Cape Blanco back in frame

RACING:CAPE BLANCO is back in the Epsom Derby picture after Thursday's Dante winner was the subject of an encouraging bulletin from Aidan O'Brien yesterday.

The unbeaten colt appeared to be lame and sore immediately after his victory at York, when he banged a heel during the race.

Afterwards O’Brien, who wasn’t at the track, was referred on to the British Horseracing Authority by the stewards when he refused to allow the colt be trotted for veterinary inspection for a second time.

The champion trainer reported later: “It’s the most insane thing I’ve ever heard. Why would you want to trot him again on a bruised heel and cause him more pain?”

On the back of the uncertainty some bookmakers removed Cape Blanco from their betting, but he was back in yesterday after O’Brien described the colt’s condition as “comfortable”.

“Unfortunately he knocked his heel again and was very sore on it,” he said. “However, he walked out this morning and seems much more comfortable.”

Johnny Murtagh still looks set to side with the Ballydoyle number one St Nicholas Abbey at Epsom, but the champion jockey is in Newbury today where he teams up with Kargali for Luke Comer in the Group One Lockinge Stakes.

The ex-John Oxx-trained grey was a Group Three winner on his last start when he beat former stable companion Rayeni in the Gladness Stakes at the Curragh.

Murtagh will be back for Navan tomorrow, where his rides include the regally-bred Encompassing in the concluding conditions race. Encompassing finished only fifth in Chester’s Dee Stakes, but wasn’t beaten far and has an edge in sharpness compared to another well-bred type in Shintoh.

Tomorrow’s feature at Limerick is the conditions hurdle which looks a decent opportunity for the former Galway Hurdle winner Cuan Na Grai, while the former Pierse Hurdle victor Penny’s Bill can make it third time lucky over fences in the Beginners Chase.