Heffernan set for glory bid
The Montjeu colt made a big impression on his reappearance in that Group Three heat over the course and distance last month and is 6-1 third-favourite for the Investec Derby at Epsom on June 6.
As a Group One winner last season he was penalised 5lb but that did not stop him from landing a smooth victory over Fergus McIver, Mourayan and Hail Caesar.
Those three plus Tanakali and Liszt, who finished further down the field, renew rivalry and Fame And Glory has just 3lb to give away to the opposition this time.
And Seamus Heffernan, who was aboard Hail Caesar that day, teams up with the unbeaten Fame And Glory as stable jockey Johnny Murtagh is in action for trainer Aidan O’Brien at Longchamp.
“I’m looking forward to it, Johnny (Murtagh) is in France so I’ve been asked to ride Fame And Glory and I’m delighted,” said Heffernan.
“He won it impressively for his first run of the year. I was fourth on Hail Caesar but he’s not up to the same class as Fame And Glory.
“I’ve won this race before on some very good horses and he seems to fit the bill so far. I’d be hopeful.
“He’s a Group One winner. We think he’s good so let’s hope he proves us right.
“It’s a rematch of the Ballysax, so we’ll see which has progressed the most. It’s a good race and may the best horse win.”
O’Brien is responsible for three of the runners while Mourayan is John Oxx’s number one hope of his two.
“He’s been in fine form. This race looks like a re-hash of the previous race, the Ballysax,” said the Currabeg trainer.
“Hopefully he’s stepping forward a little bit, he should be a bit sharper and a bit fitter as I’m sure Fame And Glory will be also.
“It will be interesting to see how they shape up to each other this time.
“He got stopped on the bend (in the Ballysax), he had to wait, saw them go past and then had to go after them.
“We were delighted with the way he finished out the last half-furlong so we are hopeful of a good run and hopefully it will be a good race between them. They might not be a lot between them really.”
Jim Bolger’s Fergus McIver, winner of an early April maiden at the Curragh, suffered a more disappointing defeat than the Ballysax when turned out again in last Sunday’s Gowran Park Classic Trial.
He was beaten five lengths in a heavy-ground mile and a half event by Oxx’s Alaivan and drops back two furlongs with Davy Moran retaining the ride.
Bolger said: “He’s doing well and I think the last run was not up to his usual standard – I’d be hoping he would run much better this time.”
Asked if Fame And Glory was the one to beat, Bolger said: “He would be. He looks a very good horse.”
Derrinastown Stud Derby Trial: Cashmans bet - 4/7 Fame And Glory, 6/4 Mourayan, 14 Fergus Mciver, 50 Hail Caesar, 100 Liszt, Loch Long, Tarankali.
