DIEGO GIVES HENNESSY A SECOND MAIDEN DERBY SUCCESS

Ian Fortune

Twelve months on from the brilliant success of Jaytee Etienne in the 2024 renewal, Paul Hennessy again sent out the winner of the Betgoodwin & JR Racing Maiden Derby at Towcester on Sunday afternoon with Paul Hynes’ Hello Diego showing all his power and pace to land the £10,000 prize.

Ballybough Nutz set a strong gallop for much of the way but was always going to struggle to contain those in behind, which included Hello Diego. Hello Diego went up in second spot only to steer a middle path before entering the back straight in fourth.

Predictably, Hello Diego began to move through the gears into the third turn and he then kicked off the final turn to emerge on top. String the front inside the final twenty yards, Hello Diego would fly to the line to win by a length in 28.97. Former Murt Leahy trained inmate Ballybough Butz was second with Lennies Desire running on strongly, to give Paul Hennessy a one-three in the final, a further length back.

Ireland’s third representative Val Tashadelek was out of luck in the contest, finishing fifth. All three Irish trained runners will now surely take their place in the Star Sports/ TRC English Derby.