The Turf | 31 May 2008

The Irish show enough enthusiasm for the ‘jumping Olympics’ at Cheltenham in March. Horses, trainers and punters come over in their hordes. For this year’s Epsom Derby it is a different matter. Two of Ireland’s leading trainers are effectively boycotting Epsom with horses which, if they were to run, would be vying for favouritism.

Jim Bolger, trainer of New Approach, who has finished second in the English and Irish 2000 Guineas and who was the winter favourite for the race, says the horse will go for the Irish Derby at The Curragh rather than running at Epsom. Dermot Weld, trainer of Casual Conquest, the impressive six-length winner of the Derrinstown Stud Stakes, one of the best pointers to Epsom prospects in recent years, is complaining about the £75,000 required at this stage to ‘supplement’ the colt for Epsom (that is, to enter him at a later stage than others for an added fee).