Parish Hall

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Derby winning trainer Jim Bolger is targeting an audacious double with Parish Hall in the Abu Dhabi Irish 2000 Guineas at the Curragh on Saturday and the Investec Derby.

Bolger landed the Derby in 2008 with New Approach and is eyeing the Epsom Classic again this year with Parish Hall who heads the betting for the Irish 2000 Guineas today.

The Teofilo colt was last seen when landing the Group 1 Dubai Dewhurst Stakes last October and had been set to make his reappearance in the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket earlier this month, only to miss the race because of unsuitable ground.

“He tends to run a bit and looks like a horse who is going to stay too,” Bolger said.

“I’d have gone for the Newmarket Guineas. That was the plan initially but the ground was not suitable at Newmarket.

“We have only one week between the races (Irish Guineas and Investec Derby) so we will have to see how he comes out of it. But he is a fairly hardy horse and I am expecting him to be fine after his run at the Curragh.

“I hope he wins at the Curragh. I think he is good enough to win a Classic – I would not mind if it was on Saturday.

“He will really come into his own when he gets 10 furlongs and a mile and a half. He is the first foal of the dam. I shouldn’t have huge expectations but he is already a Group 1 winner. I hope he can build on Saturday’s run.

“We will have some idea on Monday whether he will go for the Derby, but it will have had to clarify itself by Wednesday.

“I am very keen to get him to Epsom. If I thought the horse was well, I’d give it a go.”