TRAPRISE - Fern eases Feshty’s woes at Limerick

The 2024 Con & Annie Kirby Memorial Stake was reduced to final stage at Limerick Greyhound Stadium on Saturday but harboured disappointment for a large swell of local support as the John Byrne trained Feshtys Mo saw her wonderful campaign come to an end in the second heat.

Failing to secure a crucial lead on the run to the bend having found just a moderate start from trap 3, crowding around the opening bends saw the early pacer contained in sixth place behind Merits Inclusion who posted 28.24 for dual Kirby winning trainer Brendan Matthews.

The opposing semi-final was claimed by Knockeen Dazzler in 28.23 for the 525-yard Kirby trip and with wide seeded early pacers enjoying a smart record in the event, the latter may get the job done in this Saturday’s final.

There was some compensation for John Byrne on the undercard to the Kirby as he had previously guided John McKenna’s Ballintoher Fern (Premier Fantasy-Sidarian Fern) to maiden victory in the Inter Track Betting A3 525.

Third following a slow start on her belated debut a fortnight earlier, the late starting April 2022 whelp was again just moderately to stride from trap 4 but battled well through crowding around the opening bends before reaching the backstraight in fourth position with seven lengths to recover. Highly impressive from that point, the Knockalton youngster halved her arrears to the third turn before a sustained effort saw Ballintoher Bud strike the front in the home stretch for strong staying victory. Posting 29.22 in a one length verdict, it would come as little surprise should she progress again without a rise up the grading table next time.

McRea rallies at 550

Concluding the high-profile Saturday action at the Dock Road venue on Saturday in the Limerick Sales A2 550, the Lorna & Maureen Syndicate’s Cunnigar McRea (Good News-Boom Time) made his return to winning ways in a thrilling second career success.

Progressing for his latest return from a layoff, the Pat Steed trained November 2021 whelp was having just his ninth career start when breaking well from trap 6 but would cede early advantage to a sharp early paced rival when six lengths adrift on the run to halfway. Staying strongly from that point while repelling fellow strong runners to the closing bends, the Ballinaclough winner stealthily reduced arrears to the home straight and striking the front in the dying strides, registered a most game shorthead victory in 30.32.

Without an upgrade next time, Cunnigar McRea can be fancied while likely to edge closer to his career best form.

Commencing the winning action at Limerick on the regular Thursday SIS fixture last week, Eileen Kennedy’s Dixies Jet (Droopys Jet-Live Queen) ended a barren spell when claiming his fourth career win in the Greyhounds Make Great Pets A3 525.

Very lightly raced as a September 2019 whelp, the Ballinaclough stalwart was last successful in his career best performance at A4 level back in March of 2023 when reaching his grading table high of A0. Below that level of form in higher company since, Jet spent eight months of last season on the sidelines but had hinted at a resurgence when second at A3 level last time out.

Again, slow to stride from trap 3 on Thursday however, victory hopes looked ambitious when trailing all rivals throughout the early exchanges and remained unlikely when all of nine lengths adrift of the leaders at the top of the backstraight despite advancing to fourth position. Always strong at the standard distance, the Kennedy winner did begin to reduce his deficit to the third bend and with a remarkable sustained effort, visually impressed when drawing alongside the pacesetters off the final turn. Extending to an ultimately cosy one length victory, Dixies Jet posted 29.49 in thrilling fashion and without an upgrade next time, may well follow up if securing precious clear passage once again.

Staying at the Treaty venue, a small card on Friday in conjunction with the 2023 Greyhound Racing Awards reception saw Pat Guilfoyle’s Magical Orlando (Burgess Bucks-Amazing Alice) conclude the racing entertainment with a fastest of the night performance in the Congratulations To All 2023 Award Recipients A4 525.

Again, headed in the early stages from trap 2 as he had been in three previous outings, the June 2022 whelp paced up well along the rails on the approach to the first bend and striking the front through crowding while turning, powered clear to the backstraight. Reducing the race to virtual solo spin thereafter, Magical Orlando struck the line in 28.70 with nine lengths to spare and though rising to A1 for his next outing, may well find further improvement which would come as little surprise given his illustrious breeding!

Ten makes nine in McKenna double

Another local stalwart making an overdue return to the winner’s circle over last weekend was Tom Bourke’s Ballygraigue Ten (Grangeview Ten-Grangeview Vicie) as he concluded the Friday fixture at Galway with a ninth career win in the Lucky Last A2 525 as part of an across the card double for trainer Vincent McKenna.

Ending a frustrating period since successful in the same grade last September, the July 2021 whelp began on terms from trap 4 before superior early pace saw the Borrisokane stalwart lead by a length around the opening bends. Maintaining a strong gallop thereafter, Ballygraigue Ten dominated throughout a three-length winning verdict, posting 29.06 (-10) and will hold every chance to repeat without an upgrade next time.

Concluding the Clonmel fixture on the same Friday night, the kennels guided Paul Pardy & Vincent McKenna’s So Its Trouble (Deerjet Sydney-Lillies Supreme) to victory in the opening round of the Sorley O'Dornan Memorial A3 Guys & Dolls 525-Yard Stake.

Backing-up maiden A9 victory last time, the June 2022 whelp displayed pleasing battling qualities when striking the front at the third bend for a one and a half length winning verdict in 29.60 (-10). With continued improvement highly likely at the outset of her career, So Its Trouble can take qualification claims to this coming Sunday’s second round heats of the warm event which will be just a fifth career start for the McKenna trained pup.