Epsom Runner-Up Lazy Griff Needs Rain to Run in the Irish Derby

[Wandering Eyes]

Connections of Derby runner-up Lazy Griff will make a late decision regarding his participation in Sunday's Irish equivalent, with his attempt to go one place better hinging on how much rain falls at the Curragh in the coming days.

Trained by Charlie Johnston, 50/1 shot Lazy Griff provided his Middleham Park Racing owners with a huge thrill when finishing second at Epsom, faring best of the rest behind Lambourn (Australia) for the second consecutive start after they also filled the first two places in the previous month's G3 Chester Vase.

The son of Protectionist is available to back at around 12/1 for Sunday's Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby, but Middleham Park Racing's Mike Prince revealed on Monday that he is far from a certain runner at this stage.

He said, “It was good, good to firm this morning and we're in the same situation as applied at Epsom – we don't want to run him on fast ground.

“We'll keep him in at the forfeit stage [on Tuesday] and then play it by ear. I've seen some forecasts suggest plenty of rain midweek, but others saying only two to three millimetres. All we can do is keep him in and keep monitoring – it keeps changing every time I look.

“It will probably be the Grand Prix de Paris if he doesn't run. It's the German Derby next week or the Grand Prix the week after. Those are the options and France is more likely than Germany currently. He doesn't have to leave until Friday so we don't have to decide until declarations.”

Prince added, “He's been fine since Epsom. Charlie's really happy with him and we're going to check in with Christophe [Soumillon, jockey], just to see what is what.”

O'Brien Outlines Plans for Middle-Distance Colts

Lambourn dominates the ante-post betting for the Irish Derby as he tries to become the eighth Epsom winner this century to follow up at the Curragh. Trained by Aidan O'Brien, he could be joined in the line-up by the Lingfield Derby Trial scorer Puppet Master (Camelot), who was a late withdrawal from last week's G2 King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot.

“He's an absolute beauty to train,” O'Brien said of Lambourn when discussing his running plans on Monday's Nick Luck Daily Podcast. “He has a brilliant mind and is very sound, very uncomplicated. He goes in all types of grounds and he stays very well.

“He doesn't need any help in a race. He'll do it himself and he's happy to get a lead. He's a Christian of a horse, really.”

He added, “Puppet Master might go with him. He worked on Sunday and worked lovely, so there's a chance that he could go with him.”

One horse who will not be lining up at the Curragh is Delacroix (Dubawi), with O'Brien confirming that the beaten Derby favourite is an intended runner in next month's G1 Coral-Eclipse instead.

Similar comments apply to the stable's Prix du Jockey Club hero Camille Pissarro (Wootton Bassett), but an appearance at Sandown is expected to come too soon for last week's G3 Hampton Court Stakes winner Trinity College (Dubawi).

“The Eclipse will probably come a bit quick for Trinity College, so we're probably thinking of letting Delacroix take that slot, along with Camille,” said O'Brien.

“Trinity looks like he's a Group 1 horse now but, when the others are there, the timing means it fits in a little bit better for them. Don't rule out Trinity yet, but I'd imagine it will be the other two instead of him.”

The post Epsom Runner-Up Lazy Griff Needs Rain to Run in the Irish Derby appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

View the full article