D'Arcy eyeing tilt at Irish prize

Trainer Paul d’Arcy is contemplating a crack at the Irish 2000 Guineas with Indian Haven after his luckless run at Newmarket.

The colt, winner of the European Free Handicap, finished 14th of 20 runners in a rough renewal of the Sagitta 2000 Guineas yesterday.

Indian Haven and jockey John Egan met with any amount of trouble, being hampered over six furlongs out before again suffering interference over a furlong from home. They finished seven lengths off the winner Refuse To Bend.

D’Arcy believes the decision to place the stalls on the stands side of the track may have been to blame.

“It was very unlucky and very disappointing because you only get one shot at a race like that,” he said.

“I think the powers that be made a huge mistake in putting the stalls on the stands side in a race like that. They should be placed in the middle of the track to give everybody a fair chance.

“He was drawn one and didn’t get any sort of a run.”

D’Arcy is planning to see how the Indian Ridge colt progresses before making a decision on whether to have a crack at the Curragh on May 24.

“He’s a very brave horse, he’s very tough. John said he was nearly on the floor twice but got back up and back on to the bridle,” he said.

“There’s a possibility he could go to Ireland, but we’ll have to see how well he comes out of this race as he had a hard race for nothing.”

Royal Ascot may also be on the agenda as Indian Haven holds an entry in the St James’s Palace Stakes, and D’Arcy is also considering dropping the horse back to seven furlongs in the Jersey Stakes.

“I’ll discuss it with the owners but there’s also Royal Ascot,” he added.

“I think he would be as effective over seven furlongs at a track like Ascot, where they set such a quick pace.”