Friday 27 May 2011

More Derby News


Aidan O'Brien believes he has "five strong options" for the Investec Derby at Epsom on Saturday week.

The Ballydoyle handler can call upon the likes of Derrinstown winner Recital, Irish 2,000 Guineas hero Roderic O'Connor and Dante runner-up Seville.

"I suppose the horses we have been mentioning are Roderic O'Connor, Seville, Recital, Memphis Tennessee and the horse that won the (Chester) Vase, Treasure Beach. They are the five strong options at the moment," said O'Brien.

"The plan with Roderic O'Connor was to go to the Irish Guineas and if he ran a nice race then we would look at Epsom or France. He ran a lovely race and everything went right I think probably early next week we'll get down to jockey arrangements, but the first thing we need to do is get the runners sorted.

"The lads all know the track well and are used to riding the horses, we never think it's a problem. There are the horses to consider, where everybody fits in, and what's the right thing for each horse.

"We were delighted with Recital at Leopardstown. Kieren hadn't ridden him before, obviously he set the pace with the other horses, Regent Street and Seamus (Heffernan) and Joseph (O'Brien) riding Memphis Tennessee.

"The pace was strong, the leader came back but there was a very strong headwind at Leopardstown. He took it up probably earlier than Kieren would have liked and probably idled in front, with the headwind into his face. He did plenty of looking round, but Kieren just nursed him home.

"Obviously Kieren knows him as well, Seamus has ridden him, Johnny Murtagh has ridden him, Colm and Joseph have ridden him at home, so we have a lot of options.

"I don't think it's a problem but obviously the plan at Leopardstown and Kieren sitting on him was that he might be available for him in the Derby. But we're lucky at the moment there are some great jockeys around."

The hot favourite Carlton House came through his latest workout on Wednesday with flying colours to delight Sir Michael Stoute, who said: "It was very satisfactory. I was very happy with him. But his work has been good all year, it has been consistently good."