Kirby Memorial Stake at Limerick from Saturday, it could appear to have returned surprising outcomes but in truth, any of the remaining twelve runners ahead of those semi clashes could have been a worthy outright champion and in the wake of what proved a treacherous assignment for Magical Kuba, all connected will be relieved that our local challenger will take his place in the €80,000 showdown this week.

Contesting the opening semi-final from a suitable trap 6, the Pat Guilfoyle trained Magical Kuba would not repeat his sizzling fastest of the competition performance from a week earlier when much slower to stride this time. A revelation over the past two weeks, it was the Peter Cronin trained Kildare who broke best and the youngster who made a baptism of fire when debuting in the first round of the Kirby, led throughout a brilliant 28.21 victory over Swords Rex, who chased the winner home at a one and a half-length deficit.

The heat had been reduced to five runners with the withdrawal of The Other Kobe and left to battle out the third qualifying place from the crown of the opening bends, Da Bold Freddie led Magical Kuba by near two lengths before the Guilfoyle hopeful ranged up on that rival’s outside at the closing turns. Ceding ground while widest throughout, a brave and strong running effort was needed in the home-straight and it was only in the dying stride of a protracted tussle that Magical Kuba rescued his Kirby hopes with a head to spare over Da Bold Freddie while six lengths adrift of the winner.

The second semi-final proved equally treacherous for some big fancies but back to winning ways, Robert Gleeson’s Droopys Edison took advantage of bumping amongst Pat Buckley runners to lead home Scooby Prince by two lengths in 28.47. Cruelly checked out of the lead by his kennelmate Ballinabola Ed off the second bend, Lenson On Ice joined Glengar Scholar on the eliminated list in a heat which could scarcely have gone worse for a trio of Pat Buckley challengers but eventually filling third through extensive bumping was Tralee track record holder Ballinabola Ed, who will bid to deliver a fourth title for the event’s most successful trainer.

Final Draw: 1) Swords Rex 2) Scooby Prince 3) Droopys Edison 4) Kildare (m) 5) Ballinabola Ed (m) 6) Magical Kuba (w)

A repeat of semi-final form would give just one result in Saturday’s final and Kildare holds every opportunity to complete his remarkable career start with Kirby victory. However, Swords Rex remains a threat despite defeat to that rival last weekend now back in his ideal draw and of course, our local hope Magical Kuba does still remain the fastest runner of the 2022 Kirby.

Any victory will be hard fought and Magical Kuba will need a return to his best break, as when posting 28.02 in quarter final victory, and almost assured of clear passage if doing so, one of the few major prizes to elude his trainer could well make its way to Moneygall!

Taylormade for Thursday four-timer

The big night of Kirby semi-finals was not the only action to spark interest for local kennels at Limerick last week and the regular Thursday fixture proved a happy hunting ground with no less than four winners to cheer as Jessica Reddan & Dominic O’Brien’s Taylormade Hazit (Skywalker Farloe-Cabra Zara) greatly impressed while shedding his maiden tag at the second time of asking.

The John Byrne trained July 2020 pup made a pleasing debut over 525 yards when second a fortnight earlier and having displayed smart early pace on that occasion, a switch to the 350-yard sprint trip at Limerick proved ideal as he dominated his S6 event. Moderately to stride from trap 4 when a half-length adrift throughout the initial exchanges, Taylormade Hazit readily outpaced rivals once in full stride and taking a one-length lead to the corner, stretched clear thereafter for a commanding five and a half length winning verdict. Posting a swift 19.02, a rise to S2 for his next sprint outing should hold little fear with further improvement highly likely.

Adding a second winner on the undercard to the Kirby on Saturday, connections completed an impressive weekly double when presenting very sharp on debut, Jessica Reddan & Dominic O’Brien’s Taylormade Art (Magical Bale-Patterdale Lena) flew from traps in Saturday’s ON3 525 and left a hugely pleasing impression with pace all round in her five and a half-length victory. Posting 29.39, the September 2020 pup looks a runner to follow closely over coming weeks and months.

Back to Thursday and commencing the local haul when claiming an overdue third career win in the night’s A6 525, young Donagh Walsh Forde’s Ballykildea Ave (Sir Paddy-Barna Magpie) thoroughly impressed when getting up in the shadow of the line in a thrilling encounter.

Leaving a host of frustrating efforts behind, the Liam Walsh trained April 2019 whelp turned closer to the pace this time when breaking on terms from trap 6 and despite a minor bump when tackling the opening bends on the outside, had little more than two lengths to recover on the pacesetter when third to the top of the backstraight. Always strong at the standard trip, Ballykildea Ave steadily reduced her arrears to the home stretch before striking the front close home, posting 29.55 in a three-quarter length verdict.

The following A5 525 was an even tighter affair and extending a good run of form for the Ballinaclough kennels of Pat Steed, the Mary Ellens Gang Syndicate’s Plus Tax (Candlelight King-Cnoc Rosie) went back-to-back on the Dock Road when converting his highly plausible opportunity. Successful when contesting above his grading at A4 level last time, the February 2019 whelp battled bravely through bumping on the run to the corner and earned a tight one-length lead to the backstraight. Fending off all rivals thereafter, he just about retained enough resolve for a neck verdict in 29.39 and will clearly not fear a rise to A4 in his hat-trick attempt next time.

The second of Thursday’s A6 525 contests delivered another maiden victory as Cathal McLoughney’s Liosgarbh Orla (Droopys Buick-Liosgarbh Betty) chalked a first mark in the win column when taking advantage of her ease from A5. Only narrowly denied when last contesting in A6 grade, the July 2020 pup broke behind the pace from trap 2 but perched behind a brace of pacesetters to the opening bend, sneaked a run on the rails to pass that bumping duo on the run to the backstraight. One length to the good at halfway, the Ardcroney winner doubled that margin when staying stoutly thereafter and posting 29.55, returns to A5 grade for her next outing.