Ireland dominates the line-up for Sunday’s highly anticipated KAB Maiden Derby Final at Towcester, with Graham Holland and Paul Hennessy both securing victories in the weekend’s semi-finals over the 500m course.
In the first semi-final, Graham Holland's Garfiney Blake, a 36-kilo son of Confident Rankin and Sarasota Chik, showcased remarkable speed along the rails to secure a commanding six and three-quarter length victory over compatriot Barefoot Awesome, trained by Paul Hennessy. Garfiney Blake, a kennelmate of last year’s Star Sports/TRC English Derby champion Gaytime Nemo, demonstrated his prowess with a winning time of 29.47 seconds (normal). Meanwhile, Barefoot Awesome boasts previous wins at Limerick and Enniscorthy.
Paul Hennessy's Jaytee Craze set the pace in the second semi-final, posting the fastest time of the day with an impressive four and a quarter length victory in 28.88 seconds (normal). Jaytee Craze, a son of Ballymac Cashout and Ballymac Minton, led the field home, securing a spot in the final alongside runner-up Miami Bullet, trained by Paul Young.
Hennessy’s success continued in the third semi-final, with Jaytee Etienne finishing as the runner-up behind Tom Heilbron’s Glorious Tom. Glorious Tom, a son of Droopys Sydney and Cicero, secured victory with a three-and-a-half length lead over the Irish raider in a time of 29.34 seconds (normal).
With four Irish-trained runners set to compete in the Category One final, England remains optimistic about its chances of success. Paul Young expressed confidence in Miami Bullet, emphasising the owners’ enthusiasm and the dog’s excellent form. Similarly, Tom Heilbron is hopeful for Glorious Tom’s performance, acknowledging the tough competition but remaining optimistic about his dog’s abilities.
The trap draw for Sunday’s KAB Maiden Derby Final is as follows:
- Jaytee Craze
- Garfiney Blake
- Miami Bullet
- Barefoot Awesome
- Glorious Tom
- Jaytee Etienne