RACING/News round-up: Aidan O'Brien's Epsom team limbered up for the weekend yesterday with the Ballydoyle trainer hoping for "safe" ground for his classic favourites.
Yesterday is a 7 to 4 market leader with Paddy Power to give O'Brien a third Oaks success on Friday while Brian Boru is a 3 to 1 favourite to give him an historic third Derby victory in a row.
Black Sam Bellamy is also on track for Friday's Coronation Cup but O'Brien will examine the state of the going himself when he travels to Epsom tomorrow.
"As long as it is safe everyone will be happy. Even those with horses who like it fast will want it safe and Epsom have been very good about that in recent years. That's why they have had so many runners compared to some occasions before," O'Brien said.
Certainly some of the rain that fell on Co Tipperary yesterday would be of benefit to O'Brien's Derby team that also includes the Sadler's Wells colts, Alberto Giacometti and The Great Gatsby.
"They didn't do very much today because the weather has been very bad but they seem to be fine," added O'Brien, who played down concerns about the going being possibly too fast for comfort for Yesterday.
"Obviously she handles a bit of dig better than most but she ran a fine race on good to firm at Newmarket last back end. Again, if it is safe, we will be happy," he added.
Alamshar had a more energetic morning at the Curragh when he worked a mile with two companions and emerged unscathed.
"It wasn't as hard a piece of work as on Friday but he worked nicely and was fine afterwards," said John Oxx.
The former Derby favourite, Refuse To Bend, was another in action at the Curragh and worked over seven furlongs up the Old Vic gallop with two stable companions.
Stan Cosgrove, manager of the Moyglare Stud, reported: "We're on target for Epsom. It was a satisfactory blow over seven furlongs up the Old Vic with two others and we were happy with what we saw. He has so much pace that you wonder if he will get a mile and a half."
Refuse To Bend's rider Pat Smullen will get a first taste of the full Derby trip when he partners the 100 to 1 outsider Hearts 'N'Minds in the Oaks, a race where Kevin Darley will be on the Ballydoyle second string, L'ancresse.
Betting on the Derby has settled down in recent days with just Alberto Giacometti being backed to provide Christophe Soumillon with a Derby double after Dalakhani's Prix du Jockey Club success at the weekend.
"Alberto Giacometti was backed on Sunday because he ties in with the Dalakhani form," said a Power's spokesman.
The last jockey to complete the double was Pat Eddery in 1990 on Quest For Fame and Sanglamore.
Paddy Power: 3 Brian Boru, 7-2 Refuse To Bend & Alamshar, 8 Alberto Giacometti, 14 Kris Kin, 16 The Great Gatsby, 20 Bar.
