Lennies Eddie credits Hennessy with unique third Derby victory

LENNIES EDDIE produced the run of his short career on the biggest of stages with a superb from-the-front victory in the £125,000 final of the Star Sports/Orchestrate English Greyhound Derby over 500m at Towcester.

In doing so, the Lee Craze-owned dog credited winning trainer Paul Hennessy with the unique achievement of three English Derby wins at three different tracks having previously landed the last Wimbledon staging in 2016 with Jaytee Jet and first at Nottingham in 2019 with Priceless Blake.

Racing for just the 13th time, it proved to be a lucky number for the 10/1 chance in the all-Irish decider as a competition-best 3.71sec sectional on the back of a flying start from trap three soon had Lennies Eddie at the head of affairs although favourite Ballymac Deniro paced up well to turn in behind.

Off the second bend, the stage was set for a tremendous tussle with Lennies Eddie around a length ahead but Ballymac Deniro looking to be full of running on his shoulder.

And so it proved with Ballymac Deniro edging closer with every stride along the back but Lennies Eddie so brave in front, while all the time Ballymac Duffle was gaining momentum in third.

Turning in, Lennies Eddie took a marginally more economical route to eke out his advantage and he was able to dig in to hold Ballymac Deniro by half a length in a fast 28.20sec with Ballymac Duffle finishing best of all another three-parts back.

As such, Lennies Eddie became the 19th Irish-trained winner of the great Classic, and seventh in the 11 years since Hennessy first claimed the title with Jaytee Jet.

Hennessy told the Racing Post: "What a dog! And to win the Derby on a night that means so much to Susan [his wife]. . . it's unreal. 

"I was out in the middle screaming my head off like a madman. That's what the Derby does to you.

"It's the anniversary of Susan's dad, Benny Kavanagh, passing," he added. "He was the man who got me started in greyhounds 44 years ago."

Hennessy praised the runner‑up too: "Deniro got the better of us the last twice - we just got the better break tonight. That's what won it."