18+ | Commercial Content | T&Cs apply | Wagering and T&Cs apply | Play Responsibly | Advertising Disclosure

Irish Derby a possibility for Epsom flop Arrest

Arrest pictured on his way to victory in the Chester VaseArrest pictured on his way to victory in the Chester Vase
© Photo Healy Racing

Arrest, who went off Derby favourite and failed to deliver at Epsom, may seek to redeem himself in the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby at the Curragh next month.

Although the John and Thady Gosden-trained colt was the 4/1 favourite to win the premier Classic under Frankie Dettori, he weakened on the quickening ground, struggling to handle the Epsom undulations and ultimately finished tenth.

The Chester Vase winner's connections are considering their options, with Juddmonte's racing manager, Barry Mahon, confirming that a bid for Classic glory on July 2nd is a possibility.

"I met John and Thady in France on Sunday and they said he was fine and I was talking to them last night and they said he came out of it in good shape," he said.

"We'll see how he does in the next couple of weeks and give the Curragh some consideration. I think the track would suit him, as I think John said pre-Epsom, that the Curragh would suit him better being a more conventional track.

"We saw early on the other day he had a leg going in every direction and he was very unbalanced, so on a track like that he probably wants a bit of ease in the ground.

"I think on a more conventional track he’ll be fine on faster ground, but we won’t make any plans until we see how he is."

The Ralph Beckett-trained Bluestocking looked an obvious Oaks candidate for Juddmonte after winning on her Salisbury debut and being narrowly beaten on her reappearance in Listed company at Newbury.

But the team skipped Epsom and she will now either head for Royal Ascot or across the Channel for the French Oaks.

Mahon added: "She worked well on Tuesday morning and has the option of the Ribblesdale and she also has the option of the Prix de Diane as well.

"She’s a filly who probably won’t want rattling fast ground, so that will probably sway us as to where we end up going. If the forecast was mostly dry and Ascot was looking very quick, then we could consider going to France as I know there is rain forecast for there early next week."

On the decision to sidestep Epsom, Mahon added: "It was purely down to a lack of experience. You need a bit of experience to handle a track like that.

"It would have been her third run and if you're very street-wise and it's your third run it's fine, but we saw at Newbury she was quite green and looked inexperienced and cold.

"To be green on a conventional track like that I think didn’t bode well for Epsom, so we all felt we’d give her a bit more time and run her on a more conventional track."