Irish Performance of the Week - 7 April 2026
It was the quarter-final stage of the Con & Annie Kirby Memorial this week at Limerick as well as the final of the Easter Cup at Shelbourne as we look over the top runs at the Irish tracks.
Setanta sets the Kirby standard in the quarter-finals
The third round of the Kirby over the weekend produced the third different POW in Ballymac Setanta. It shows the hugely competitive nature of this competition with so many fighting for that top spot. The winner heads the English Derby market and is coming to the boil in this competition at just the right time.
Liam Dowling is responsible for the Cork winner as well with Solo And Go. Runner-up in the Irish Laurels last November, he filled the same spot behind Coloursaregreen in the Tote Gold Cup at Shelbourne in February. He has dropped back sprinting for his last two starts, with his 17.41 the quickest of the year so far over 330y.
Speaking of Shelbourne, it was the final of the Easter Cup at the weekend, won by Lemon Orla. Take nothing away from the winner but her 29.90 winning time was not strong enough to give her the POW title, especially as Droichead Nua set a new fastest of the year over 575y. There was also a quickest of the year from Ballymac Alloy over 525y but her 28.05 only came in an A2.
One of the two youngest on the list this week is Freeway Luna. Her Waterford success came on her debut, quickly slotting in as the fifth quickest of the year so far over 525y. Her dam Farranrory Megan was a multiple big race finalist, including in the Munster Oaks at this same track.
Another September 24 whelp to produce a smart run was Monalee Haruto at Enniscorthy. It was the third start of his career, a smart debut winner himself at the same track back in the middle of March. His time was the quickest of the year so far over 525y. He is the first of his dam's maiden litter to make the track, with a couple of the others clocking solid trials.
