Lambourn on course to bid for Epsom-Curragh double
Betfred Derby hero Lambourn will face a maximum of nine rivals when he bids to follow up in the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby at the Curragh on Sunday.
The son of Australia provided trainer Aidan O'Brien with an 11th victory in the premier Classic at Epsom and is set to turn out three weeks later in a bid to emulate his sire and several other past Ballydoyle stars in becoming a dual Derby winner.
He could renew rivalry with the second and third from the Derby in Charlie Johnston's Lazy Griff and the Joseph O'Brien-trained Tennessee Stud, although connections of the former have warned rain is required if he is to make the trip across the Irish Sea.
Green Impact has won three of his five starts for Jessica Harrington and is a major contender if staying the mile and a half, while Ralph Beckett's Dante Stakes winner Pride Of Arras has the opportunity to put Epsom disappointment behind him on this more conventional track.
Beckett has also confirmed Sir Dinadan, with the potential field completed by four of Lambourn's stablemates in Puppet Master, Serious Contender, Thrice and Shackleton.
The previous afternoon sees Group One honours up for grabs in the Paddy Power Pretty Polly Stakes, for which 15 fillies and mares have stood their ground. Andrew Balding's Kalpana could return to the Curragh a month after finishing third behind Los Angeles and Anmaat in the Tattersalls Gold Cup, while O'Brien senior has left in Oaks second Whirl and French Oaks runner-up Bedtime Story, as well as Ecstatic.
Other contenders include Henry de Bromhead's Higher Leaves and David O'Meara's potential British challenger Estrange, who was tremendously impressive in winning the Group Three Lester Piggott Stakes at Haydock on her most recent start.
Chris Richardson, managing director for Estrange's owners Cheveley Park Stud, said: 'We're just going to have a look. We're probably favouring the Lancashire Oaks at Haydock the following week, but we're just going to watch the rainfall.
'It's all to play for really, I don't quite know what we're going to do. I think they're likely to get some rain at the end of next week at Haydock and they'll probably get some in Ireland as well, but I think the trip of a mile and a half at Haydock will probably suit her betterrather than going back to a slightly shorter trip on Saturday.
'We'll see what Mrs Thompson (owner) wants to do.'
Meanwhile, Lake Forest could be in line for a quick return to action in the Al Basti Equiworld Criterion Stakes at York on Saturday.
The William Haggas-trained four-year-old was most recently seen finishing fifth in the Queen Anne on the opening day of Royal Ascot, where he was beaten less than three lengths in a field of 10.
He is a prior Knavesmire winner, taking the Gimcrack as a two-year-old, and may now head back to the scene of that victory for the Group Three Criterion, formerly run at Newmarket's July course.
'The way the race was run at Ascot just didn't suit him, they went slowly and then about four furlongs out they just blasted for home,' said Sean Graham, racing manager to co-owner Tony Bloom.
'He was caught in no man's land, but he wasn't even beaten three lengths and I thought it was a decent run. It was a proper Group One with some very good horses involved. He's entered for York on Saturday and William is thinking of running him.
'He's a tough, hardy horse and he likes the quick ground — we'd like to get another run into him before the weather changes.'
Lake Forest's last victory came in the Golden Eagle at Rosehill in November, where he defeated Jerome Reynier's Lazzat by half a length in a field full of top-level horses, earning the best part of £3 million (€3.5m) for first place.Lazzat was also at Royal Ascot, advertising the form of their prior meeting with success in the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes.'In the race he won in Australia there were eight or nine Group
One winners. He's got the form in the book there, he just needs to reproduce that run,' Graham said.'The key to the horse is he needs a strong, evenly-run pace, the prize-money is very good at York for a Group Three so hopefully they'll all run and there'll be a true gallop in the race.'
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