Hennessy and Craze look strong with smart Lennies in Easter Cup

LENNIES TANK stamped his authority on the competition with a brilliant 29.37sec victory in the opening heat of round two in the Shelbourne Park Bookmakers Easter Cup over 550 yards and is now outright favourite for the Classic as a result.

Trained by Paul Hennessy for Lee Craze, Lennies Tank took immediate control and never looked threatened as he came home four lengths to the good of Lemon Hidalgo with Callaway Knegare half a length away in third.

Connections were narrowly denied a double in heat two where their Lennies Madge was just shaded by the Tom O'Neill-Lemon Orla, maintaining the only unbeaten run in the event, by a short-head in 29.63sec with fastest first round winner Droopys Kathleen having to settle for qualification in third.

First-past-the-post in heat three was the Patrick O'Connor-trained Hunters Pilot (29.79sec) although the stewards took a dim view of his behaviour close home and suspended him from the competition.

As such the qualifiers were Droopys Faithful, Miami Hans and promoted fourth Boylesports Blue.

Shelbourne Park Bookmakers Easter Cup (final Saturday 4th April): 9/4 Lennies Tank, 4 Droopys Kathleen, 11/2 Droopys Faithful, 9 Callaway Five, 14 Callaway Knegare, Coosane Pickles, Lemon Orla, 16 Ballyhooly Bruno, Miami Hans, 20 Lemon Hidalgo, 28 Lennies Madge, 33 Boylesports Blue (e-w 1/4 1,2,3).

The first three in each semi-final this Saturday qualify for the €30,000 final on Saturday 4th April which is live on sisracing.tv

All the competition action will be covered in the weekly Irish Focus which is published at 6pm on this website every Wednesday evening.

Saturday's Easter Cup semi-final draws & form