Trainer Charlie Johnston is relishing round three between Lazy Griff and Lambourn, with the Middleham Park-owned colt set to lead the British challenge in the June 29 Irish Derby (G1) at the Curragh.
The first three in the Derby (G1) at Epsom Racecourse will meet again after all 10 remaining entries stood their ground at the June 28 declaration stage for the Irish classic.
Lazy Griff, a German-bred group 3 winner as a juvenile, has benefited from stepping up in distance in his 3-year-old campaign, finishing 1 1/2 lengths behind Lambourn when runner-up in the Chester Vase Stakes (G3), and 3 3/4 lengths behind him at Epsom when filling the same position.
Although Lazy Griff went off a relatively unconsidered 50-1 shot, the Johnston team were expecting a good showing from the son of Protectionist at Epsom despite fears the track wouldn't play to his strengths, and the Irish Derby has been earmarked as an ideal test since the start of the season.
The trainer said: "He had a hard enough race at Epsom, as you'd expect when finishing second in a Derby. We gave him a pretty easy 10 days to get over that, but he's been in very good order since.
"We were quietly confident going into the Derby he'd run a big race, but I had fairly large concerns about the track, just on the basis that he's quite a big, heavy-topped horse, so it was a bit of a surprise he went around it so comfortably.
"We couldn't understand why Lambourn was towards the head of the market and we were 100-1 at one point, as we felt he ran a very good race behind him at Chester, plus we were in a bit of a rush to get to Chester so we knew he'd come forward from that run.
"He's always been a horse we thought a lot of, and he did really well from 2 to 3. We also thought he'd improve plenty for going up in distance, and that's how it has turned out. After Chester, I thought the two best races for him would be the Irish Derby and the Leger. The lure of Epsom was enough to send us there, but we always thought the test of an Irish Derby would play to his strengths."
William Buick, who partnered Hurricane Lane to Irish Derby success in 2021, will ride Lazy Griff for the first time Sunday, Christophe Soumillon having been in the saddle at Epsom.
Johnston said: "It's great to be going over to Ireland and taking the fight to Aidan (O'Brien), and we relish that underdog role. Middleham Park are never afraid to have a go either and it'll be a huge occasion for a syndicate to be pitching up in another Derby with a live chance."
As well as Lambourn, who bids to emulate his sire Australia by landing the Derby double, O'Brien will saddle Lingfield Derby Trial Stakes winner Puppet Master, Shackleton, Serious Contender, and Thrice in his quest for a 17th Irish Derby win.
"Lambourn is a lovely horse, stays well, has a great mind and is uncomplicated. He's scopey and classy and we were delighted with him at Epsom. Wayne (Lordan) gave him a beautiful ride and Ryan (Moore) rode him similarly forward at Chester," O'Brien said. "He's uncomplicated and won his races last year doing the same. He got the mile and a half very well at Epsom and Chester and he's very straightforward.
"Puppet Master won the Lingfield Derby Trial and is also very straightforward. He should get a mile and a half well and should love the Curragh. Serious Contender ran a very good race in a handicap at Royal Ascot when drawn wide and is a big, honest horse. Thrice was fighting back at the line again in the Gallinule and it seemed that day he would get further. Shackleton didn't get an easy lead in the Queen's Vase and ran a very good race. He's been in good form since."
Derby third Tennessee Stud will take his chance for Joseph O'Brien, as will Green Impact for Jessica Harrington. Ralph Beckett, who saddled Westover to win three years ago, relies on Pride of Arras—who started as the second favorite in the Derby but finished 17th—and Sir Dinadan.
