Trainer Chat- Hennessy has strong looking team in bid for first Towcester success

Trainer Chat- Hennessy has strong looking team in bid for first Towcester success

Irish trainer Paul Hennessy is no stranger to English Derby success having won the final Derby to be held at Wimbledon back in 2016 with Jaytee Jet, and then again at Nottingham in 2019 with Priceless Blake (below)

He sends across a strong team of seven runners this year looking to land a first Derby at Towcester with Barefoot On Fire, Boylesports Blue, Boylesports Bob, Dynamic Force, Hello Diego, Jaytee Craze and Lennies Desire all looking to take the £175,000 winner’s prize back across the Irish Sea

Best Chance:  “I’d probably have to say Boylesports Bob as he’s been there and done it and he finished runner up in the Final last year. He then went on to reach the Final of the Irish Derby. He knows what’s expected of him which is a help and if you’re going on form, then he has it in the book. The rest have to prove they are up for the challenges of a Derby but he has done it twice in two Derby’s so I’d say of the ones I’m bringing over, then he would be my strongest one".

Surprise Package: “The dog we brought over for the Maiden Derby, Lennies Desire, didn’t trap in the Final but he has a lot of ability, but they are decent dogs that are going over. Hello Diego won the Maiden Derby, and I think he will improve."

 "Boylesports Blue is a dog I like, he made a promising start but then lost his form but he’s starting to pick that up again now. He didn’t run to his form in the Juvenile at Towcester but that was a humdinger of a race anyway. I think Lennies Desire is the quickest of the other’s I’m sending over, but he will have to do things right. He has a lot of raw ability and just has to learn, but at least he has the ability".

If you could train any other dog in the Derby, who would it be: “I’d have to say Bockos Diamond. He’s a very fast dog and he’s got great early pace. He has the ability to be clear at the third bend and can clear anything in the early stages and that’s a huge thing to have in your artillery. I’m not concerned with how he ran at Towcester last time, that was his first run since November, I’m sure he will be showing his best in another run or two, but he’s just a very fast dog"

Favourite Derby Memory or Highlight: “There’s loads of them. Winning the Scottish Derby with Barefoot Allstar is one, myself and Susan were there that night and we weren’t there for the other ones, the English Derby at Nottingham with Priceless Blake, owners Bryan and Kathleen Murphy who have been family friends for years were both there and It was good to share that with them as Bryan had a big thing about winning an English Derby".

 "Our first Irish Derby was also huge and of course Jaytee Jet finishing things off at Wimbledon. He’s still with us, he comes into the house and has free run of the house, hes 12 or 13 now but he’s still well".

What would it mean to win another English Derby: “It would be great if it could happen, and it would be nice as we’ve won at Wimbledon and Nottingham and Towcester is such a beautiful place, the whole ambience. We stay with Laurence Tuffin and Arlene and they are wonderful to us, wonderful hosts and it’s just a gorgeous place. It’s a lovely place setting; it’s the only place you can have the Derby in. It’s a beautiful set up, beautiful stands and a lovely galloping track". 

"It might not be everyone’s cup of tea the track, but there’s no such thing as a perfect track. The first bend at Towcester is an easier bend to run then at most tracks, it is what it is, but If you put the whole package together, for me, it’s the best place that I’ve been to for a Derby by some way".

"I love the Derby, look at my age I still get the buzz from it, and especially for the owners, they still get the buzz and they are looking forward to the trap draw even more than I am. It means more than winning any other competition, the Derby just stirs the adrenaline and it’s wonderful to have the opportunity to compete to be honest with you".