Boost for Alamshar

IRISH RACING/Revised ratings: The Epsom Derby second favourite Alamshar is now rated the same as the 2001 winner Galileo after his three-year-old debut in the Ballysax Stakes. The handicapper has handed a mark of 112 to the John Oxx-trained colt, the same rating Galileo was given after winning the important trial two years ago.

However, both Oxx and handicapper Gary O'Gorman tried to play down expectations yesterday despite Irish-trained horses filling the first four places in the ante-post betting for Epsom.

"I hope they are a vintage crop but I don't think they are just yet," said O'Gorman. "Expectations have been heightened by the fact that Irish horses have won the Derby for the last three years but there are some ridiculous prices out there now.

"Sinndar was rated a 118 after he won the Derrinstown and I seem to remember he was 25 to 1 with Paddy Power afterwards. An Irish horse hadn't won the Derby in a long time then but I think recent history is now reflected in the betting," he added.

O'Gorman has dropped the Ballysax flop Alberto Giacometti to 111 while giving the shock winner Balastrini a rating of 110. However, the highest rated horse which ran at Leopardstown on Sunday is still Refuse To Bend on 115.

The Dermot Weld-trained colt was a market mover for the Derby with Paddy Power yesterday, being slashed from 10 to 1 to 8 to 1, but Alamshar remains the main market danger to Brian Boru. Yesterday John Oxx reported the colt had emerged well from the Ballysax and is on course for a possibly crucial Derrinstown clash with his Derby market rivals.

"I like him and I like what I saw on Sunday but you have to keep your feet on the ground in this business," said the Curragh trainer yesterday.

"It's important not to get carried away because it was a messy race and we won't find out more about him until he runs in a more orthodox race.

"What's important with three-year-olds is how they progress. It doesn't matter what has happened before. It's whether or not they improve that is important. The good ones are different horses in June to what they were in April.

"I see Alamshar is rated 112 which means he is up 2lb which might be conservative. It's something like Sinndar was after he ran in the Ballysax but it's far too early for comparisons," Oxx added.

Dermot Weld will delay until next week a decision about whether Refuse To Bend will travel to Newmarket in 17 days time for the 2,000 Guineas.

Immediately after the unbeaten colt won the Guineas Trial at the weekend, Weld said a call would be made this week with a route to the Derby being favourite rather than a tilt at Newmarket. However, that could still change and Refuse To Bend may yet make an early trip to try and become just Weld's second classic victor in Britain.

PADDY POWER DERBY BETTING: 4 Brian Boru, 5 Alamshar, 8 Refuse To Bend, 10 Hold That Tiger, 16 Dalakhani and Alberto Giacometti, 20 bar.