O'Brien looks to Epsom after Guineas double
Aidan O’Brien captured his fifth Boylesports Irish 2000 Guineas as Henrythenavigator completed a Classic double under Johnny Murtagh at the Curragh.
O’Brien, who sent out a 70-1 treble on the afternoon, saw his Royal Ascot two-year-old winner emphatically confirm Newmarket superiority over Jim Bolger’s New Approach.
A nose separated the pair at Headquarters, but the 11-10 favourite was a length and three-quarters adrift this time after Murtagh sailed past aboard O’Brien’s 5-4 shot well inside the final furlong.
Coral make Henrythenavigator their 7-2 favourite for the Vodafone Derby with Paddy Power and VC Bet offering 4s, William Hill 5-1 and Boylesports 6s.
Ladbrokes chose not to quote the colt for Epsom.
O’Brien added: “The Derby is very much in the picture, but obviously it is the boss (John Magnier) and Sue (Magnier) who will decide that. He is a definite possible as he is fit and well and handles all of the things.”
However, Murtagh was slightly more circumspect in talk of the Derby.
He said: “He has got a lot of speed and a great turn of foot, but I am not sure about a mile and a half. When we go home and work him one more time it will tell us which direction we are going to go.
“I wouldn’t be disappointed if I was told I was riding him in the Derby though!”
With a lack of rain in Kildare in recent days, Bolger was unhappy with ground conditions with the official going having been changed to firm following a dry Friday night.
Bolger said: “I think it is unfair that we didn’t have proper Guineas ground. There was no need to have firm ground and he was leaning left all the time. He will come back here for the Irish Derby if the ground is good.”
The middle leg of O’Brien’s hat-trick came as the Colm O’Donoghue-ridden Astronomer Royal, winner of the French 2000 Guineas 12 months ago, successfully dropped back to six furlongs in the Weatherbys Ireland Greenlands Stakes.
After disappointing in last weekend’s Lockinge at Newbury, the 8-1 chance quickened from off the pace over the shorter trip and came with a telling late burst to see off stablemate Abraham Lincoln by half a length.
O’Brien said: “He’ll go to Royal Ascot now for the King’s Stand or Golden Jubilee. Both races are options and he has the speed for five furlongs.”
Paddy Power make the Danzig colt a 20-1 chance for the Golden Jubilee, with William Hill offering 25-1 for the King’s Stand.
O’Brien is also targeting Royal Ascot with Heart Shaped after the daughter of Storm Cat reversed recent placings with Silver Shoon to land the Listed T P Waters Chrysler Jeep EBF Marble Hill Stakes.
O’Brien added of Murtagh’s mount: “She came forward from her first run and is a lovely, fast filly. We hope to take her to the Queen Mary now.”
Murtagh completed a 62-1 treble of his own in the Boylesports Fon-A-bet 1800 44 00 00 Handicap aboard 7-1 chance Summit Surge.
