Midterm could still run in Derby Connections of Midterm are not ruling out a tilt at the Investec Derby despite his disappointing effort at York on Thursday. Sir Michael Stoute's colt was the hot favourite to stretch his career record to three from three in the Betfred Dante Stakes, but was in trouble a long way from home and passed the post a well-beaten fifth behind the John Gosden-trained winner Wings Of Desire. Teddy Grimthorpe, racing manager to Midterm's owner-breeder Khalid Abdullah, reported Midterm to be none the worse on Friday morning and while he is in no rush to commit to future targets, he left the option of heading to Epsom on June 4 open. "We were disappointed, there's no way getting away from it. He never got into a rhythm. He was keen at one minute and didn't really settle," Grimthorpe told Channel 4 Racing. "He got what looked to be a nice tow into the race behind the winner and just found not very much. "He's fine this morning, I've spoken to Michael, so I think we'll just have to let the dust settle a little bit. "No decision will be made on where he goes next. I wouldn't rule out Epsom, but I think we've just got to see how he is. "He will obviously have to impress in his well-being and everything else before he steps foot on a racecourse again. "He will get right, I'm sure of that."
