Murtagh has no doubts about Thomas
Murtagh takes the reins on Aidan O’Brien’s charge for the first time since the pair grabbed third behind Sir Percy in last year’s Derby.
And Murtagh, who won the midsummer feature on John Oxx’s Alamshar in 2003, believes the mile-and-a-half contest is still one of the highlights of the season, despite what is generally acknowledged to be a below-par field this year, with no three-year-old representative.
“It looks like it is going to be a tough race and hopefully there will be no ’heavy’ in the ground. I’m looking forward to riding him again,” he said.
“He’s finished second in his last two races, but both Manduro and Notnowcato who have beaten him are Group One winners themselves.”
Murtagh, who stepped in for the winning ride on Peeping Fawn in the Irish Oaks earlier this month, has been thrilled with his recent form in the saddle and hopes that continues in Berkshire.
“I’m having a real good run at the moment and it kind of snowballs. You get on one and the others follow – success breeds success,” he said.
“I’m really looking forward to it and it was great to get the call up, it’s the biggest race of the summer.”
“I won it on Alamshar a few years ago and I’m sure it will be just as sweet second time around.”
Dylan Thomas had been weak in the market yesterday as the likelihood of soft ground grew with every falling drop of rain.
However, following a more positive forecast, he was soon trading back at around the 13-8 mark on Betfair.
Taking nothing for granted, however, was Betfair spokesman Tony Calvin, who said: “At the moment the market has very much a watching brief to it, and I think punters will only start to seriously unload when they see how the ground rides.
“If the times suggest it is slower than thought, then Dylan may well lengthen once again.”
