PAT’S CRACK AT GLORY
PAT SMULLEN is relishing the opportunity to partner Cracksman in the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby at the Curragh on Saturday.
The Frankel colt was favourite to provide the combination of trainer John Gosden and owner-breeder Anthony Oppenheimer with a second victory in the Epsom Derby earlier in the month, following the 2015 triumph of Golden Horn.
However, he had to make do with a close-up third behind Aidan O’Brien’s 40-1 shot Wings Of Eagles.
The pair are set for a rematch this weekend and with Cracksman’s intended jockey Frankie Dettori sidelined by injury until at least the July Meeting at Newmarket, dual Irish Derbywinning jockey Smullen comes in for the plum ride.
He said: “It’s a brilliant ride to pick up and I’m really looking forward to Saturday.
“He ran a great race at Epsom. At the end of the day Wings Of Eagles is the Epsom Derby winner and you can’t take that away from him but this is a different track on a different day and I’ll be going into the race very positive.
“The Irish Derby is a huge race. I’ve been lucky enough to win it twice and I’d love to win for a third time on Saturday.”
Smullen has previously won the race aboard Grey Swallow in 2004 and Harzand 12 months ago.
Oppenheimer is delighted to have secured the services of the experienced rider. He said: “It’s a very good choice and I’m happy to have him.
“It’s such a pity for Frankie. He’s had to miss Royal Ascot and now this but you can’t take any chances. He’s being sensible.” ■On what is the biggest day of the year at Carlisle, Bletchley can ensure Listed honours make their way back down south by winning the ebfstallions.com “Eternal” Stakes.
Ralph Beckett’s three-year-old boasted some good bits of form as a juvenile, particularly when beaten just a short head by subsequent Group One winner Brave Anna in the Albany Stakes at Royal Ascot last year.
While Bletchley disappointed when favourite for an Ayr Group Three on her only subsequent start, the Makfi filly showed that was only a minor aberration.
She was getting a fair bit of weight from five-year-old Grade One winner Same Jurisdiction at Leicester this month but Bletchley nevertheless stretched away in fine style and that result puts her upwards of 2lb to the good with all of her rivals here.