Epsom off the agenda for Viren's Army Viren's Army is a possible for the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby after his owners decided against stumping up the £75,000 supplementary fee for the Investec Derby at Epsom. The three-year-old, who is owned by a Middleham Park Racing syndicate, propelled himself into the Classic frame when landing the Dee Stakes at Chester earlier this month. He had previously finished third behind So Mi Dar in the Derby Trial at Epsom and connections were considering adding the Richard Hannon-trained colt to the Epsom field at the five-day stage, after running in either Friday's EBF Stallions Cocked Hat Stakes at Goodwood or Sunday's Airlie Stud Gallinule Stakes at the Curragh. However, Middleham Park Racing syndicate manager Tim Palin has revealed Viren's Army will not take up either of those engagements and Epsom is now off the table, with a date at the sales the next event on the Twirling Candy colt's agenda. He said: "We have him in at Goodwood on Friday and in the Gallinule on Sunday and the plan was to run in one of them if they looked a penalty kick to top up the prize money. Neither looks easy, so we won't run in either. "A few of the owners were undecided about supplementing, but they've had their vote and decided not to. It's a prohibitive figure and he's 25-1 to win. If he was around 6-1, the maths would probably stack up. "There's the Italian Derby and the Irish Derby that he could in run, but there's only one Derby, I know. "His next date in public is at the Goffs sale on the eve of Royal Ascot and he has an entry in the Tercentenary Stakes. "We will test the waters and if he doesn't make his reserve, he will run in the Tercentenary."
