'Overpriced and unconsidered' - more Classics on the agenda for syndicate-owned 50-1 Derby second

The Lazy Griff camp has far from given up hope of landing a Classic after he took on the superpowers and put Middleham Park within touching distance of a fairytale first success in the Betfred Derby. 

Lambourn was one of three heavyweights hailing from the Ballydoyle camp and while the winner was backed into 13-2 on Saturday, the syndicate-owned Lazy Griff was went largely unnoticed in the market and was sent off at 50-1, despite finishing second to Lambourn in the Chester Vase last time. 

His bold run for home under Christophe Soumillon resulted in him being the only one of Lambourn's 17 rivals who threatened to cause an upset as he came within four lengths of delivering a magical success for his 24 owners. 

"I couldn't have said enough times that I thought he was overpriced and unconsidered," said trainer Charlie Johnston said. "Why was Lambourn 13-2 while we were at one point 100-1? Safe to say, that Chester Vase form looks all right now.

"That's a fantastic run. To be honest, I didn't think he'd love the track. I thought he'd be better in Ireland or at Doncaster as he's quite a heavy-topped horse, to the extent we felt if the ground wasn't as soft as it was he wouldn't be here. Maybe we were in the right place, but he's tough, he's honest, and he's going to give his owners a lot of fun. We're over the moon."

Lazy Griff was the only non-homebred runner to finish in the top six in Saturday's Classic at Epsom, with the €75,000 purchase getting the better off leading hopes for Juddmonte, Godolphin and Marc Chan's Stanhope Gardens. 

His Epsom odds also surprised Soumillon, who rode the son of Protectionist to Group 3 success at Chantilly in September and flew to Britain for the ride. 

"What a race," the jockey said. "He did everything perfectly and I'm so proud of him. I was very surprised when I saw the odds in the Racing Post this morning at the airport. I thought how can he be so high? He was a nice horse with a decent chance and finally he proved it on the track. 

Christophe Soumillon: "I thought at that point I would be able to win"Credit: Edward Whitaker

"When I came downhill with Mickael [Barzalona, on Midak] I told him there was nobody able to follow us, we were cruising. I thought at that point I would be able to win but I took my time to come out, which I don't think was the best option.

"I maybe should have stayed on the rail, but the horse in front was so lazy in the turn I thought he would stop at a point, but he never gave up and went to the end."

A step up in trip for the Betfred St Leger is now the chief goal for Lazy Griff, who is a 12-1 shot with William Hill. However, connections are unafraid of tackling another Classic in the interim with the Irish Derby, German Derby and the Grand Prix de Paris all floated as options this summer. 

"I said after Chester that Doncaster will be his place, so to come and run as well as he did here leaves you dreaming for the rest of the year," Johnston added. 

"Before that, we can go into the lion's den and take them on again, so maybe that Irish Derby will be next. It'll probably be that or the Grand Prix de Paris." 

Read more:

'All you ever want to do is win a Derby' - Lambourn dominates from the front to give Aidan O'Brien yet another triumph in the Epsom Classic 

Racing Post Ratings: a difficult Derby to get a handle on, and one it's hard to be positive about too  

'He loves it here' - Persica back to his best on return to Epsom with gutsy Diomed win 

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