ASH WITH A FAMOUS OAKS VICTORY
Ian Fortune
Lennies Ash raced to a famous victory in the Sporting Press Irish Oaks at Shelbourne Park on Saturday night. In doing so, she completed the most incredible double for Paul Hennessy and Lee Craze, just a week on from the brilliant victory of Lennies Eddie in the English Derby at Towcester.
On a night when their English Derby champion was presented to the crowd along with the magnificent English Derby trophy, there was a certain inevitability that Lennies Ash was going to go close to claiming her own classic victory.
This was an Oaks final for the ages with three bitches locked in battle around the last two bends and up the home straight, while the judge was also called upon to separate the winner and gallant runner-up Clan Sapphire.
KAMALA SENT OFF FAVOURITE
Ballymac Kamala was sent to traps the 11-10 favourite, ahead of Clan Sapphire and Ballymac Gwennie at 4-1 and Rapido Ivy at 9-2. Lennies Ash was returned a very big industry SP of 14-1, although that price was never available on track. Highview Carl the rank outsider at 16-1.
From the start this was a hugely competitive contest. Clan Sapphire was fastest into stride form the inside box but Ballymac Kamala was soon on terms and edged into a narrow advantage to the bend.
Behind the front two a wall of four greyhounds, all battling or a clear run at the leaders around the turn. The complexion of the race changed on the bend as Ballymac Kamala attempted to cut across Clan Sapphire.
The pair bumped, costing Ballymac Kamala the lead. Clan Sapphire now found herself in front entering the back straight, a length ahead of Ballymac Kamala with Lennies Ash making the most of a trap two draw to slip around in third, narrowly ahead of Rapido Ivy in fourth.
THE RACE BEGAN TO DEVELOP
Many would have expected Ballymac Kamala to wear down the leader into the third turn but Clan Sapphire was proving a tough nut to crack. Meanwhile, Lennies Ash was running powerfully in a pocked behind the front two.
At the third turn Clan Sapphire held a half length lead over Ballymac Kamala with Lennies Ash the same distance back in third and now in search of daylight. The stage was set for a grandstand finish.
Ballymac Kamala drifted off the final turn, resulting in a passing lane between herself and Clan Sapphire. The latter continued to dig deep but Lennies Ash now had the racing room she craved.
A WONDERFUL FINISH
Displaying massive pace and strength, the daughter of Ballymac Cashout and Magical Mary came on the outside of Clan Sapphire, between the front duo to launch a decisive challenge. Closing with each stride, Lennies Ash joined Clan Sapphire on the line. The pair flashed past the post locked in battle, stopping the clock in 28.39.
Moments later it was declared that Lennies Ash had done it. In just her twelfth career start, the rapidly improving bitch had become Oaks champion. The gap between herself and a gallant Clan Sapphire was a head with Ballymac Kamala just a half length further back.
There was joyous scenes on the presentation area. Lee Craze was front and centre but, unlike Lennies Eddie, he shared this victory with Brendan Cocoman and Ian Cunningham. The three co-owners of the brilliant Lennies Ash were understandably over the moon with the display of their star.
Paul Hennessy was joined by his family, celebrating a fourth Oaks title for the Black and Amber Kennels. Lennies Ash may have been a big price but she is most certainly a brilliant Oaks winner. She did it the hard way and one can’t help but feel there is so much to come from her in the future.
Pat Loughlin President ICC presents the trophy to Aisling Byrne after Lennies Ash won the 2026 Sporting Press Online Edition Irish Oaks. Also included are owners Lee Craze, Brendan Cocoman, Ian Cunningham, trainer Paul Hennessy, Susan, Sarah and Kevin Hennessy and the winning connections. Pic: Imelda Grauer
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Shelbourne Summer Cup
SPOT’S SUPERB SUMMER SUCCESS
Newinn Spot was a brilliant winner of the Shelbourne Summer Cup, returning to his very best to fulfil some of the huge promise he displayed earlier in the year in the Rural Kennels Open Unraced at Clonmel.
Known for his early speed, he was at his very sharpest in the opening exchanges and quickly struck the front after a flying start from two. Shanahee Boomer and Carrick Becks immediately took up the chase but there was a real purpose to the movements of Newinn Spot.
The Graham Holland trained son of Tommy Shelby and Newinn Mimi was electric. Kenny Glen’s charge continued to make every inch despite the best efforts of Shanahee Boomer in second. Staying on well, the June ’24 whelp went on to strike the line two lengths clear of Shanahee Boomer in a very fast 28.13. Carrick Becks was another two lengths adrift in third.
Richard O'Regan presents the trophy to breeder Shari Anne O'Donnell after Newinn Spot won The Shelbourne Summer Cup AO 525. Also included are Timothy Holland - son of trainer Graham Holland and Dylan Brennan Racing Manager. Pic: Imelda Grauer
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Donal Beatty Memorial Corn Cuchulainn
DESIRE PRODUCES MASSIVE RUN
To top off their week, Paul Hennessy and Lee Craze also took great joy out of watching Lennies Desire post a stunning 41.01 to set a brilliant standard in the opening round of the Donal Beatty Memorial Corn Cuchulainn.
The hugely fast son of Signet Ace and Free From Desire was in a league of his own in the opening heat, flashing from four to dominate from the outset. Building a lead to the third turn, he simply cruised home, all of nine lengths clear of Deerjet Matilda. Snowy April was best of the remainder, some six and a half lengths further adrift.
To highlight the incredible quality of the display of Lennies Desire, only Redzer Ardfert the track record holder has ever gone faster.
SILENT TOO HOT TO HANDLE
Tom Nolan’s Glengar Silent (Droopys Sydney/ Singalong Sally) may have been stepping into unknown territory in Heat 2, making his six-bend debut, but he made it look all very comfortable. Barntick Bucko got first run on the favourite and led until close to the fifth bend before Glengar Silent took over.
Once doing so, the Pat Buckley trained powerhouse eased into a decisive advantage. Priceless On Ice came from well back to close rapidly in the latter stages but Glengar Silent won by a length and a half in 41.44.
CHANTRY IN CRUISE CONTROL
The final heat saw Ballymac Chantry cruise to the front down the back straight for a comfortable victory. Liam Dowling’s brilliant daughter of Ballymac Cooper and Ballymac Wisdom found herself on the outside of the pack into the bend and could only turn fourth but she quickly moved through the gears to go second third behind the early leaders Jaypees Cooper and Singalong Polly.
The last named hit the front into the third turn but the writing was on the wall when Ballymac Chantry moved second early in the back straight. Closing the gap quickly, Ballymac Chantry moved past Singalong Polly on the fifth bend before staying on well to score by four and a half lengths in 41.59. Singalong Polly was second with Highview Air another two lengths adrift in third.
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Maiden Derby
REX ROARS TO SET MAIDEN DERBY STANDARD
The opening heat of the maiden Derby went the way of Riverside Rex as he made the most of an inside pitch to shoot to the front early. Once doing so, the Graham Holland trained son of Swords Rex and Glenagat Mildred always seemed to have a bit in hand.
Ballymac Malinas did emerge from the pack and briefly threatened passing halfway only to run out of steam. Instead, Uncle Keith ran on well to take second but Dave Simpson and Matthew Curtis’ Riverside Rex was always in command, crossing the line two and a half lengths to the good in 29.45. A CHARDA SEIZES OPPORTUNITY
A Charda came home in front in the second heat, somehow clearing opening bend traffic on his inner from a wide draw. Left in front at the turn, he was challenged from halfway by Jacktavern Bull but always seemed to have the measure of his rival.
Trained by Vincent McKenna for A Charda Gael Syndicate, the son of Orchestrate and Highview Moment kicked again at the final turn to see off Jacktavern Bull by two lengths in 29.77. Sleight Of Hand was another two lengths back in third.
FIONA IMPRESSES FROM THE FRONT
After being knocked out of the TIME Cup at Limerick for going too quick last weekend, there was no judgement on Magical Fiona as she came in as a reserve to run away with Heat 3 for Pat Guilfoyle.
Drawn in three, the daughter of Ballymac Cashout and Right Nicki flashed from traps and contained Yacht View into the turn to dictate the pace into the back straight.
It was all one-way traffic thereafter with the September ’24 whelp moving with real purpose throughout to eventually see off Gaytime Teco by two and a half lengths in 29.58. Yacht View was three lengths away in third.
HARVARD TOP OF THE CLASS
Pat Grimes’ Harvard Square posted a brilliant 28.09 when last seen in racing action and he returned with a fine front-running display in the final heat. The Shaun Conway trained son of King Sheeran and Footfield Siren broke smartly and was in front from the opening stride but he was kept honest throughout by the persistent West Coast Cool.
The latter attempted to challenge into the third turn but had to check as the door was closed. It was enough to secure victory for Harvard Square, who stayed on to beat his rival by a length in 29.72.
Undercard
FAME TOO POWERFUL IN FINALE
Racing ended with Coolemount Fame proving too strong for his rivals, including long-time leader Harlequin Gee Up. There was traffic on the turn, caused as Harlequin Gee Up forced his way to the front but he was immediately under pressure when the strong running Coolemount Fame slipped around in second.
Motoring the down the back straight, the son of Orchestrate and Highview Moment quickly bridged the gap between him and the leader to lead into the third turn. Anthony Rooney and Owen Sweetman’s Coolemount Fame drew right away to eventually score by six lengths in 29.59.
GASTON TAKES OPENER
Gaston was on the mark in the opener, an A1 575, showing pace into the bend to get first run.
Zippy Major moved second into the back straight and closed all the way to the line but there was no catching the winner. Owned by the Heeney Goff Syndicate, the son of Lenson Bocko and Vigorous Orla held off his rival by a half length in 31.18.