Farah impresses as Ranger dominates in Kirby

TRAPRISE

The bulk of attentions within the world of greyhound racing have been fixed on Limerick over the past month for the 2025 Con & Annie Kirby Memorial and the youngest classic of the sport will conclude the chase for €80,000 in the richest juvenile race on the planet this Saturday.

A sole unbeaten finalist, the Graham Holland trained Faypoint Ranger produced the fastest performance of the event when dominating his semi-final on Saturday with a stunning 27.98 for the 525-yard trip and with only a level start needed for his early pace to dominate once again, can complete the JP & Noren McManus sponsored classic with a perfect set of figures.

There was plenty for local challengers to celebrate on that same fixture at Limerick and the Go Greyhound Racing A2 525 was a thrilling affair between two of those, but just prevailing for a second win from her three career outings was Terence & Tony Delaney’s Lady Farah (Malachi-Rifles Flash).

Breaking in mid-division from trap 4, the Pat Buckley trained June 2023 whelp was enjoying just her third career outing and tracking the early pacesetters following a moderate break, performed with much credit to emerge in third place with near eight lengths to recover at the top of the backstraight, as the Pat Steed handled Jokers Corner duelled for the lead at halfway. The latter Ballinaclough charge was forced to check at the third turn before switching to the outside and although striking the front in the home straight, momentum lost to that point afforded fresh hope to his Toomevara owned rival who all the while reduced her arrears within a strong running effort. Maintaining a powerful staying challenge from halfway, Lady Farah timed her winning run to perfection when getting up close home for a shorthead verdict over the gallant Jokers Corner in 28.74.

That winning time will bring a rise to A1 for her fourth career outing but expect the smart prospect to ably cope with further progress imminent!

Disappointment following that defeat was gratefully short lived for connections of the runner-up as the later Greyhounds Make Great Pets A2 550 saw the Maureen and Lorna Syndicate’s Cunnigar Mcrae (Good News-Boom Time) bounce back to winning ways in most impressive style.

Held on return from a four-month layoff last twice, the Pat Steed trained November 2021 whelp was back to his best break from trap 5 and repelling Aoife Loughnane’s Kilgarran Mickey for a one-length first bend lead, doubled that advantage to the backstraight. Shutting the door on an advancing rival at the third turn, Cunnigar Mcrae saw out the trip well, thereafter, posting 30.08 and should not fear a return to A1 on this evidence.

Alex impresses in Guilfoyle Friday brace

A five-race career start had been full of promise for Alice Guilfoyle’s Magical Alex (Dorotas Wildcat-Magical Poppy) and deservedly shedding his maiden tag at Shelbourne Park on Friday, the Moneygall prospect further confirmed exciting latent ability when a thrilling winner of the Barking Buzz App A1 525.

Initial outings had featured poor breaks with plenty of greenness in running but a close second at the same venue last time, the May 2023 whelp went one better on Friday despite headed in the early stages from trap 6 once again. Showing smart early pace before tracking a sharp rival into the opening bend at a one length deficit, the Pat Guilfoyle trained pup closed to within half a length to midway but challenging on the outside approaching the third turn, saw the gap extend to over a length while charting a wider path. Staying stoutly along the home straight however, Magical Alex struck the front in the dying strides for a neck verdict in 28.49 (+20).

Although rising to A0 next time, there still appears plenty more improvement to come as the substantial 78-pounder hones his tracking skills going forward.

Delivering an across the card double for the kennels on Friday, Donal & Pat Guilfoyle’s Magical Hope (Dorotas Wildcat-Magical Poppy) is likely to start favourite for the final of the W.G.O.B.A A4 525 Yard Stake this weekend following her highly eye-catching semi-final score.

A debut winner at Limerick, the May 2023 whelp missed her break from trap 5 and although passing rivals with slick dash on the run to the corner once in full stride, was forced to rally after a bump when in third place entering the second bend. Having performed with much credit to be within two lengths of the lead at halfway, Magical Hope further closed to the final turns and producing her challenge on the outside of the leader in the home stretch, she hit the line with a length in hand.

Open to further improvement in a final that will be just her fourth race, she will prove very tough to contain if swifter to stride from trap 3 this Saturday.

Ted makes a Splash at Galway

Further competition action at Galway last week saw both semi-finals in the W.G.O.B.A A8 525 Yard Stake claimed by local challengers and first into this week’s decider when shedding his maiden in a fourth career start was John O’Meara’s Ballygibbon Ted (Flaminmoneybags-Beannacht Cleo).

With early paced promise in previous outings, the September 2023 whelp began on terms from trap 1 before scampering to a two length lead at the corner with superior dash throughout the initial exchanges. Never sighting a rival while extending his winning margin with each stride from that point, Ballygibbon Ted improved to 29.76 (-10), the faster of the semi-finals.

Next up, Jamie Hogan’s Grangeviewsplash (Ballyhimikin Jet-Grangeview Nifty) also claimed her first win on Thursday when leading throughout the second semi-final for her Lorrha kennels.

Easing to a one length lead on the run to the corner following a level start from trap 4, the June 2023 whelp completed with a near carbon copy performance to that of her local rival in the opener, drawing steadily clear to a seven and a half-length winning verdict in 29.93 (-10).

Saturday’s showdown could well be a straight shootout between the semi winners and whoever turns first should convert. On last week’s evidence, Ballygibbon Ted is likely to start favourite!

King can rule in O’Connor decider

A number of other local kennels will contest the next round of competition this weekend including the Pat Guilfoyle trained pair of Magical On Fire and Scarlet Ella in the second round of the Puppy Oaks at Shelbourne, having qualified on the same Saturday card that saw Christopher Delaney’s Cagey Billy (Pestana-Lilly Lula) claim a fifth win from his latest six starts, posting a classy 31.02 in 575-yard victory.

However, the prestigious Sean O’Connor Memorial A1 525 Stake will conclude on the undercard to the Con & Annie Kirby this Saturday at Limerick and following another game qualifying performance when third in his semi-final, Abigail Morrissey’s Abigails King (King Elvis-Superb Beauty) will be back in his ideal trap 1 and holds realistic claims to land the €5000 decider if defending the rails on the run to the corner.