Billy's early to prove decisive in Kilkenny's 10K Lennies Derby

RALLYING BILLY can use his blistering early pace to full effect by making all in the €10,000 final of the A1 Lennies Derby over 525 yards at Kilkenny (9.06).

Chris Delaney's dog chased home Tiermana Dream in the Irish Sprint Cup final at Dundalk last month and was then picked up in the first two rounds of this event having led early.

However, it was a different story in the semis when he again dominated and dug in to hold Mission Control by three-parts of a length in 29.00sec (-40), the fastest time of the round.

Clearing fellow semi winner Da Bould Johnjoe on his immediate inside will be key but, should he achieve that, the selection can then build a decisive lead with the possibility of the stronger finishers being held up in their runs.

Delaney can also score earlier with Cagey Billy (8.48) while other fancies at the St James' Park venue are Sheila Devoy's Ambitious Bear (8.03), Murt Leahy's High St Macka (8.18) and, particularly, Karol Ramsbottom's Biorra Prince (8.32).

There are also Friday Irish SIS fixtures at Mullingar and Limerick with the respective suggestions being Michael McDonagh's Bubbles Houdini (11.45) plus the Anthony Hamilton duo of Lotto Winner (12.04) and Burgess Banker (12.21) at the first-named venue, then Michael Carmody's Honeypound Rose (7.31) and Liam Jones' Lemon Arnold (8.09) at the latter.

The afternoon card is at Star Pelaw where Davy Wilkinson's Cornforth Fire (3.59) looks best, while picks at Harlow's double-header are Darren Whitton's Jayar Rogue (12.46) and Paul Rea's Stonepark James (8.52).

Rallying Billy (nap)
T2 Kilkenny 9.06