It was good news for Golan as showers reached the Curragh as the Vodafone Derby runner-up is one of a total of 20 horses left in the field for Sunday's IR£900,000 Budweiser Irish Derby. The first four home at Epsom are in the line-up including Golan's conqueror Galileo, Tobougg (third) and Mr Combustible (fourth). French Derby third Grandera has also been left in by James Fanshawe.
Sir Michael Stoute's Dilshaan, who finished seventh at Epsom, was the most notable absentee at the confirmation stage. John Oxx's Exaltation and the Michael Jarvis-trained Italian Derby winner Morshdi will also take their chance after connections opted to pay the supplementary fee of IR£90,000 to add their runners to the field.
Referring to Exaltation, Oxx said: "He's in good form but it's a tough-looking race and I think everything you would expect is more or less left in. It's going to be tough to get in the money but the horse is well and deserves to take his chance - he has place prospects."
Oxx was responsible for last season's winner Sinndar and is hopeful the mile-and-a-half trip on Sunday will be in Exaltation's favour. "He's a three-parts brother to Arc winner Suamarez so he should stay although he hasn't tried that trip yet so we can't be sure. But on breeding I would be surprised if he didn't stay," Oxx added.
Exaltation landed the Galinule Stakes in game fashion on his last outing having previously got within one and a half lengths of Galileo in the Derrinstown Stud Trial Stakes. "We'd be happy if we got that close to Galileo again - that would be a good run all right if we could do that!" the trainer concluded.
Golan's participation is thought to depend on easing of the ground at the Curragh, although owner Lord Weinstock is believed to be keen on the 2000 Guineas winner's facing up to Galileo once more. The encouraging news for Golan's connections is that showers did arrive at the Irish course with the possibility of more to come later in the week.
Filed by Sinéad Kissane
