Master Speaker has Curragh target Adrian McGuinness is looking forward to running Master Speaker over Irish Derby weekend at the Curragh after a promising second place in a premier handicap. The eight-year-old gelding chased home Saltonstall in the E50,000 'Habitat' Handicap at Headquarters last month. He took credit from that performance as Saltonstall has been mooted as a possible for the Royal Hunt Cup at Royal Ascot. McGuinness said: “He has been thriving in his work and heads for the big mile handicap on Derby weekend. We did look at (Royal) Ascot but we would struggle to get in unless he won the last day. “We were a little bit worried if he would get a mile and we rode him with patience but he finished strongly. “He’s very versatile — he handles quick ground but has very good form on soft ground. I think he wants nice ground which we will get at the Curragh on Derby weekend. “We’ll keep him to seven furlongs and a mile. He’s on a nice mark.” Master Speaker has four career victories — three on the Polytrack at Dundalk and one in the Curragh. He has also been runner-up 15 times.
