RACING:THE CURRAGH authorities say they couldn't be in a better place in ground terms ahead of Sunday's Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby and they have their fingers crossed that Queen Elizabeth's Carlton House will be the star attraction over the historic track.
Hopes appear to be growing that Carlton House will be committed to Ireland’s premier €1.2 million Classic after the Michael Stoute-trained colt worked impressively at Newmarket on Saturday.
It was the colt’s first serious workout since he could finish only third to Pour Moi when favourite to win the Epsom Derby earlier this month.
An appearance by the queen’s best horse in the Irish Derby would be hugely significant on the back of the her recent state visit to Ireland and indications yesterday were that a trip to the Curragh for Carlton House remains possible.
Native Khan, fifth at Epsom, has already been committed to running at the Curragh while the Epsom runner-up, Treasure Beach, heads a typically strong Aidan O’Brien challenge that is also set to include Memphis Tennessee and Recital.
The champion trainer is going for six-in-a-row in the Irish Derby, and a ninth success in all, and ground conditions could be perfect ahead of the 2011 running.
“We are good ground at the moment. It is good to firm in places on the round track but ninety per cent of both tracks is good,” the Curragh manager, Paul Hensey, said yesterday.
“We couldn’t be in a better place going into the week ahead. There is some rain forecast for Monday and it is supposed to be broken weather up to Wednesday before it becomes quite good for the weekend.”
Other possible Derby starters this Sunday are the local Curragh hopes, Dunboyne Express and Noble Graduate, trained by Dermot Weld.
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