Tiger eyes Derby

Racing News and preview: Aidan O'Brien said yesterday that the 2,000 Guineas flop Hold That Tiger could run next in the Epsom…

Racing News and preview: Aidan O'Brien said yesterday that the 2,000 Guineas flop Hold That Tiger could run next in the Epsom Derby.

Hold That Tiger started favourite for the Newmarket classic but never figured and was afterwards rated a 16 to 1 shot for the Derby by Paddy Power.

However O'Brien said: "It is possible he will go straight for the Derby. He obviously ran no race in the Guineas and is on a break at the moment.

"But our horses have started to run well again in the last few days and maybe we just ran him at a bad time. Whatever the devil it is but our horses seem to improve from their first run to the second and on to the third.

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"Alberto Giacometti (third in yesterday's Prix Lupin) ran a blinder and Mick (Kinane) said he showed a lot of improvement. He is a possible for Epsom too."

O'Brien's Catcher In The Rye (Kieren Fallon) was a fast finishing runner-up to Clodovil in the French 2,000 Guineas yesterday and could bid for compensation in the Irish 2,000 Guineas on Saturday week.

"Kieren said he was too green to go down the hill at Longchamp and didn't realise what was happening until the final furlong and a half. If he is alright we will look at the Irish Guineas," O'Brien said.

The Ballydoyle trainer has eight horses still left in Wednesday's Dante Stakes but added: "We probably won't have anything at York. We left them in just in case we couldn't get to France today."

Meanwhile, Barry Geraghty could have a profitable session at Killarney this evening. The Cork winner Bregogue looks to have a first-rate chance in the handicap chase and Geraghty has also a significant booking for Willie John Daly in the maiden hurdle.

Brian O'Connor

Brian O'Connor

Brian O'Connor is the racing correspondent of The Irish Times. He also writes the Tipping Point column