G1 Investec Epsom Derby hero Harzand (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) remains on course in his bid to make it a Derby double by lining up in Saturday's G1 Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby at The Curragh. Harzand is trained by Dermot Weld whose stables are located just a couple of 100 metres from The Curragh racecourse and sustained rain in the area on Sunday should help provide the optimum conditions necessary for the Aga Khan homebred to take his chance.
One person obviously keen to see him lineup is jockey Pat Smullen who reported, “We are very happy with him. If the ground is safe, I'm sure he'll take his chance. The easy side of good should be fine, but that decision will be for the boss.”
Last year's G1 Irish Derby hero Jack Hobbs (GB) (Halling) was the subject of a positive bulletin from his trainer John Gosden. Absent since suffering a stress fracture of his pelvis at Newmarket in April, the 4-year-old is just in light exercise.
“Jack Hobbs is doing fine and he's in light walking exercise at the minute and he's fully sound,” said Gosden. “The plan is to come back in September.”
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