Milan bids for French Derby

Milan is on track to try and pick up a second French classic of the year for Aidan O'Brien in Sunday's Emirates Prix Du Jockey…

Milan is on track to try and pick up a second French classic of the year for Aidan O'Brien in Sunday's Emirates Prix Du Jockey Club.

The Ballydoyle trainer also left El Bueno in at yesterday's forfeit stage, and the Derby contenders will be backed up in the Group One Prix Jean Prat on the same card by the unbeaten King Of Tara.

A spokesman confirmed last evening: "Milan has been left in the French Derby at Chantilly and King Of Tara looks the one for the Jean Prat."

O'Brien picked up the French 1,000 Guineas with Rose Gypsy earlier in the month and had a home Guineas clean sweep at the weekend with Black Minnaloushe and Imagine.

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This evening at Fairyhouse, the trainer has a pair of runners, and the Hennessy colt, Johannesburg, will probably be short odds to make a winning debut in the juvenile maiden.

However, it could be a different story in the mile-and-a-half fillies' maiden despite the O'Brien runner, Chamela Bay, boasting a 92 rating.

Instead it could be another Sadler's Wells filly who will take all the beating, especially since Crimphill's trainer, Michael Grassick, now seems to have his string firing on all cylinders.

Two of his three winners this season have come in the last week and Crimphill should improve significantly for her Leopardstown second to the highly rated Ice Dancer.

The unknown factor in the race could be another Sadler's Wells filly, Ballerine, but Grassick's recent good from is a significant plus point in Crimphill's favour.

Cedar Wells ran a decent sixth to Peak Viewing at the Curragh and could go well in the first division of the seven-furlong handicap; and Friday's Dundalk winner, Celtic Slip, could just about follow up in the second part.

Brian O'Connor

Brian O'Connor

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