Curragh would suit Dancer, says Holland

Darryll Holland believes the Curragh would suit Vodafone Derby runner-up Dragon Dancer much better than Epsom did.

The Geoff Wragg-trained colt was short-headed on the line by Sir Percy in the premier Classic on Saturday and could bid to go one better and finally lose his maiden tag in the Budweiser Irish Derby next month.

“He’s very much a galloper” said Holland. “He’s got that in his pedigree.

“The Curragh would suit him. It’s a nice stiff track and he’d be able to get a good position there.

“I think ultimately he’d go a bit further and he could be a Leger horse.”

Despite his agonising defeat on Dragon Dancer, Holland admitted he would have settled for the runner-up spot before the race.

“I thought he’d won. He’d been contesting quite nice races and he’s improved with every run,” the jockey told At The Races.

“He’s taken on good company and I knew he wouldn’t disgrace himself. To be honest if anybody had said would you take second I probably would.

“I thought he would finish in the first six and I knew he’d give me a good ride.”