THELMA THE TOAST OF KILKENNY

Ian Fortune

While she may have been sent to traps the 12-1 outsider of the field, there was nothing lucky about the victory of Lemon Thelma in the JAG Building Services & KGOBA A1 Derby at a busy Kilkenny on Friday night.

The betting highlighted the open nature of the contest with Gortkelly John, Kapuka Warrior and Mission Control going to traps the co-favourites of three at 5-2. The battle for early supremacy was a tight affair with Double Drop going up fastest from three but Lemon Thelma emerged as a serious challenger at the corner, slipping past the early pace-setter as they hit the second turn.

Kapuka Warrior, Lemon Mundy and Gortkelly John found traffic and suddenly the race was Lemon Thelma’s to lose. Mission Control would move into second and close to the line but there was no stopping the pace-setter.

Tom Lennon’s daughter of Jacob Tashadelek and Foyle Lucy would maintain a strong gallop to the line to eventually see off Mission Control by a length and a half in 28.96. Kapuka Warrior would recover from his opening bend travails to take third, some two and a half lengths further adrift.

PA OBLIGES IN BEHAN MEMORIAL

Birchfield Pa would emerge on top in the final of the Stephan Behan Memorial A3 for Thomas Leahy and the B Boys Syndicate.

Slipping around behind Comer King, the son of Droopys Buick and Droopys Cutey would take charge down the back straight before easing on to claim in the €1,200 prize by two lengths from the early leader in 29.41.