A SUCCESSFUL MISSION FOR ENGLISH AT KILKENNY

Ian Fortune

Twelve months after finishing second in the 2025 renewal, Mission Control returned to Kilkenny to capture the Lennies Derby on Friday night, showing all his strength, track craft and determination to land the €9,000 prize.

It would have been a special moment for Mick Englih his handler, who has been part of the furniture at Kilkenny for many years, while winning owner Owen Dooley would have floated home.

The son of Daves Mentor and Highview Mission was sent to traps the joint second favourite at 9-4 alongside his kennel companion Da Bould Johnjoe with Rallying Billy the 7-4 market leader. Both Rallying Billy and Da Bould Johnjoe were seen as possible pace-setters in the contest but things didn’t go to script for the duo.

The pair actually went up side by side on the inside of the track but as they bumped on the turn, Kilgraney Bob shot to the front from an ideal draw in the stripes. More importantly, Mission Control maintained a middle line to move second as they entered the back straight.

It was clear that the new leader was going to come under serious pressure. Mission Control was poised in second and ready to strike. Kilgraney Bob didn’t even get top the third turn in front. Instead, Mission Control drew closer and clipped the heels of Kilgraney Bob soon after halfway.

It was a decisive moment in the contest. As Kilgraney Bob lost his momentum, Mission Control moved to the front. Mystical Ranger was finishing well behind the pair but Mission Control was now in command and always going to run right to the line. The January ’23 whelp coasted home a facile and popular winner of the feature by three lengths in 29.12 (.30 slow). Mystical Ranger came through for second with Kilgraney Bob another length and a half adrift in third.

BENSON ALWAYS IN CHARGE

Sean Coogan’s Twenty Benson landed the final of the Stephen Behan Memorial later in the card with the son of Broadstrand Bono and Long Kiwi dominating after a fast start.

Twenty Benson proceeded to see off the staying on Eyeofthekiln by a length in 29.22 (.30 slow).

PRINCE JUSTIFIES RESTRICTIVE ODDS

Biorra Prince was expected to win the final of the Goatsbridge Trout Farm for Karol Ramsbottom and Shane Rigney and he duly obliged.

A 2-9 favourite, the son of Mcinerney and Crossfield Linda was always close to the pace before taking over from the early pace-seter Spudz Are Rotten at the third turn. He would draw right away to beat the same rival by six and a half lengths in 28.95 (.30 slow).

HENRI THE WINNER

The Con & John Moore Memorial A4 went the way of Henrithesecond.

Representing TJ and Paraic Campion, the son of Lynchy Boy and Vivara Sansa made use of an inside draw to turn second and he picked up the long-time pace-setter Rathduff Luna on the run in to win by two lengths in 29.80 (.30 slow)