Elsworth Hoping To Provide Derby Punch

David Elsworth is hoping Classic Punch can evoke memories of his half-brother Persian Punch in Sunday's Budweiser Irish Derby at the Curragh.

The popular stayer ran at the Irish venue twice during his amazing 63-race career and although Persian Punch never got his head in front in the Irish St Leger, he only just lost out to Oscar Schindler in 1997.

And Elsworth is hoping Classic Punch, who is also out of the mare Rum Cay, can restore the family honour with a good performance in Sunday's 12-furlong event.

Winner of a Windsor maiden on his seasonal bow earlier in the month, Classic Punch faces a huge step up to Group One company but Elsworth rates him alongside last week's Royal Ascot runners.

He said: 'We are going there shooting at the stars but this is a good horse. He would compare favourably with his stablemates Degas Art and Snoqualmie Boy (winner of the Hampton Court Stakes).

'Homework is never the same as trackwork but on what he has done so far he looks nice.

'He won well at Windsor and the second horse has franked the form, albeit in a very moderate race. The runner-up also finished third in the Wood Ditton and the winner of that race (Petrovich) ran well at Royal Ascot.

'He is a horse of considerable ability and he could have run at Epsom but the ground was fast and firm there so we thought we would wait for the Curragh.'

Persian Punch never won over less than 10 furlongs and the majority of Rum Cay's progeny have been winners at that distance or further.

However, Elsworth is not convinced Classic Punch will develop into a stayer as he is by July Cup winner Mozart.

'This will be the furthest he has been but he has only ran three times before,' he added.

'I don't know about him getting further than a mile and a half ? he is related to Persian Punch but you have to remember he is by Mozart as well.

'He is not a horse who showed a lot early on, but it is like playing poker. The quiet guy in the corner is always the one to watch.

'Whatever he does on Sunday he is a horse to note for the future.'

William Hill make Classic Punch a 12-1 shot to live up to his name, with French raider Darsi remaining the 7-2 favourite to follow up his success in the French equivalent.

? PA Sport