Aidan O’Brien came on channel 4′s morning line to clarify the situation for the Investec Derby about his four horses, but left viewers more confused than they were before.
Murtagh delays Derby Decision
Johnny Murtagh is to delay his decision on which horse he will ride in the Investec Derby after saying that St Nicholas Abbey disappointed him in a spin on Friday. O’Brien said it wasn’t disappointing, just not as scintillating as normal.
St Nicholas may not run at Epsom if they are unhappy and Jan Vermeer now favourite for the Derby was due to go to France. What was clear in the Channel 4 interview is that Coolmore don’t know who will run where or who will ride who but did say they will know by Wednesday, so hold your bets is our advice until then!
It is a nice problem for O’Brien to have but a nightmare for punters. I always think the market has it right and Jan Vermeer must be the one at this stage, with an alarming drift on St Nicholas Abbey. Imagine being Johnny Murtagh, if he makes the wrong decision he will be gutted.
This is what Aidan O’Brieno actually said, on The Morning Line; have a listen…(got 95% of it recorded)
Transcript;
“St Nicholas Abbey did a piece of work on Tuesday and Johnny Murtagh was over the moon with him but he was a little bit disappointed on Friday morning so we decided to let everybody know.
“Colm O’Donoghue rode Midas Touch and he thought he had improved a lot from Leopardstown so that’s also there but usually St Nicholas Abbey is head and shoulders above everything, he’s the most incredible worker you’ve ever seen.
“I suppose it might have just taken Johnny back a bit that he just worked as well as Midas Touch.
“He wasn’t disappointing, just not as scintillating as he usually is.
“There is always a possibility that any horse wouldn’t run, everything has to be right for them to run in a race like that so you could never say never.
“I think we’ll make a final decision in the middle of the week. Obviously we have to decide which horses will go to France. Viscount Nelson will definitely go there and whether something goes with him will be decided in the middle of the week.
“They’ll work again on Tuesday or Wednesday, depending on the horses, we’ll have the main work done by then.
“The two intended for Epsom were St Nicholas Abbey and Midas Touch, along with At First Sight.
“Jan Vermeer and Cape Blanco had the possibility of going to France too so if there was any doubt about St Nicholas Abbey there is a big chance Jan Vermeer might go to Epsom as well.
“But it’s all up in the air and I would say to everybody to just wait and see because we wouldn’t want to run him unless we were very happy with him.”
Hold Your Bets and keep your eye on Betfair is your top tip at the minute for The Investec Derby!
