Ace books Derby ticket

Mimis Ace, trained by John Kiely for Maura Kiely, Blackrock, earned his ticket to the Boylesports Irish Derby by taking Saturday night’s final of the trial stake at Curraheen Park in great style.

Touched off in the semi-finals, after coming from behind to launch a late challenge, the son of Ace Hi Rumble and Precious Story ensured no repeat as the 5-4 favourite broke better than ever and led clear to the opening turn.

Reserve Ballyhooly Henry went in chase, and looked a threat as he made inroads on the leader approaching the third turn. However, Mimis Ace stayed on strongly to score by two lengths, in 29.60 (550).

The other final on the card was the Laurels Restaurant A3 525 and Joan Hanrahan’s Boherash Messiah produced quite a performance to get off the mark at the 10th time of asking.

By Godsend, out of a half-sister to connections’ 2008 Irish Leger winner Boherash Gaoithe, the April ’13 whelp was sent off 9-4 favourite to break his duck.

Vedfield Coolio was first to rise, and led by a length as they raced to the turn, but the winner was on his tail and managed to avoid serious trouble as he clipped the leader at that point.

Striding out purposefully down the backstraight, the market leader edged ahead at halfway and stayed on strongly to score by five and a half lengths, from Vedfield Coolio, in a very sharp 28.33.

There were numerous smart performances on the undercard, starting with the returning Ballyboy Flash, who recorded a career-best 28.78 on her comeback. The Michael O’Callaghan-trained bitch got up on the line to deny Lizzys Cocktail, and looks a potential improver.

Pennys Tyrell was well-backed in the second race, and Carl Humphreys’ 2-1 favourite obliged, leading at the turn and denying Christys Storm by half a length, in 17.90.

The lightly raced Carrigoon Rio, owned by Noel Casey, Mallow, also justified favouritism when leading all the way in race three. He stayed well to beat Mucky Diva by a length and a half, in 28.86.

The best finish of the night came in the fourth race, in which Supersprint winner Boozed Tony, trained by Paraic Campion, prevailed. Having his first run since April, he led at the first turn and did just enough to deny the late challenges of Hursul Kieran and Liss Louise by a short head and the same, in 17.79. He should come on appreciably for the outing.

Trainer Pat Kiely, on the mark with Glanmire Prince at Shelbourne Park, secured an across-the-cards double with Ballydaly Choice in the A2 550. Another fine show of early pace had the 7-4 chance clear early, and he had two lengths to spare over the running-on Blackwater Spark, in 30.07.

Trainer Tom O’Neill was on the mark with Glenanore Ace, in the first semi-final of the Curraheen Park Instagram A2 525. Winner of the Jerry Hennerty Memorial back in May, the June ’13 whelp flew out, and made all for a length-and-a-half victory over Up The Dines, in 28.53.

Ballycannon Hero, trained by Eamonn Morton, bounced back to winning ways with a smart effort in the second semi-final. He had the legs of his rivals on the run-up, and stayed well to see off Outsider by two lengths, in 28.83.

There was a good finish to wrap up proceedings as Mountkeeffe Del arrived late to land the spoils for trainer James Kelleher.

In a tight finish, Mountkeeffe Del prevailed by three parts of a length, from Whiteys Scarface, with Derrinasafa Spot in third.