Derby-winning team complete memorable week with Irish Oaks triumph

Youngster finishes best for 14-1 Sporting Press-backed success

PAUL HENNESSY and owner Lee Craze completed an incredible week when their youngster Lennies Ash landed the legendary Gowran handler a fourth success in the event when winning the €25,000 Sporting Press Irish Oaks Final at Shelbourne Park on Saturday.

Just seven days on from Lennies Eddie's success in the Star Sports & Orchestrate Ltd. English Greyhound Derby Final at Towcester, it was the turn of 14-1 chance Lennies Ash, part-owned by Craze as a member of the Cocoman-Craze-Ian-Syndicate, to land a somewhat surprise but deserved win as the September 2024 daughter of Ballymac Cashout and Magical Mary produced a strong-running display to grab Francie Murray's Clan Sapphire on the line.

The latter and the Liam Dowling-trained hot favourite Ballymac Kamala had duelled for the lead from the get-go with Clan Sapphire holding the inside line despite persistent pressure from Ballymac Kamala who was led from the boxes by Clan Sapphire but paced up to narrowly head her rival at turn, but then found Murray's bitch in the way as she turned the corner.

The pair came together but Clan Sapphire was able to use the inside line to best effect and, while Ballymac Kamala came again, Lennies Ash was running strongly in behind the pair and raced up the home straight for a head win over Clan Sapphire in 28.39.

Lennies Ash is a half-sister of Hennessy's Tote Gold Cup winner Coloursaregreen and Pat Guilfoyle's Tralee record-breaker Magical Luka, who is currently in the UK with Kevin Hutton for a crack at the Arc Silver Salver at Central Park.

"It's another great litter bred by Pat (Guilfoyle) and we're delighted to have won two major competitions with runners from the dam line but, yes, what a week!" said Hennessy, who added: "We knew Ash was running well and, importantly, still improving. She was the youngest in the field and a pup of course, but she took her chance well when the gap opened for her off the last bend.

"I'm delighted once again for Lee (Craze) and for Brendan Cocoman and Ian Cunningham who all share her. Lee had actually arrived on Friday with the English Derby trophy and, while we were hopeful of Ash running well, didn't expect to come away the Oaks trophy, too!

"It had already been a great evening. We brought Lennies Eddie along to the track with the the trophy and Shelbourne made a fuss of us. We had a nice picture with Eddie and the English Derby trophy, along with Lee and both families. A couple of hours later we were back on the podium with Ash - a great night all round."

Victory for Lennies Ash followed previous wins in the Irish bitches' Classic for Hennessy with April Surprise (1998), Locnamon Bridie (2013) and Jaytee Jordan (2018).

Saturday's final at the Dublin HQ was the 35th running under the Sporting Press sponsorship of an event first run at Harold's Cross in 1930.

Not to rest on their laurels, in the very next race after the Sporting Press Oaks Final, Hennessy and owner Craze were back in the winner's enclosure as Lennies Desire won his heat of the Donal Beatty Memorial Corn Cuchulainn in 41.01 for the 750yd trip.

The other Corn Cuchulainn heats were won by Pat Buckley's Glengar Silent (41.44) and Liam Dowling's Ballymac Chantry (41.59).

The Shelbourne Summer Cup Final also featured on the card at Shelbourne and went to the Graham Holland-trained Newinn Spot who grabbed the €10,000 prize in all-the-way style for owner Kenny Glen in 28.13 for the 525yd trip.