RACING:LAST WEEKEND'S Ballysax Stakes winner Light Heavy could attempt to open an avenue to June's Epsom Derby if travelling to the Surrey track for this Wednesday's Investec Derby Trial, writes BRIAN O'CONNOR.
The winner of the 10-furlong event gets an automatic entry into the Derby and Jim Bolger’s colt is among seven in the current 18-strong entry who don’t currently hold blue-riband entries.
“Light Heavy could run in the trial. We will look at the entries and then make a decision.
“He has come out of the Ballysax Stakes in good order,” Bolger said yesterday.
“If he runs the idea will be to try and gain a wild-card entry into the Derby as he is not currently entered.”
Bolger famously won the Derby four years ago with New Approach and he is expecting even better to come this season from Light Heavy.
“His progress this season hasn’t surprised us because we have always thought of him as a high-class colt, but he has taken his time to develop.
“He is the type of horse that will progress right through the season. If he doesn’t run in the Derby Trial, he will go to the Group Two Derrinstown Derby Trial at Leopardstown in May,” the trainer added.
Aidan O’Brien has left three in next week’s race – Imperial Monarch, Astrology and Thomasgainsborough.
The John Oxx-trained Call To Battle could head to the Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial back at Leopardstown on May 13th, or to Chester for the Chester Vase on May 10th.
