THE Derby winning trainers Henry Cecil and Peter Chapple Hyam were yesterday both battling infections to their leading hopes of a repeat Epsom triumph. Cecil won many plaudits for the way he nursed 1,000 Guineas winner Bosra Sham back to fitness after two setbacks and is optimistic he can work the same trick with Dushyantor.
He believes the setback suffered by his colt - second favourite for Epsom with William Hill yesterday morning - is not as serious as first feared. "On Thursday morning Dushyantor was found to be sore on what was thought to be a ligament - I thought it could have been a suspensory," Cecil said. "This has turned out to be just a small infection of the coronet and his Derby preparation will resume on Monday."
Cecil has won the Derby three times - with Slip Anchor, Reference Point and Commander in Chief - but was out of luck last year when he had to scratch leading fancy Sebastian from Epsom two days before the race due to injury.
Dushyantor, a half brother to Commander in Chief, was quoted at 5 to 1 for the premier Classic by William Hill after he finished a half length second to Glory of Dancer in the Homeowners Dante Stakes at York on Wednesday.
Nash House finished only fourth when favourite for that contest but Chapple Hyam yesterday discovered a physical explanation for his modest showing.
The trainer, successful at Epsom with Dr Devious in 1992, said: "We have scoped him and he has a high white blood cell count and some sort of mild infection." Asked if the three year old would recover in time for Epsom, Chapple Hyam added: "I hope so!"
William Hill reacted to news of Dushyantor's infection by pushing his Derby price out to 7 to 1, with Glasgow Stakes winner Dr Massini now offered at 5 to 1 (in from 6 to 1) and 2,000 Guineas runner up Even Top 6 to 1 (from 7 to 1).
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