Monarch is fastest in Kirby as Holland takes training honours

BOUNCING MONARCH, making his first start under the care of Michael O'Donovan having shown high-class form in the UK for David Fradgley, starred in round one of the €80,000 Con & Annie Kirby Memorial over 525 yards at Limerick.

The recent Winter Derby finalist at Monmore was not having his first Irish race having reached last year's valuable Denis Linehan Solicitors Open Unraced decider at Curraheen Park, and he looked right at home as he showed hs rivals, including odds-on Newinn Spot, a clean pair of heels in heat six.

He did move off a little when taking command at the first bend but then raced well clear along the back straight before comfortably holding the powerful finish of Ballymac Chantry by two lengths in 27.97sec.

He was the only greyhound to break the 28sec barrier, albeit Liam Dowling's outright favorite Ballymac Setanta clocked an even 28.00sec when getting his campaign under way with a front-running five lengths heat ten victory.

Both Dowling (Ballymac Duffle 28.09sec) and O'Donovan (Ballycowen Frank 28.04sec) doubled-up on the night, a feat matched by Paul Hennessy (Lennies Dynamic 28.05sec & Jaykay Fly 28.42sec).

However, Graham Holland, bidding for a fourth win in the last five Kirby stagings, was most successful trainer of all as he landed a treble through Bockos Gold (28.07sec) plus Ballydoyle Tina and Beanos Yank (both 28.09sec).

Nine greyhounds qualified for round two by virtue of being fastest fourth-placed qualifiers including a couple who were in the top ten in the outright betting in the shape of Blackstone Lexus and the aforementioned Newinn Spot.

Fourth-placed qualifiers - heat 1 Silverhill Bucko, heat 2 Droopys Map, heat 3 Jacktavern Bull, heat 4 Riverside Rex, heat 6 Newinn Spot, heat 8 Zenith Wizard, heat 9 Cushie Flytplan, heat 10 Blackstone Lexus, heat 13 Canavour Bucko.

Con & Annie Kirby Memorial 2nd round - live on sisracing.tv Saturday