Smullen has faith in Rock Pat Smullen is unlikely to lose any sleep over the prospect of soft ground for Fascinating Rock in the Investec Derby. The Dermot Weld-trained colt has been highly progressive in his three-year-old season, going from his maiden to the Ballysax at Navan and the Derrinstown Derby Trial at Leopardstown. He was promoted to first in the latter race, having suffered interference from first-past-the-post Ebanoran in what was a messy race. Smullen told At The Races: "If the ground is soft it won't inconvenience him. He won on bad ground at Navan and he has coped with bad conditions so far this year, so whatever the weather brings it won't inconvenience him. "Australia is probably a very good-actioned horse, there's no doubt that he'd probably be better on better ground and if the ground came up soft it might take that (turn of foot) away from him and give the rest of us a chance. "Fascinating Rock is a very good horse and is going there with a great chance. Our horse has stepped forward with every run this year and is going there in great form."
