Hennessy hits the jackpot with Heaven Help Us

Top greyhound trainer overjoyed at first Cheltenham winner.

Leading Irish greyhound trainer Paul Hennessy can now boast training a winner at Cheltenham on his CV after Heaven Help Us made a successful debut over hurdles at the track on Friday.

Having sent out Priceless Blake to victory in the Greyhound Derby at Nottingham in June, the Garryduff handler celebrated a first winner at Prestbury Park, as the five-year-old defeated Master Debonair by two lengths in the Foundation Developments Ltd Maiden Hurdle.

Hennessy said: “We bred this one and reared this one, and John Turner, who owns her, owned one of our Derby winners at Wimbledon, Jaytee Jet.

“You have no idea how much this means to me to get this opportunity.

“For us to win a race at Cheltenham is just ridiculous. You have a better chance of winning the EuroMillions.”

On the 33-1 winner, he added: “She jumped the second-last a bit high, but I said, ‘if she jumps the last, John, she will win, as they won’t pass her’. She is as game a gander.”

Warren Greatrex has had his frustrations with Mulcahys Hill – but the seven-year-old finally came good when getting up to take the Matchbook Most Trusted Betting Exchange Novices’ Chase by a neck.

The Lambourn handler said of the 12-1 winner: “He has always been very quirky. He used to be trained on his own. He has been hit by a car in the village.

“I pretty much tear my hair every day with him, but he has always had an abundance of talent, as we saw in the Challow and what he did there.

“I would say we will come back here in November. He never missed a beat and stays very well.”

Follow us on Twitter racing365dotcom and like our Facebook page.

Latest