Conditions came right in Ireland for Gossamer over the weekend as she took the Entemanns Irish 1000 Guineas in fine style. Long-time joint favourite for the 1000 Guineas in England, she didn't get any sort of run that day and the fast ground was probably against her, however she faced none of those obstacles on Sunday and accounted for Aiden O'Brien's filly Quarter Moon by four-and-a-half lengths. My stong fancy Queens Logic was again denied a run, this time because she was coughing at home and they did not take a chance with her. She may now be aimed at the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot and I wouldn't back against her there. Gossamer is also entered there but despite her win at the Curragh I still honestly believe she will be a better filly over further, and still think Queens Logic can get the better of Luca Cumani's filly in these conditions.

On the same card at the Curragh, Dubai Champion Stakes winner Nayef was beaten at odds-on in the Group 1 Tattersalls Gold Cup, finishing third on the bottomless ground behind hat-trick seeking filly Rebelline. I expected Nayef to win there, but despite this set-back he remains one of my chief horses to follow and can prove himself top-class back in England on quicker ground. His trainer Marcus Tregoning has stated that he is very likely to miss the Coronation Cup at Epsom on Oaks day and wait for the Prince of Wales' Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Meanwhile Marcus Tregoning's derby hope Tholjanah looks set to miss out on the Epsom classic as he is running out of time to get him fit. He apparently jarred a knee in his prep and missed a couple of weeks work, which looks likely to ensure that this will come to quickly for him, and he will most likely wait for the King Edward VII at Royal Ascot now instead. However, the colt's owner Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum looks certain to have a fancied horse in the Derby afterall, having bought impressive Lingfield Derby Trial winner Bandari in a private sale. This quashes any lingering doubts that trainer Mark Johnston will not supplement the horse because of the £90,000 fee, as his new owner has already stated that he will run him at Epsom. He is to remain with Johnston at Middleham, and will be ridden by retained jockey Richard Hills in the big race. But at least Mark Johnston's regular rider Kevin Darley looks set to be given a decent Derby ride, as they are about to supplement Fight Your Corner for the race, and the Chester Vase winner may have each-way claims. It is tremendous to have two fancied Northern runners in the Derby, I hope one of them can bring the honours back home.

Still on the subject of the Derby, and how life must be so hard if your name is Michael Kinane. His bosses Aiden O'Brien and the Coolmore team have the two clear favourites in the race in the shape of High Chaparral and Hawk Wing, but which one will he choose to ride? They reckon he has until about two or three days before the race to decide, my heart bleeds for him!

Back over in Ireland this week, last years Irish St Leger hero Vinnie Roe may reappear in a Listed contest at Leopardstown on Wednesday night. Hard to say how he will come back so he shouldn't be backed at short odds, but it would be lovely to see him make a winning reappearance as so many classic winners fail when they are kept in training.

Godolphin's peerless two-year-old trainer David Loder was about to saddle his first runner of the season on Saturday, but Silver Seeker was pulled out because of the ground and the same reason was behind his defection from a maiden on Monday's card at Leicester. However there is a chance for him at Yarmouth on Wednesday, although Loder has Amandus and Seyus also entered so who he will run remains a mystery. And there is a great card to look forward to next week, as Sandown Park stages a marvellous two-day meeting on Monday and Tuesday which features the Brigadier Gerard Stakes, named after Major Dick Hern's former 2000 Guineas hero. Hern of course died recently, however he may still have a runner in this years Vodafone Oaks, as the Marcus Tregoning-trained filly Shadow Dancing, bred by the Major along with Willie Carson, may represent them at Epsom and has each-way claims. 

Email me with any questions at:- gg@southportreporter.com