Harrington hoping for maximum Impact in Irish Derby
Green Impact winning the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby would be 'top of the list' according to Jessica Harrington, eclipsing her Cheltenham Gold Cup and Champion Chase-winning exploits over obstacles.
Harrington is perhaps mostly known for the long and distinguished career of star two-mile chaser Moscow Flyer and the subsequent blue riband win of Sizing John, but she has also made her mark on the level and having bagged the Irish 1,000 Guineas and Irish Oaks previously now has her eye on the Curragh's elite contest for three-year-old colts.
Harrington said: 'These are very important races and ones that are recognised worldwide – just like winning a Champion Chase and Gold Cup in the National Hunt sphere, but winning an Irish Derby would be fantastic.
'It would very much be top of the list, so I would love to win the Irish Derby.'
Irish Derby hope Green Impact and his regular work rider Sean Byrne in action at Jessica Harrington's this morning pic.twitter.com/RelLCPKjmI
— PA Racing (@PAracing) June 25, 2025
Green Impact has won three of his four starts since narrowly beaten on debut at the Curragh during Irish Derby weekend 12 months ago, accounting for Delacroix in the Futurity Trophy at Doncaster on his final juvenile start.
He impressed when winning the Glencairn Stakes at Leopardstown earlier this month, a welcome confidence booster after losing a shoe at a vital stage of the 2000 Guineas on his return.
Harrington added: 'I wouldn't say he didn't get the run of the race in the 2000 Guineas as he travelled into the race great, but when he got down to the dip he went to change his legs and went to go and try to win the race and he then just lost a shoe and got a bit unbalanced and ended up finishing sixth.
'At the time I was disappointed but coming out of that race afterwards he was sore and so we gave him a bit of time. The intention was to go to the French Derby but we didn't get there, so we gave him the run in Leopardstown and all roads lead to the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby after that.'
Now the son of Wootton Bassett is a best price of 10-1 for his Classic assignment, as he prepares to tackle a mile and a half for the first time in a race that could feature the first three home from the Epsom equivalent.
'I think he'll benefit for the step up in trip, he won over a mile as a two-year-old and usually if they do that they stay,' added Harrington.
'He's by Wootton Bassett and out of a Galileo mare and he's also a very laid-back character and very relaxed and easy to do anything with, so I think he will stay.
'It's a big task and everyone looks and sees only 10 runners, but the majority of those 10 runners are quality horses.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Glasgow Times
2 hours ago
- Glasgow Times
New-look Lionesses head to Switzerland looking to conquer Europe once again
The Lionesses are tasked with defending their first major title at this summer's European Championship, having lifted the trophy at Wembley and transformed women's football across the country. But four of Sarina Wiegman's unchanged starting line-up from 2022 have now retired. Ellen White hung up her boots shortly after, then Rachel Daly retired from international football in 2024. FIFA Best and Sports Personality of the Year-winning goalkeeper Mary Earps shockingly called time on her England career late last month, quickly followed by attacking midfielder Fran Kirby. Add an announcement from World Cup captain Millie Bright, who made herself unavailable for selection in order to address her physical and mental health, and some started to wonder if this could be a summer of struggle for England. But the Lionesses have brushed aside that speculation, insisting once again this is a 'new England' ahead of their title defence. Arsenal striker Russo has a bigger role to play this summer (Bradley Collyer/PA) While many of Wiegman's 13 2022 returnees – like Arsenal striker Alessia Russo and Chelsea goalkeeper Hannah Hampton – have significantly stepped up in responsibility, seven major tournament newcomers will also be looking to make their mark. Aggie Beever-Jones has enjoyed a breakout season at Chelsea, last month completing a hat-trick on her Wembley debut for England, while 19-year-old Michelle Agyemang – who has returned to Arsenal after a Brighton loan spell – scored 41 seconds into her maiden senior international appearance in April. Stalwarts like Chelsea defender Lucy Bronze – heading into her seventh major tournament and fourth consecutive Euros – will provide the experience. And while England may not be able to replicate the magic of that maiden trophy on home soil, winning one away from home would be another historic achievement. Wales have qualified for their first major tournament (Nick Potts/PA) Wales, meanwhile, qualified for their first major tournament after beating the Republic of Ireland in a dramatic 2-1 second-leg victory to win their play-off 3-2 on aggregate. Boss Rhian Wilkinson has used Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon), Wales' highest peak, as a metaphor for their mission in Switzerland. Wales are the lowest-ranked team in the Euros, drawn in a very difficult group with holders England, 2017 winners the Netherlands and 2022 semi-finalists France, but Wilkinson has insisted her side are not simply just happy to be included. CARFAN CYMRU 🏴 On the plane to #WEURO2025! ✈️🇨🇭 — Wales 🏴 (@Cymru) June 19, 2025 Speaking from the top of Yr Wyddfa, she said: 'As we've moved towards the Euros we've talked about the summit, the Everest part of it. That something is impossible until it isn't. 'Outside Wales people can think whatever they want. 'Our goal is to show up and deliver to the best of our ability. I am sure people will be looking up Wales on a map very soon.'
The Herald Scotland
3 hours ago
- The Herald Scotland
WNBA team values are soaring. It's time player salaries did, too
The implication of this kind of hand-wringing, of course, is that the leagues can't possibly have the money needed to give the players what they're asking. But it's usually more negotiating tactic than reality, a way of moving the bar lower. The WNBA won't have that luxury this time around. Sportico released its latest valuation of the 13 WNBA teams on Tuesday, and the numbers are jaw-dropping. The Golden State Valkyries lead the league with a $500 million valuation, which is a whopping 10 times what owners Joe Lacob and Peter Gruber paid to get the expansion team just two years ago. The average valuation is $269 million, and six teams are worth $250 million or more. Now, those numbers pale in comparison to the $10 billion the Los Angeles Lakers sold for last week. But aside from the fact the W is still playing catchup, beginning 50 years after the NBA, that average valuation of $269 million is a 180% increase from last year. And that, according to Sportico, is more than double the previous record gain by a sports league. To put it simply, the W is a growth stock. A rocket-fueled one. And the players know it. "This is a defining moment for the WNBA. As the league grows, it's time for a CBA that reflects our true value," Chicago Sky veteran Elizabeth Williams said over the weekend, echoing a message shared by several other player reps. "We're fighting for a fair share of the business that we built. It's business. We're not fighting for anything unreasonable. We're fighting to share in the growth that we've created," Williams added. "Every other category across this business has grown: Media rights, ticket sales, team values. The only thing that's still capped is player salaries. We deserve our fair share. We're demanding salaries that reflect our true value. Again, it's business." Negotiations between the WNBA and the Players Association are private, so it's unclear what prompted the collective warning from players over the weekend. Maybe they got wind of Sportico's valuations. Maybe it's a result of the op-ed in the New York Times earlier this month by Noble Prize-winning economist Claudia Goldin, who said W players are making 1/80th of what NBA players make rather than the one quarter or one third that would be required for equitable pay. And before the peanut gallery chimes in, W players are not asking for LeBron money. They're not even asking for Cooper Flagg money, assuming he's the No. 1 pick that he's expected to be Wednesday night. What they are asking for is a fair share, and the W and its owners are going to have to open their wallets to get them there. Currently, W players get about 10% of the league's revenues. That's less -- way less -- than the roughly 50% of revenues that players in the NBA, NFL, MLB and NHL get. Yes, the W has stepped up, finally providing charter flights last year for the entire season and boosting the payout for the Commissioner's Cup. Some individual teams now have their own practice facilities, an "amenity" that's been a given in men's sports for years. But there's more to be done. Much more. This isn't a charity project, either. The Sportico valuations confirm what has been evident for the last five years: There is money to be made in women's sports. A lot of it. But sports are driven by stars, not owners. Fans are shelling out for tickets, merch and the league pass because of Caitlin Clark, A'ja Wilson, Napheesa Collier, Angel Reese, Breanna Stewart and Paige Bueckers, not because of any owner. Which means the players need to be equal partners. "The current system is unsustainable for us and that means it's unsustainable for the business that we created. Nothing short of transformational change will do for the future we see and the fans clearly see," Williams said. "So we're paying attention." The W players know their value. More importantly, they know the value of the league and its teams, too. Follow USA TODAY Sports columnist Nancy Armour on social media @nrarmour.
Rhyl Journal
3 hours ago
- Rhyl Journal
New-look Lionesses head to Switzerland looking to conquer Europe once again
The Lionesses are tasked with defending their first major title at this summer's European Championship, having lifted the trophy at Wembley and transformed women's football across the country. But four of Sarina Wiegman's unchanged starting line-up from 2022 have now retired. Squad photo: first club edition 😍#MadeForThisGame — Lionesses (@Lionesses) June 24, 2025 Ellen White hung up her boots shortly after, then Rachel Daly retired from international football in 2024. FIFA Best and Sports Personality of the Year-winning goalkeeper Mary Earps shockingly called time on her England career late last month, quickly followed by attacking midfielder Fran Kirby. Add an announcement from World Cup captain Millie Bright, who made herself unavailable for selection in order to address her physical and mental health, and some started to wonder if this could be a summer of struggle for England. But the Lionesses have brushed aside that speculation, insisting once again this is a 'new England' ahead of their title defence. While many of Wiegman's 13 2022 returnees – like Arsenal striker Alessia Russo and Chelsea goalkeeper Hannah Hampton – have significantly stepped up in responsibility, seven major tournament newcomers will also be looking to make their mark. Aggie Beever-Jones has enjoyed a breakout season at Chelsea, last month completing a hat-trick on her Wembley debut for England, while 19-year-old Michelle Agyemang – who has returned to Arsenal after a Brighton loan spell – scored 41 seconds into her maiden senior international appearance in April. Stalwarts like Chelsea defender Lucy Bronze – heading into her seventh major tournament and fourth consecutive Euros – will provide the experience. And while England may not be able to replicate the magic of that maiden trophy on home soil, winning one away from home would be another historic achievement. Wales, meanwhile, qualified for their first major tournament after beating the Republic of Ireland in a dramatic 2-1 second-leg victory to win their play-off 3-2 on aggregate. Boss Rhian Wilkinson has used Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon), Wales' highest peak, as a metaphor for their mission in Switzerland. Wales are the lowest-ranked team in the Euros, drawn in a very difficult group with holders England, 2017 winners the Netherlands and 2022 semi-finalists France, but Wilkinson has insisted her side are not simply just happy to be included. CARFAN CYMRU 🏴 On the plane to #WEURO2025! ✈️🇨🇭 — Wales 🏴 (@Cymru) June 19, 2025 Speaking from the top of Yr Wyddfa, she said: 'As we've moved towards the Euros we've talked about the summit, the Everest part of it. That something is impossible until it isn't. 'Outside Wales people can think whatever they want. 'Our goal is to show up and deliver to the best of our ability. I am sure people will be looking up Wales on a map very soon.'
