US Army Ranger is the new favourite for Saturday’s Irish Derby following a dramatic turnaround in the betting on Wednesday, prompted by a downbeat bulletin from the camp of the Derby winner, Harzand. Dermot Weld got his excuses in early on behalf of the Epsom hero, reporting the success had taken a lot out of the colt and suggesting that perhaps the Curragh Classic would come too soon.
“I’m satisfied with the horse, he had a tough race at Epsom and he’s just taken time to come out of the race, as you can understand,” Weld told At The Races. “He’s a horse that gives his all, he’s a very courageous horse and it just left its mark on him for the first week, but we’re more happy with him now.”
Recalling Harzand’s injury on the morning of Derby day, when he pulled a shoe off one of his front feet and pricked the sole of his foot in so doing, Weld said the horse had gone on a course of antibiotics for the following few days. “You never know what they take out of you at the time,” the trainer added.
“I think he’s putting his weight back on and perking up. He’s moving very nicely and, provided we’re satisfied with him on Thursday at declaration time, he’ll run on Saturday.
“My only worry is that he had a tough race and it took a lot out of him. It is definitely coming a week sooner than I’d like. The final decision will be made on the day of the race.”
Harzand had been the 5-4 favourite for Saturday’s Irish Derby with US Army Ranger on 6-4 but the pair swapped places in the hours following Weld’s comments. US Army Ranger is now odds-on with most firms while only a couple offer even money. Idaho, his stablemate at Aidan O’Brien’s yard, is 9-2 from 6s. Harzand, described as “friendless” by Ladbrokes, is now available at 15-8.
The ground had been the main concern for Harzand fans, since the colt is thought to need some cut in the ground to give his best and there was a clear risk of him not turning up at The Curragh this weekend if the going was on the fast side.
That, however, now appears a remote contingency, the going on the round course being good to yielding and yielding in the straight after 14mm of rain on Sunday. More rain is forecast for the area each day this week and Weld expects the ground to be “all right” for his star.
Eleven horses have been declared for the race at the latest entry stage, six of them being trained by O’Brien. US Army Ranger, runner-up at Epsom after being last at the turn for home, appears his main contender but he also has Idaho, Claudio Monteverdi, Port Douglas, Shogun and Sword Fighter, a surprise winner of the Queen’s Vase at Royal Ascot on Friday.
Red Verdon is the only possible runner from Britain, Ed Dunlop having supplemented him yesterday, just as he did before the Epsom version, in which the horse ran on to be sixth after being hampered in the straight. The chestnut is a general 16-1 shot.Minding, winner of the 1,000 Guineas and the Oaks, is no bigger than 2-7 to bag her third Group One of the year in Sunday’s Pretty Polly Stakes. The O’Brien-trained filly takes on older rivals for the first time, with Luca Cumani’s Koora next in bookmakers’ lists on 8-1.
The apprentice jockey Rachel Richardson had a narrow escape at Beverley when her mount, Kung Hei Fat Choy, collapsed soon after being headed, crashing through the rails. It appears the horse had a heart attack.
There were fears for Richardson but she later reported suffering nothing more serious than stitches to her chin and some stiffness. “I’m very lucky,” she said.
