Racing News and preview: John Oxx has warned punters not to back Azamour ante-post for the Epsom Derby. Brian O'Connor, Racing Correspondent, reports.
After the colt's excellent seasonal debut when third in last weekend's 2,000 Guineas, Azamour has been installed as low as 10 to 1 third favourite for the Derby.
However, Oxx dismissed the moves as "ridiculous" yesterday and advised against backing the Aga Khan's colt for Epsom.
"Nobody should back him for the Derby. The plan is to run at the Curragh (Boylesports Irish 2,000 Guineas) and then we will see after that," he said.
"However, you would have to have grave reservations about his stamina and we may well take the view that he has no business running over a mile and a half.
"I can see him ultimately getting a mile and a quarter but beyond that might be wishful thinking.
"At the moment the Derby is probably not a realistic objective," Oxx concluded.
Only Yeats (5 to 2) and Snow Ridge (6 to 1) are ahead of Azamour in the Derby betting and the latter is going direct to Epsom instead of taking in the Irish Guineas a fortnight earlier.
No firm decision about whether Haafhd will try to double up at the Curragh has been taken but Grey Swallow, fourth at Newmarket, is set to take on Azamour again. However, Oxx expects improvement from his horse.
"He lost ground at the start and the early pace surprised him at Newmarket. Basically it was greenness but he should improve for it. If he sharpens up he could be a very good horse at a mile and may not need to go beyond that," he said.
Before that Oxx will take on Yeats in the Group Two Derrinstown Derby Trial at Leopardstown this Sunday with the unbeaten Barati, who has been supplemented into the race at a cost of €15,000.
Barati beat the subsequent Navan winner Liffey on his sole start to date at the Curragh but faces an uphill battle against the Derby favourite.
"It looked like there weren't going to be many runners and we didn't want a Ballysax situation. The owner was keen to support the race and we will find out a lot more about the horse. We're not expecting to beat Yeats but it will tell us where to go with our horse," Oxx said.
Dermot Weld has the Beresford runner-up Relaxed Gesture and Medicinal (also an Amethyst Stakes entry) to choose from, while Aidan O'Brien has a total of six of the 10 remaining entries. As well as Yeats they include the 110-rated Moscow Ballet and Five Dynasties.
National Hunt news yesterday centred on the champion jockey Barry Geraghty, who faces up to four weeks on the sidelines with a fractured thumb.
Geraghty picked up the injury at Gowran Park on Monday and the fracture was confirmed after X-rays and the Turf Club medical officer Dr Walter Halley indicated Geraghty faces three to four weeks out.
