Right Approach flops at Sandown

Highly-regarded Royal colt Right Approach was taken out of the betting for the Vodafone Derby after managing only third place behind Simeon in the Heathorns Classic Trial at Sandown today.

It is said reputations are there to be shot at and that of the Machiavellian colt regarded as the Queen`s best Derby hope in years took both barrels as he failed to get in a blow in the four-runner 10-furlongs event.

Failure to settle was the excuse offered for the defeat of the Machiavellian colt who trailed in six and a half lengths behind Mark Johnston`s progressive charge.

'He was obviously disappointing,' said trainer Sir Michael Stoute.

'He didn`t travel as well as we would have liked. We would have liked him to settle better.'

Regarding the possibility of another run before the Derby, the trainer commented: 'I won`t make any decision now.'

However, most of the bookmaking fraternity have already made their own views known about the chances of Right Approach giving his owner that elusive Derby success.

Two of them, Ladbrokes and Victor Chandler, deleted him from their lists while William Hill, Coral and Paddy Power lengthened his price to 20-1 from at least half that figure.

It remains to be seen whether or not the vanquished will appear at Epsom Downs on the second Saturday in June but it is almost certain the victor will not.

Simeon began this season`s campaign just 23 days ago winning a class C event at Ripon before following up 10 days later in a Haydock handicap.

His superior fitness was obviously a factor in today`s race as he stayed on powerfully up the hill to come home four lengths ahead of runner up Kaieteur after making all.

It was a performance which will earn him a break and his trainer refused to be committed on the question of his inmate being supplemented at a cost of STg£90,000 for the Derby.

'That is up to the owner,' he said. 'But the supplementary fees are crazy.'

Johnson explained Simeon had previously had problems with his temperament.

If Simeon took the honours in the Flat part of today`s mixed card then Tony McCoy once again grabbed the headlines on the National Hunt front with a short-priced double.

Having performed a 'steering job' on 4-5 chance Demasta in the opening attheraces.co.uk Handicap Chase he was seen at his battling best in the following Masai Hurdle race when booting home Copeland (6-4) to a dramatic short head success over Intersky Falcon.