Sky suffers scare ahead of Derby; Weld horse on target

Sir Michael Stoute’s Snow Sky has suffered a scare ahead of Saturday’s Investec Derby after banging a joint in his box overnight.

The Khalid Abdullah-owned colt booked his place in the Epsom line-up with an impressive display in the Lingfield Derby Trial, after which connections decided to let him take his chance in the blue riband.

After a smooth preparation Abdullah’s racing manager Teddy Grimthorpe issued a statement reporting that the colt’s participation is now under threat.

He said: “(Sir) Michael Stoute has reported that the above colt (Snow Sky) banged a joint overnight. He will be kept monitored over the next 24 hours and a decision on his participation in the Investec Derby will be made thereafter.”

One horse who remains on target for the Classic is Dermot Weld's Fascinating Rock, who has done everything asked of him this season.

The colt progressed from winning a Leopardstown maiden to claim the Ballysax at Navan and was then be awarded the Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial in the Stewards’ room after being touched off by Ebanoran.

While Weld’s Oaks hopeful Tarfasha would be unsuited by any rain that falls before the meeting gets underway, jockey Pat Smullen is unconcerned what the weather does before the Derby as Fascinating Rock has already shown his versatility.

“I think nice ground would be his ideal thing, as it would for most horses, but if the weather broke and it came up soft he has handled bad ground twice so far this year which is a plus, but I’ve always felt he will be a better horse on nicer ground,” Smullen told At The Races.

“Whatever the weather does it won’t inconvenience him.”