Aqaleem misses Irish date

Vodafone Derby third Aqaleem will sidestep Sunday’s Budweiser Irish Derby at the Curragh.

Trainer Marcus Tregoning has decided to take the traditional route to the St Leger in September instead, with Goodwood’s Gordon Stakes and the Great Voltigeur Stakes at York likely targets.

Tregoning told the Racing Post: “We considered supplementing Aqaleem for the Curragh, but the ground there will probably be softer than ideal and we’ve decided on an alternative programme in the lead-up to Doncaster.”