Racing week: Visindar suffers allergic reaction

Epsom Derby

Andre Fabre, trainer of Vodafone Derby favourite Visindar has admited that treatment to remove spots from the colt’s skin has so far been unsuccessful.

Fabre believes the spots are the result of a skin allergy and assures that they are not bothering Visindar. The issue is his only point of concern prior to Visindar’s debut attempt to provide him with his first Derby title. Fabre stressed that the horse’s work has been very pleasing recently.

Ouija Board not a guaranteed runner

Ouija Board’s (pictured) trainer Ed Dunlop has warned that she might not run in today’s Coronation Cup. The five-year-old’s trainer is not confident about the ground conditions and although she has been declared Dunlop will wait until he has seen how the course is running before making a final decision.

If Ouija Board does run she will be ridden by Frankie Dettori and is set to clash with another promising middle-distance thoroughbred – Shirocco.

Derby will be good to firm

The clerk of Epsom has said that “good to firm” could make an appearance in the going description for Derby Day.

Lee back on top

Graham Lee is back in the saddle following a six week virus induced break. During his time off the jockey, who was placed third in last season’s jockeys’ championship, lost his job as number-one jockey to Howard Johnson.

However he was immediately employed by Ferdy Murphy and has a good chance of returning with a winner at Wetherby this weekend. Sir Rowland Hill, likely-favourite in the opening maiden hurdle is trained by Murphy.

Carberry in discussions

Jockey Paul Carberry, who has been sentenced to two months in prison, is discussing an appeal. The jockey was found guilty of breaking the peace on a flight from Malaga to Dublin last October when he set fire to a newspaper with a lighter. But the Grand National winning jockey believes his sentence is unfair. A date will be released in due course when the case will be heard again at the Circuit Court.

Good going for Grayson

Ex-international show jumper Peter Grayson career change is obviously a cracking success. Just over a year since becoming a trainer he saddled a winner at 20-1. Glenviews Youngone survived a stewards’ inquiry to win the £22,000 sprint handicap.