Bolger happy with Approach

NEW APPROACH is reported to be firmly on target for next weekend's Emirates Airline Champion Stakes as he chases his third Group One prize of the season.

The Vodafone Derby hero suffered a setback following his Epsom triumph and after finishing a satisfactory third in the Juddmonte International on his comeback, he took top honours in the Irish Champion Stakes last time.

Bolger has been happy with the Galileo colt's work over the past month and is looking forward to seeing him return to Newmarket on Saturday. "New Approach is very well in himself and everything is on target for Newmarket," said Bolger. "It has been a month since his last race but he has been in training since then and his work has been very good."

New Approach gave Bolger his second successive victory in the Darley Dewhurst Stakes on Champions Day 12 months ago and his likely representative this year is Intense Focus. The juvenile finished third in the Goffs Million on his penultimate start and occupied the same position in the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere on Arc day at Longchamp. "Intense Focus and Gan Amhras are in the Dewhurst but I would say Intense Focus would be the runner at this stage - as long as he has fully recovered from Longchamp," he added.

"If he does go for the Dewhurst, Gan Amhras will probably go to Doncaster for the Racing Post Trophy if the ground is good or better."

© 2008 The Irish Times

This article appears in the print edition of the Irish Times