JOHN REID yesterday insisted that he was not to blame for Revoque's reversal in the 2,000 Guineas on Saturday. He claimed that circumstances meant that he had no option but to sit and wait for the gaps on the big-race favourite.
Once clear, Revoque made relentless late headway but was still three quarters of a length adrift of Entrepreneur at the finish.
The colt's owner Robert Sangster reckoned he might have won by three lengths had he had the run of the race. But Reid said: "I don't know that I could have done anything different. The race was decided in the first three strides.
"He didn't jump that badly but he didn't show enough immediate speed and the field has come across and I've had to snatch up. I had to sit and suffer and hope the field would break up but it didn't and when I finally got out I had a lot of work to do. It was only when he hit the dip that he has run on.
"I wanted to be on top of the pace just off the front. With hindsight I could have come out of the boxes and given him two cracks but that's not the way to ride a classic. If I'd had a position I'd have made Entrepreneur go. Instead we've come from an impossible position.
Entrepreneur and Revoque could face a re-match at Epsom in the Vodafone Derby but the Irish 2,000 Guineas in three weeks time looks set to be the next objective.
Reid added: "The Curragh will suit Revoque much better with its uphill climb. But he should certainly get a mile and a quarter and we will have to see about the mile and a half."
Entrepreneur, who heads straight to Epsom, needs to improve by another 7lbs to match the end of season rating of Nashwan, the last 2,000 Guineas winner to lift the Derby. BHB handicapper Dominic Gardiner-Hill has rated the Michael Stoute colt's performance on 124, the equal of Mark of Esteem's win last year. But he is still below the marks attained by Zafonic (130), Rodrigo de Triano (127) and Pennekamp (125).
But bookmakers immediately installed Entrepreneur evens favourite to emulate Shergar, produced by Stoute to win the 1981 Derby in stunning fashion.
The son of Sadler's Wells is the brother of Oaks runner-up Dance A Dream and the 11 to 2 chance proved he possesses speed as well as stamina as Michael Kinane sent him to the front two furlongs out and maintained the gallop to hold of Revoque's challenge.
Poteen finished a length and a half back in third with outsider Starborough taking fourth, Zamindar fifth and Desert Story sixth.
Stoute has always rated Entrepreneur highly but he had played down the hype that had catapulted the colt to Derby and Guineas favouritism.
"From the time we started working this horse as a two-year-old he exuded class then. We have always been quite excited about this fellow," he said.
"I would be very hopeful that he will get the mile and a half trip. He has more speed than, Shergar and is brimful of promise.
Kinane, winning his second 2,000 Guineas, was released by Dermot Weld to take over on Entrepreneur after Walter Swinburn announced he was taking a sabbatical. Kinane said: "I realise I wouldn't have been riding this horse if it hadn't been for Wally's problems. He hope he gets back and is well.
"I wouldn't doubt that Entrepreneur has more stamina. I was very surprised at the acceleration he showed when I rode him during workout at Sandown. I came away from there with butterflies in my stomach."
