Derby hero ‘60-40’ to go for Eclipse

MARCUS TREGONING has warned followers of his Vodafone Derby winner Sir Percy to hold their bets on the colt for the Irish equivalent on July 2.

The once-beaten son of Mark Of Esteem just got up in a thrilling finish to the premier Classic at the weekend, edging out Dragon Dancer and Dylan Thomas by a short head and a head respectively, with the unlucky Hala Bek another short head away in fourth. Stan James introduced the colt at a top-priced 11-4 for the Budweiser-sponsored contest at the Curragh, a price he shares with Hala Bek, while Coral have seen support for the latter and make him 2-1 favourite, with Sir Percy a 9-4 chance. Cashmans meanwhile make Sir Percy 5-2 'with a run'. But speaking at a media day at his Kingwood House Stables just outside Lambourn yesterday, Tregoning said he was: “60/40” in favour of running Sir Percy in the Coral-Eclipse Stakes at Sandown on July 8.

The trainer is tempted by several factors to go to Sandown, including a desire to drop back to a mile and a quarter and not to subject Sir Percy to his first overnight stay in order to run in Ireland. “While our minds are open and I have still to discuss a plan with his owners, I can see a lot of advantages in running him in another Group One over a mile and a quarter, rather than travelling him in order to take in another mile and a half race,” he explained.