ANTHONY VAN DYCK is on course for a Coral-Eclipse Stakes clash with Enable after Aidan O’Brien raised the prospect of bringing Saturday’s Derby victor back in distance.
But the bookies believe the match would be a one-sided affair.
Paddy Power go just 1-5 dual that dual Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe heroine Enable, pencilled in for Sandown Park on July 6 by John Gosden, would win the head-to-head, with Anthony Van Dyck at 3-1.
Anthony Van Dyck’s half-length call over Madhmoon at Epsom was a record-equalling seventh in the Derby for O’Brien, who fielded seven of the 13 runners and saddled five of the first six home.
“We thought a mile and a quarter would be no problem to him,” said O’Brien.
“He’s out of a very fast mare and he’s by Galileo, so the thing we weren’t sure about was the mile and a half,” added the master of Ballydoyle, who will prepare Anthony Van Dyck for the Irish Derby at the Curragh on June 29 next.
“The lads had it in their head that he would come back to the Curragh if everything went well.”
Paddy Power’s Paul Binfield reasoned: “Less than a length covered the first five home at Epsom, so our odds compilers don’t think the Derby form is exceptional.
“And that’s one word you would apply to Enable - ‘exceptional’.”
O’Brien was out of luck with his three runners in Sunday’s Prix du Jockey Club at Chantilly, in which Sottsass inflicted a shock defeat on favourite Persian King.
