RACING/News and Fairyhouse preview: Dermot Weld has postponed a decision about running In Time's Eye in the Epsom Derby until the end of the week.
The colt worked satisfactorily on Monday but his trainer is keen to see what changes there will be in ground conditions.
"He is a fast ground horse and the going is very different at the moment," said Weld about In Time's Eye, who ran second to High Chaparral in the Derrinstown Derby Trial.
This Sunday Aidan O'Brien could be double handed in both Group One races at Chantilly, with the French Derby hopes Diaghilev and Black Sam Bellamy set to be joined by Castle Gandolfo and Creekview in the Prix Jean Prat.
"We have not decided about the jockey arrangements yet but Diaghilev and Black Sam Bellamy are fine for the Derby," said O'Brien.
Unless there is a deluge, this evening's fixture at Fairyhouse looks set to go ahead with a mainly flat card.
The Fairyhouse manager Dick Sheil said yesterday: "It will take an inch of rain to stop us and that is not forecast. At the moment things are dry and if they stay like that, the ground will be no worse than yielding." The O'Brien-Kinane team will be represented by the Strorm Cat colt, Newfoundland, in the opener.
Johannesburg opened his career in this contest 12 months ago and it will be no surprise if the latest Ballydoyle newcomer wins this too on route to Royal Ascot.
The bookies will be taking no chances in the seven-furlong handicap with the name B Curley next to Cabo Salinas.
The bare form of the horse will hardly contribute to chill factor in the betting ring, however, and maybe the course winner, In The Gods, third on the heavy at Sligo last time, could be better value.
The testing conditions should not bother the Sadler's Wells filly, Ripple Of Pride, too much in the mile and a half maiden and the Weld horse looks likely to be hard to beat.
Bali Breeze looked a progressive type when winning over a mile and a quarter at Clonmel and the furlong drop in trip for the auction race should not present a problem.
The Mark Johnston-trained Simeon is to be supplemented for the Prix du Jockey Club, the French Derby, at a cost of €60,000 tomorrow.
Kevin Darley is looking forward to improving his Epsom Derby record on another Johnston runner when he partners Fight Your Corner in the classic on Saturday week.
He won the Chester Vase on the colt in record time, and the son of Muhtarram is set to be supplemented for Epsom at a cost of £90,000 this Saturday after being bought by Sheikh Mohammed on behalf of his son Sheikh Hamdan.
Darley has ridden the colt in six of his seven races and won on him three times.
