Derby considered for Norse Dancer

Connections of Sagitta 2002 Guineas third Norse Dancer are considering supplementing him for the Vodafone Derby following his fine run at Newmarket.

They will decide after the Halling colt’s next outing which is likely to be the Tote Dante Stakes at York on Wednesday week.

In an important week for the bang-in-form David Elsworth stable the trainer could also throw up a second possible Derby candidate in Foodbroker Founder who is likely to take his chance in the Bet Attheraces On 0800 083 83 83 Derby Trial at Lingfield on Saturday.

Reflecting on Norse Dancer’s fine effort at 100-1 to chase home Refuse To Bend and Zafeen at Newmarket, Elsworth said: “It’s a question of whether we keep him to a mile and go for the Irish Guineas or try further at York and if that was the case and he pleases us he could be supplemented into the Derby.

“One had to be pleased with his performance but he had been giving us good signals at home and while you might question the value of the form it’s rare that the Guineas fails to hold up in the fullness of time.”

Elsworth added that Foodbroker Founder, a colt by Groom Dancer, would take his chance at Lingfield and had pleased him since his own come-back outing.

The stable’s evergreen stayer Persian Punch will not run in the Emirates Airline Yorkshire Cup at York next week and will instead go to Newbury the following weekend for the Aston Park Stakes, a Listed race over a mile and five furlongs.

Elsworth has had to wait longer than usual to bring back Persian Punch who did very well out at grass and this race is being viewed as a stepping stone towards the Ascot Gold Cup.

Elsworth added: “He’s won the race before and was just beaten in a close finish on another occasion.

I shall have a runner in the Yorkshire Cup as I am keen to send Gulf there after his good run in the Surrey Herald Queen’s Prize at Kempton.”