The West’s awake in Hogan Kirby challenge

The richest juvenile race in the world continues to thrill patrons of Limerick Greyhound Stadium with another sizzling session of heats in last Saturday’s second round where once again our local representatives reinforced their claims in the €160,000 Con & Annie Kirby Memorial.

Following a brilliant victory in the opening round, Michael Hogan’s Grangeview West (Zero Ten/Portumna West) was first to enter the action in Heat 2 when a leading fancy having posted a stunning 28.25 for the 525 yard Kirby trip a week prior and the April pup did not disappoint.

Reacting well at trap rise, she would reach full stride quicker than her rivals and displayed smart early dash on the run to the corner when repelling market rival Mucky Brae to turn with a length in hand. Hotly pursued by that same rival to the back-straight, she would continue to dictate but saw her lead reduced to the minimum when almost joined at the closing turns. Rallying however, the Lorrha charge refused to be denied and just as she had done in the previous round, skipped readily clear once more when straightening in the home-straight. Displaying admirable resolve, Grangeview West powered to the line while posting a fast 28.56 in a two and a half-length defeat of the strong finishing Redzer Ardfert, safely booking her place in this week’s quarter-finals.

Fastest of the opening round when giving the track record a real scare, Liam Dowling’s Ballymac Tas would again set the standard on Saturday, posting 28.23, so these opening efforts from Grangeview West put her right in the Kirby mix with just 24 runners remaining and she will be joined in the quarter-finals by the Pat Guilfoyle trained Cabra Firmino (Kinloch Brae/Cabra Smokey).