Ruth hoping for Derby delight

HOPEFULLY we can cease writing about the weather and concentrate on the racing side of things and this week sees the commencement of the Tyrur McGuigan Open 575 at Shelbourne and the Vetsearch Kennedy Cup at Limerick.

But the big story of the week is the proposed all-out assault on the William Hill English Derby by trainer Dolores Ruth.

Dolores, who has had such a bitter sweet relationship with the Wimbledon classic, intends to run no fewer than eight of her charges in the classic and is planning a two-week sojourn in London in the near future during which she will give her team of runners two trials each around Wimbledon in preparation for the Derby and hopes to give some of them races on the Sky programme featuring the Springbok final on Tuesday, February 8th. She has Black Paws Down contesting that famed novice hurdle event.