Pentagon hardens as Derby favourite after Leopardstown victory

The Pentagon probably failed to impress all observers after a workmanlike success in the JRA Tyros Stakes at Leopardstown on Thursday evening and, while he was shortened in some quarters to single-figure odds for next year's Investec Derby, he remains a general 12-1 favourite.

One thing this performance did, however, was confirm The Pentagon as a middle-distance horse, as it took him a while to pick up for Ryan Moore in the straight and rather than quicken away from his opponents inside the last furlong he more galloped away from them. His length and three-quarter margin of victory over Theobald and maiden Would Be King was a fair reflection of his superiority.

The son of Galileo was still quite green, too, as he was racing around a bend for the first time and became a little bit unbalanced in the straight before he went and won his race inside the last furlong.

His trainer Aidan O'Brien said: "He learned a lot today. Ryan felt that he was still very raw and it was only past the line that he started to straighten himself out and he took off."

So much so that Moore couldn't pull him up until he reached the top of the back straight.

O'Brien added: "He was able to teach him a good bit today, he didn't know where he was going for a while out there racing around a bend.

"He looks like a horse who will stay well and I imagine he'll be very much a middle-distance horse for next year, but he has pace too. The Futurity at the Curragh next month is what we would be thinking next."

Earlier, Ballydoyle had initiated a Group 3 double when the improving Galileo filly Happily dominated the Jockey Club of Turkey Silver Flash Stakes, and in a division where the stable already have potential top-class recruits in September and Clemmie, this one is not far off being spoken of in the same manner.

She quickened clear impressively under Moore inside the last furlong to beat her old rival Shalailah by five lengths, earned an introductory 16-1 quote from BoyleSports for the Qipco 1,000 Guineas and leaves O'Brien with some interesting selection headaches for the upcoming fillies' stakes races.

He said: "She's lovely and she came forward lovely again. Ryan couldn't have been happier with her. I suppose the Debutante Stakes at the Curragh will be a target for her and it could be the target for September too."