Leopardstown report: Robert Blacoe looks to have struck gold with the first horse he has ever owned after Bobs Pride took another step towards a possible attempt at the Budweiser Irish Derby at Leopardstown yesterday.
The Dermot Weld-trained colt added to a maiden victory last month when stepping up to Group Three success in the PW McGrath Memorial Ballysax Stakes. Almighty was made an evens favourite to give Aidan O'Brien another victory in the race he has used in the past to start off the Classic campaigns of Galileo and High Chaparral. But he proved to be a major disappointment and faded to fourth as Pat Smullen brought Bobs Pride through to smoothly beat Mister Hight.
In contrast it was all smiles in the Weld camp as Blacoe, a jeweller based in Galway, celebrated his good fortune.
"Robert's a lovely guy and he's got a lovely progressive individual. The Derrinstown is the logical next step for him. Whether he will go right to the top, only time will tell, but if he runs a big race in the Derrinstown he could go on for the Irish Derby. I don't see him as an Epsom horse," said Weld.
The Aidan O'Brien-Kieren Fallon team struck in the first two races with the newcomer Emerald Cat and Virginia Waters whose win in the Dimitrova 1,000 Guineas Trial saw Paddy Power rate her a 33 to 1 shot for Newmarket.
However, the Ballydoyle team were rocked back when Grand Central, a 12 to 1 shot in some books for both the Guineas and the Derby, was beaten by three and a half lengths in the 2,000 Trial by Alayan. John Oxx's winner isn't even entered in the Irish Guineas and is more likely to also come back for the Derrinstown next month.
Ladbrokes reacted to the day's reverses for Ballydoyle by taking both Grand Central and Almighty out of their Classic betting, but O'Brien wasn't panicking. "I was surprised the first couple won. The two colts needed that. They were only three quarters ready," he said. "The last two weeks we have done nothing but slow canters at home because the ground is so deep."
Mick Kinane and John Oxx added to Alayan's success with Icklingham in the mile and a half handicap and the newcomer Fracas was another to earn a tilt at the Derrinstown with a smooth win in the maiden. His trainer, David Wachman, reported that Damson remains on course for the 1,000 Guineas and said: "John (Magnier) and Michael (Tabor) retain Kieren Fallon so I would imagine he will ride her if he is keen."
* Ruby Walsh made a triumphant return to Limerick yesterday following his famous victory on Hedgehunter in the John Smith's Aintree Grand National.
With rides in the last three races, he wasted no time in getting on the scoresheet with Scarthy Lad in the Hugh McMahon Memorial Novice Chase. He brought the Thomas O'Leary-trained gelding home by 20 lengths from Lincam in the Grade Three contest over three miles.
