Oxx pulls plug on Ehsan

John Oxx has pulled the plug on any lingering hopes of Ehsan running in the Vodafone Epsom Derby but hasn't ruled out a bright future for the Aga Khan- owned colt.

Ehsan was a general 10 to 1 fourth favourite going into the weekend but those claims looked distinctly hollow after running only fifth of six behind Im Spartacus in the Group Three Gallinule Stakes.

He remained as short as 14 to 1 with Stanleybet yesterday but Oxx ruled Ehsan out of Saturday week's blue riband.

"Quite honestly I was happy with the run. If you saw the work he does at home you would not be impressed.

"He actually improved a good bit from his maiden but it is still not Derby form and he will not be going to Epsom," he said.

"He is not in that league at the moment. He was looking about the place on Sunday and he is still an inexperienced colt. If he'd had a pacemaker he might have got into the photo but he needs time and he could develop into something in the future," Oxx added.

The Currabeg stables Derby hopes will now depend on Alayan who remains on course to run in the Prix du Jockey Club at Chantilly on Sunday week. The race will be run over a mile and a quarter for the first time.

The Curragh trainer also reported Azamour to have emerged in "perfect" shape from his unlucky effort in the Tattersalls Gold Cup. Significantly Oxx also left open the possibility of his star four-year-old running for the first time over a mile and a half in July's King George at Newbury.

"He's a long price for the King George because I think I said he wouldn't try a mile and a half until later in the year. But we haven't made a decision about the King George one way or the other. He will be entered and it is still a possibility. But we will get the Prince Of Wales Stakes out of the way first," he said.

Oxx described as "unfortunate" the run Azamour got during Sunday's defeat by Grey Swallow but pointed to an incident early in the race that cost Michael Kinane dearly.

"Bago squeezed him up after they'd gone a furlong and he was shuffled back from third to last. That's where the problems started because he wasn't in the position he wanted to be," he concluded.

David Wachman still has the Epsom option for his star colt Fracas but no final decision has yet been taken on where the horse, owned like Saoire by the Galway builder Joe Joyce, runs next. "He is definitely in the mix of things," Wachman said yesterday. "He's okay, in good shape and he's a possible for Epsom. I'll walk the track there next week if I get the chance."

Wachman also pointed to the Coronation Stakes at York next month as a target for both Luas Line and Damson, third and ninth respectively in Sunday's 1,000 Guineas.

The Coronation is also a possible target for Saoire but her trainer, Frances Crowley, yesterday reported that a definite race for her Guineas winner will be July's Darley Irish Oaks.

This evening's Sligo meeting depends on the track passing a 7.30 morning inspection which was called yesterday due to an unfavourable weather forecast. The course was raceable yesterday but if racing does get the green light no stalls will be in operation.