Preparation for English Derby will be rushed

THE summer staging of the London Olympics and the Euro Championships have had the combined effect of making the early season build-up to the English Derby a rather rushed affair.

The English Derby will commence on Thursday, April 26 with the final scheduled for Saturday, May 26. So, if trainers wish to give their contenders a few preparatory races ora a trial or two around Wimbledon, they will need to be getting their dogs back into action a little earlier than normal.

The early season Irish calendar isn’t exactly crammed with suitable warm-up events for an English Derby challenge.