'Perfect ground' for Irish Derby

Conditions on the Budweiser Irish Derby course at the Curragh are reported to be perfect ahead of the big race on Sunday.

“We have perfect ground. We’ve had a little rain this morning, maybe some showers this afternoon,” said racecourse manager Paul Hensey.

“After that it looks like we’re going to have a clear run to the weekend and the Met Office are very optimistic about the weather for the weekend.

“Today we are going to do some light watering on the straight course – just probably about five or six millimetres basically just to match it up with the Derby course.

“The Derby course is beautiful good ground, there’s no need to go near that at the moment.

“If there are a few showers this afternoon I think that will leave it perfect for the weekend.

“It’s a really good race when you consider you have got the first and second from the French Derby and the second and third from the Epsom Derby and a number of other good horses including the winner of the Italian Derby has come into the race as well so it’s a truly international race and very exciting once again.

“We were initially disappointed that Sir Percy didn’t come but the quality is there again in the field,” Hensey told At The Races.