Winchester has Irish Derby in his sights

WINCHESTER will be fancied to earn a crack at the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby by winning tonight’s Nolan & Brophy Auctioneers Silver Stakes at the Curragh.

This strapping son of Theatrical, trained by Dermot Weld, created a very favourable impression when beating Moonstone in a ten-furlong Leopardstown maiden back in April, a race which has already produced four winners.

Weld has always held Winchester in high regard and resisted the temptation to run him in both the Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial and Gallinule Stakes, preferring to wait for slightly easier ground and a suitable stepping-stone to a possible Irish Derby challenge.