IRISH SHINE AT TOWCESTER

Ian Fortune

Ireland will have three representatives in the final of the Betgoodwin & JR Racing Maiden Derby at Towcester after Hello Diego and Val Tashadelek came home in front in their respective heats, while Lennies Desire also progressed.

Hello Diego was 8-15 for the second heat and duly obliged, reeling in the early leader Ballybough Nutz around the last two bends before easing on to record a straightforward two and a half length verdict over the long-time leader in 29.05.

Val Tashadelek burst his way to the front on the turn in Heat 3, showing fine early speed to push the fast-starting Essjay Oakley out of the way. Lennies Desire mistimed the start slightly and found traffic on the bend but recovered well to come through for second.

The Graham Holland trained Val Tashadelek was always in control, however, and went on to see off his compatriot by six and a half lengths in 29.07.

Betgoodwin & JR Racing Maiden Derby

Final draw

1 LENNIES DESIRE

2 BALLYBOUGH NUTZ

3 BURROWS CHARM

4 VAL TASHADELEK

5 HELLO DIEGO (M)

6 INDIAN BONNIE (M)

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A HAT TRICK FOR GRAHAM

The success of Val Tashadelek was part of a treble for Graham Holland, which was completed by Swords Don and Yorkie Ollie in their respective Derby Trial Stakes.

Yorkie Ollie went fastest when making all to win by over four lengths in 28.86, while Swords Don won in similar fashion, albeit in a far slower time.

Leading before the turn, he justified 2-5 favouritism by three and a quarter lengths in 29.39.

Faypoint Harvey went desperately close to providing Graham Holland with a fourth winner, only to finish a short head behind Rackethall Brute. Faypoint Harvey briefly hit the front on the run in after finally getting around the long-time leader Ballymac Senan but he was chinned on the line by a short head.