Derrinstown Derby Trial: Marengo ready to do Battle

Battle of Marengo is prominent in the ante-post Derby market

Jockey Joseph O'Brien is hoping the rain stays away from Leopardstown to allow Battle Of Marengo to show his full potential in the Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial on Sunday...

The Galileo colt moved to the top of Ballydoyle's Derby pecking order with a most impressive performance in the Ballysax Stakes on his seasonal return.

Battle Of Marengo is currently second in the Epsom betting, behind Jim Bolger's 2000 Guineas victor Dawn Approach, and although he has shown an ability to handle testing ground, O'Brien jnr feels Ballydoyle's inmate will be even more potent on a sound surface.

He said: "I'd be hoping the rain stays away as, although he has run very well on heavy ground, he is definitely a better horse on better ground.

"One of his best performances was when he won in Leopardstown last year on good ground. The saddle slipped that day and he still broke the track record. I'd love to get him on a bit of nicer ground again and, hopefully, he'll get that on Sunday."

Just five runners go to post and the chief opponent to Battle Of Marengo appears to be the Bolger-trained Loch Garman.

The son of Teofilo did not make his debut until winning at Navan last October, the form of which has worked out well, and he was turned out just a week later to land the Group One Criterium International at Saint-Cloud.

While he makes his reappearance over a mile and a quarter, Bolger is considering dropping his charge in trip after this weekend for a tilt at the Irish 2,000 Guineas.

Bolger said: "All is good with him and he doesn't mind about the ground. He's a horse with plenty of toe and he could come back (in trip) for the Irish 2,000 Guineas. He's in the Irish Derby later on."

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