Racing Leopardstown report: The Epsom Derby favourite Yeats had little more than an exercise gallop when enjoying an easy all-the-way success in the P W McGrath Memorial Ballysax Stakes at Leopardstown yesterday.
Jamie Spencer had no hesitation in sending the 1 to 3 market leader straight into the lead in the 10-furlong event and he was never seriously challenged, coming home to score by 10 lengths from Dabiroun on going officially described as soft.
Ladbrokes were suitably impressed with Yeats' performance and cut his Derby price to 4 to 1 favourite from 6s.
The Leopardstown Group Three contest has seen the reappearance of Sinndar, who finished second, Galileo and High Chaparral in their Derby-winning years. Yeats will follow the same route as that trio by running next in the Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial back at Leopardstown on May 9th before his bid for the blue riband.
Trainer Aidan O'Brien said: "He's an athlete to look at. He's a big, long-striding, uncomplicated horse and the Derby is the plan. Ideally he wants better ground. He's a great mover and he's well balanced, so he should handle Epsom okay."
Dermot Weld's Classic hope Grey Swallow kept his unbeaten record intact in the Leopardstown 2,000 Guineas Trial - but only just. Grey Swallow, as short as 4 to 1 in some books for the UltimateBet.com 2,000 Guineas after two impressive wins last season, was sent off at 4 to 9.
The favourite looked set to score comfortably when produced down the centre of the course by Pat Smullen to challenge Amarula Ridge and Meath a furlong out. But once in front he appeared to idle and was almost caught by Meath, who rallied gamely under a strong ride from Spencer. Grey Swallow only had a head to spare in the end.
The horse's participation in yesterday's Listed race had been in some doubt following heavy rain. Weld, who took the race last year with subsequent 2,000 Guineas winner Refuse To Bend, said: "It has been very difficult to keep horses right over the last two weeks, so it was a tough decision to run Grey Swallow today. But the track was perfect, beautifully prepared, and that's what decided me to run.
"It was a workmanlike performance. He needed the race and he blew up half a furlong down. Pat said he gave a big heave." Grey Swallow will now try to emulate Refuse To Bend.
Weld continued: "He'll take his chance in the English 2,000 Guineas and hopefully then go for the Irish Guineas. He's a genuine, brave horse and whether the English Guineas comes too soon, we'll have to see." Bookmakers Coral reacted to Grey Swallow's performance by easing him out to 13 to 2 from 9 to 2 for the 2,000 Guineas.
Royal Tigress finished fast to land a dramatic last-gasp victory in the Leopardstown 1,000 Guineas Trial. Alexander Duchess and Treasure The Lady vied for the early lead in the seven-furlong Listed contest, with Spencer settling Royal Tigress in fourth place on the outside.
Off the final bend Takrice made rapid headway to lead on the far rail but by now Spencer had Royal Tigress in top gear and the O'Brien-trained filly flew down the centre of the track to get up on the line to score by the narrowest margin. A trip to the Curragh for the 1,000 Guineas is now on the cards.
