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Cracksman in top order as Gosden looks to bag Irish Derby again

Cracksman - has come out of Epsom in good shape
Cracksman - has come out of Epsom in good shape

CracksmanJohn Gosden

Two years after Jack Hobbs did the business on the Curragh, Gosden is heading back to the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby with another Epsom near-miss in the shape of this Frankel colt, who was giving plenty for Robert Havlin at the close of a mile exercise on the Al Bahathri. Not surprisingly, given the current jockey crisis at Clarehaven, who rides the Derby third next Saturday is yet to be confirmed.

UAE PrinceRoger Varian

Varian used his wife's Jeep to get to the watered gallop on Friday morning, where the four-year-old showed a smart gear change out of the dip to master two senior stablemates. The son of Sea The Stars has been something of a talking horse in the past but connections are hoping a recent gelding operation could do the trick.

FlymetothestarsSir Mark Prescott

The master of Heath House borrowed your correspondent's binoculars to watch his workers on the Al Bahathri Polytrack after his were stolen at Royal Ascot, together with his top hat. The stayer, whose recent Newcastle win received a boost when runner-up Endless Acres finished second in the Ascot Stakes, is booked for a return north for the John Smith's Northumberland Plate on Saturday week.

Vintage FollyHugo Palmer

Palmer's progressive type chased home the smart Shutter Speed in the Musidora Stakes at York last time and looked to have moved forward from that when burning up the Al Bahathri. Palmer has either the Group 2 Prix de Malleret at Saint-Cloud or a Group 3 at Newcastle in mind.

Great Work!!!

MidtermSir Michael Stoute

In Michael Holding parlance, the Stoute team may have been 'hitting the ball to the fielders' for much of Royal Ascot, but this five-year-old hit it out of the park when impressing on the Al Bahathri. Not up to his best so far this season, the one-time Derby hope has a choice of upcoming engagements at Newmarket.

Last Sunday's great worker was The Tin Man, who won the Diamond Jubilee on Saturday at 9-2.

David MilnesNewmarket correspondent

Published on 24 June 2017inNews

Last updated 16:44, 24 June 2017

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