MANY AND LEVI SHOWN REAL PROMISE AT KILKENNY

Ian Fortune

As predicted, the youngsters emerged as the star turns at Kilkenny on Friday night with Portumna Levi and Lacken Mandy both showing real promise as both won their respective unraced finals.

Portumna Levi was first into action. The 5-4 favourite for the final of the Glory Kennels ON1 525, he again missed the start but found a way to turn second behind the fast-starting Born Sassy. This set up a tremendous finish.

Born Sassy ran with purpose out front but Portumna Levi was always close enough to challenge and he stayed on strongly to get up in the final yards. Trained by Paul Hennessy for Owen Horan and Gerard O’Neill, the son of Orchestrate and Portumna Sapphire won by a head in 29.10.

MANDY CAN MOVE

Lacken Mandy went even faster in the following race, the final of the John O’Shea Memorial ON2 525, as she took the bend before going on to make every inch thereafter.

Lily Lennon’s daughter of Jacob Tashadelek and Lacken Bluebell had shown real promise in her two previous outings and few were surprised to see her go fast when finally getting loose.

Pulling right away to the third turn, she cruised home six lengths clear of The Other Myra in a rapid 28.91, highlighting her obvious ability.