McCoy salutes old boss Bolger

Tony McCoy has paid tribute to the training ability of Jim Bolger in the wake of New Approach’s brilliant victory in the Vodafone Derby at Epsom.

The perennial champion jump jockey spent four of his teenage years learning the basics at Bolger’s stables in County Carlow before moving over to England in 1994 to continue his own flourishing career.

McCoy was riding at Worcester on Saturday, but managed to watch on television as New Approach gave Bolger his first victory in the premier Classic.

“It was great for him. It didn’t surprise me that he won the Derby. It just shows what a good trainer he is,” McCoy told PA Sport.

“He’s obviously a very ambitious person – I should think he wants to win every big race and the Derby, if not the biggest, is certainly one of the biggest.

“I just think he’s pleased that he’s disappointed a lot of people by winning it.”

McCoy was referring to Bolger’s critics over the ’will New Approach run or not’ saga that added controversy to the colt’s superb victory.

“I bet he didn’t know much about the criticism, especially when it was coming from the people it was coming from. I don’t think it would have bothered him too much,” McCoy went on.

He revealed what it was like to have Bolger as a boss.

“He’s a brilliant trainer, obviously. He’s someone you lean an awful lot from,” he remarked.

“I was there for four and a half years and I learned after about four and a half minutes it was better to shut up watch and listen than have any arguments with him, and it didn’t do me any harm.”

Irish Derby winner St Jovite and Epsom Oaks heroine Jet Ski Lady were racing during McCoy’s time with Bolger.

“He had both horses when I was there and he’s got a lot of good ones at the moment,” McCoy went on.

“You don’t become such a successful owner, breeder and trainer purely from luck and I should think he was more than pleased to win the Derby.

“I haven’t spoken to him since the race, but I’m going to Tom Doyle’s, which is near Jim’s in a couple of weeks, so I’ll see him then.”

Luca Cumani is no hurry to make plans for Curtain Call following his disappointing run in the big race.

The colt was strongly fancied to give the Newmarket trainer a Derby third victory but finished a well-beaten 10th.

“He’s fine, 100%. It was a disappointing run. We’ll put it behind us and go forward,” said Cumani.

“We’ll see how he is over the next 10 days, how he comes out of the race and everything else and then we’ll make a plan.”

Tajaaweed looks set to be dropped in distance following his creditable effort.

The Dee Stakes winner, trained by Sir Michael Stoute, faded into eighth place in the closing stages after making his challenge early in the straight.

“We’ll certainly be dropping him in trip. We’re going to give him a bit of time, we are not going to be rushing him anywhere,” said Angus Gold, racing manager to owner Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum.

“I’m sure Sheikh Hamdan will want to give him a bit of time.”

Gold was happy with Tajaaweed’s performance and believes it was an above-average renewal of the Derby.

“I was thrilled with him and it was a very good Derby I thought,” he went on.

“It was very satisfying to see the top two-year-old go on and win the Derby, it was a top-class performance.”