New Approach in tune with The Minstrel, insists trainer John Gosden

13 April 2012

John Gosden rates Sunday's Irish Derby hot-shot New Approach in the same league as The Minstrel - and he should know.

The Newmarket handler was assistant to Irish maestro Vincent O'Brien when The Minstrel was cutting a swathe through rivals on his way to an English/Irish Derby double in the Seventies.

Blast from the past: The Minstrel, ridden by Lester Piggott, beats Hot Grove and Willie Carson at Epsom on 1977

Blast from the past: The Minstrel, ridden by Lester Piggott, beats Hot Grove and Willie Carson at Epsom on 1977

Gosden has Centennial and Upton Grey - supplemented yesterday for 150,000euros to act as a pacemaker for the Princess Haya-owned New Approach at The Curragh - among 14 entries still in the mix.

But he lavished praise on New Approach, Tartan Bearer and Casual Conquest, the first three past the post in the Epsom Classic.

He said: 'New Approach is an exceptional horse and this is a very, very good Irish Derby. He reminds me of The Minstrel.

'The top three (from Epsom) should finish 1-2-3 again. They really stand out. Everyone else is playing bit parts in my opinion.'

Royal Ascot hero Aidan O'Brien has six in contention, spearheaded by Washington Irving and Alessandro Volta, who were fifth and sixth at Epsom, but Gosden believes team tactics will play no part in the result.

Peter Reynolds, manager of Ballymacoll Stud, who own Sir Michael Stoute's contender Tartan Bearer, expects his colt to improve.

He said: 'Ours is a fairly fresh horse - the Derby was only his second Group race. He lacked the experience of the winner and he should come on for that.'

But Stoute's other entry, Doctor Fremantle, is more likely to head to Longchamp for the Grand Prix de Paris.

New Approach is a best priced 5-6 favourite to earn his trainer Jim Bolger the race he wants most.

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