Middleham Park looking to the Curragh skies for Lazy Griff

Lazy Griff’s participation in the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby will be a late call and depend on how much rain falls at the Curragh this week.

Charlie Johnston’s charge outran his odds of 50-1 under Christophe Soumillon in the Derby at Epsom, getting closet to impressive winner Lambourn, just has he had done in the Chester Vase.

However, connections are keen not to ask him to race on ground which they deem to be too quick.

“It was good, good to firm this morning and we’re in the same situation as applied at Epsom, we don’t want to run him on fast ground,” said Mike Prince of owners Middleham Park Racing.

“We’ll keep him in at the forfeit stage (on Tuesday) and then play it by ear. I’ve seen some forecasts suggest plenty of rain  midweek, but others saying only two to three millimetres.

“All we can do is keep him in and keep monitoring, it keeps changing every time I look.

“It will probably be the Grand Prix de Paris if he doesn’t run. It’s the German Derby next week or the Grand Prix the week after, those are the options and France is more likely than Germany currently.

“He doesn’t have to leave until Friday so we don’t have to decide until declarations.”

He added: “He’s been fine since Epsom, Charlie’s really happy with him and we’re going to check in with Christophe, just to see what is what.”