Ireland Weekend Review - 21 April 2025

Faypoint Ranger is the Kirby champion

After setting a sub 28-second time in his semi-final win, Faypoint Ranger was sent off a warm order at 4/6 to land the Con & Annie Kirby Memorial Final. As befits a competition with a first prize of €80,000, it had been exceptional action from the very first heat. 

Graham Holland has been the man to beat in this competition in recent years, claiming his third Kirby in the last four. Only the sensational story of Knockeen Dazzler and his 17-year-old trainer Daniel O'Rahilly winning last year has interrupted the sequence. A third win in the race ties Holland with Pat Buckley as the most successful trainer in the history of the contest, albeit only a short one. 

The winner of eight of his 10 career starts, Faypoint Ranger went unbeaten though the competition. He faced challenges for the lead early as Pain Barrier popped out inside him but Faypoint Ranger edged to the front, cutting off Sole Mio at the bend. When that rival was forced to check, it set the winner away into clean air and he was never going to be caught from there. 

He did not need to go as quick as he did in the semis but still produced a very smart 28.05. Sole Mio kept on for second with Bubbly Charger getting on top in the battle for third. 

Select Stakes goes to Seven Beach

A fluent 28.41 opening round success was followed up by a 28.44 final display that saw Jennifer O'Donnell's son of Pestana run out a comfortable three-length winner of the Droopys Stud Select Stakes. The Irish Derby semi-finalist had his seeding changed from a wide last year to a middle for 2025. A win in the Tote Gold Cup at Shelbourne in February and his success at the weekend suggests that it has been a benefit to him.

His two main market rivals Glengar Martha and Road Exile both fluffed their lines at the start which made his task easier. Shanahee Boomer claimed the runner-up spot in just the 15th start of his career. Barefoot On Song kept on well to finish third and very much strikes as a competition dog, in the first three in 17 of his 22 career races, a strong-running type who will just keep qualifying.  

Shebetheone again sets Puppy Oaks standard

Shelbourne saw the semis of the Suncroft Festival Puppy Oaks on Saturday night. A half-sister to Seven Beach, Shebetheone will be tough to beat this coming weekend if she continues to produce these runs. She was set a target to aim at courtesy of Meenagh Minsk, getting on top swinging for home. Ballymac Riddle also booked her spot in the final back in third.

The other semi-final went to Ballymac Mint. She poached an early lead and saw her winning margin extended when the runner-up Braveheart Bambi was marked as awkward on the run-in. Scarlet Ella was the one to finish third, slightly hampered by the runner-up who had cut across Cashout Girl late on, she takes the final spot in the decider. 

Bambi went up the inside of the winner heading out to the pickup having finished five lengths behind. She clearly has all the pace in the world if it be channeled correctly. 

Air flies to Shelbourne Open 600 fastest heat win

Three heats of the Shelbourne Open 600 were also on the Saturday night card. Air Flyer saw off Callaway Knegare in the quickest of the three heats on a slow track. A 5.98 sectional was just the quickest of the qualifiers as well for the Rosemary Price-trained runner. 

Perhaps a lack of a recent run saw Ballinabola Jim picked up late on in his heat. A semi-finalist in the Irish Derby last year, he was bettered only by Bockos Diamond and Carmac King over 550y at the track last year. He was in front turning for home but found both Jacktavern Boom and Ballyhooly Bruno too strong late on.

The opening heat went to Killeshil Ranger. He led early and after winning races at Mullingar in March, he was unlikely to fall short in terms of stamina even over 600y. Glenlara Blue was the runner to chase him home.