PAUL FASTEST IN KILKENNY’S LENNIES DERBY
Ian Fortune
The opening round of the Lennies Derby A1 was the highlight of Friday’s card at Kilkenny and honour of going fastest went to Boylesports Paul as he ran out a ready winner of Heat 4 which was on paper the hottest of the round.
The Paul Hennessy trained son of Ballymac Cashout and Magical Mary clearly didn’t care for reputations, however, as he left a talented field chasing shadows. A litter brother to Oaks champion Lennies Ash, he quickened up well to lead into the bend and proceeded to turn the race into a procession.
John Boyle’s promising tracker went on to see off Mission Control by five and a half lengths in 29.00 on a track rated .40 slow.
VERNON GOES QUICK
Willie Hanlon’s Ballygur Vernon emerged on top in the opening heat, posting 29.06.
Cagey Billy was fastest into stride and led the field into the turn but Ballygur Vernon made the most of his inside line to nudge the leader out of the way on the corner.
The son of Grangeview Ten and Crottys Act eased on to take charge by the second corner and proceeded to make all thereafter to win by two and a half lengths from Berry On Faya in 29.06.
TORNADO FLIES
Hey Tornado ran well to take Heat 2 for Collette and Paddy Flynn.
A progressive son of Jacob Tashadelek and Long Kiwi, he went up strongly from six and ran a fine corner to go around in front despite taking a bump. Pulling clear to halfway, Hey Tornado coasted home four lengths clear of Ambitious Sussie in 29.26.
JOHNJOE TOO SHARP
Da Bould Johnjoe justified favouritism in Heat 3, getting loose after a couple of strides for trained Mick English and owners Thomas Farrell and Martin Fortune.
The son of Grangeview Ten and Me Penny may have cut inwards from boxes but was always in charge. Maintaining a strong gallop throughout, Da Bould Johnjoe emerged a comfortable four and a half length winner in 29.13.
HONOUR IMPRESSES
Droopys Honour may have been one of the slowest heat winners but was also one of the most impressive, showing real pace and strength to open her account in Heat 5.
Trained by Murt Leahy for Sean Dunphy, the daughter of Droopys Addition and Droopys Curio was only fourth into the bend behind the fast-starting Glengar Blitz but she ran a wonderful bend to move second.
This put her in the perfect position to strike. Displayed fine pace down the back straight, she slipped up the inside of the leader into the third turn. From there she eased on to win by two lengths from Oriental Diamond in 29.33.
SILVERSTAR LEAVES IT LATE
Group Silverstar (Ballymac Bolger/ Expert Group) displayed her strength in Heat 6 to get up on the line to deny long-time leader Rallying Billy.
A touch outpaced into the turn, she was only fifth on the corner but stayed tight to the fence to move second before the back straight.
Rallying Billy remained out front but he is vulnerable from the third turn and David Hanley’s Group Silverstar took full advantage, pouncing on the run in. In a dramatic finish, Group Silverstar up the inside of her rivals in the closing yards to win by a neck in 29.47.
OTHERS RUNS WILD
The Other Wild produced a flawless display in the final heat for Jennifer O’Donnell and the Born Wild Syndicate.
A top tracker through his career, the son of Ballymac Wild and Whitings Gift was electric in the early yards, quickening into a decisive lead.
Biorra Prince was soon in chase and did all he could to close but The Other Wild was always in charge despite tiring a little on the run in. The Other Wild emerged a length and a half scorer over Biorra Prince in 29.16.