English Derby top four set for rematch
Friday, 25 June 2004 11:41North Light, Rule Of Law, Let The Lion Roar and Percussionist - the first four home in the English Derby - will clash again in the Irish equivalent at the Curragh on Sunday. All four colts have been declared for the Budweiser-sponsored race which has attracted a final field of 11 runners.
At the head of a strong team of raiders from the UK, the Sir Michael Stoute-trained North Light will be bidding to confirm his one-and-a-half-length beating of Godolphin's Rule Of Law at Epsom, where John Dunlop's Let The Lion Roar was a further head back in third. Percussionist was the same distance behind in fourth.
Kieren Fallon takes the mount on North Light once again, while Frankie Dettori takes over from Kerrin McEvoy on Rule Of Law. Michael Kinane will be on Let The Lion Roar. Percussionist, who will be ridden by Kevin Darley, is one of two runners for trainer John Gosden as he also sends the French Derby fourth Day Flight which will be the mount of Richard Hughes.
The Irish runners are led by Dermot Weld's Grey Swallow, who was last seen third behind Bachelor Duke in the Boylesports Irish 2000 Guineas. Aidan O'Brien runs five, headed by Five Dynasties, winner of the King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot last week, and Hampton Court Stakes winner Moscow Ballet. Book Of Kings, winner of a Curragh maiden in April, also takes his chance, along with Cobra, who was third in the Listed Silver Stakes earlier this month.
Last year's Chesham Stakes second Tycoon completes the field on what will be his first start of the season. The only withdrawals from the race were the Alain de Royer-Dupre's Dalayan and O'Brien's Mikado.
North Light is 4-5 favourite with Paddy Power.
Budweiser Irish Derby betting:
Paddy Power: 4-5 North Light, 6-1 Let The Lion Roar, Rule Of Law, 8-1 Grey Swallow, Percussionist, 12-1 Day Flight, 16-1 Five Dynasties, 25-1 Moscow Ballet, 40-1 Book Of Kings, 66-1 Tycoon, 100-1 Cobra.
