Heffernan 'disappointed' as Derby hope Wordsworth fluffs his lines

There was no shake-up in the Cazoo Derby market after odds-on shot Wordsworth fluffed his lines in the Listed Yeats Stakes, going down in a tight finish to his lesser fancied stablemate Sir Lucan.

With Seamie Heffernan trying to make it a test on the favourite, Wayne Lordan was able to sit in on Sir Lucan, getting an ideal lead until well inside the final furlong before outstaying Wordsworth to score by a neck, with the filly Party House running a cracker in third, three and a half lengths further back.

The winner was cut to a general 25-1 shot for the Derby, although odds of 12-1 for the St Leger may prove more pertinent.

Lordan said: "He had a very good run to finish fourth in the Beresford Stakes last year and he was always going to come forward for a step up in trip. We went a good even gallop, he travelled and quickened and he stays well. He hit the line good."

Inevitably, most of the story surrounded Wordsworth's defeat, following which the colt was pushed out to 25-1 for Epsom. Heffernan went on early in the back straight and set a decent gallop from there, but he had only one word to describe the performance when he came back in.

"Disappointed, that's the only word I can use to describe it," he said. "We went on and made it a decent gallop to see what did and didn't stay. The ease in the ground suited the other horse more than mine, but he was still disappointing."

Entertainer stings rivals

O'Brien and Heffernan would have been in a better mood after the opening two-year-old maiden, won by another impressive son of Caravaggio in the shape of newcomer The Entertainer.

Heffernan had to bide his time as he was denied a clear run on the far side of the track until inside the final furlong, but when the gap came the colt quickened up smartly to beat front-running Albion Square by a length and a half.

"It was tight for a long way at the business end but when he got the gap he showed his class," said Heffernan. "He has plenty of speed and I hope he'll progress. I suppose he'll be on the plane to Ascot."

Rider Gearoid Brouder received a nine-day ban for his ride on Stickyourneckout. The rider was given six days for using his stick for excessive frequency and an additional three days for careless riding.

Carroll outwits rivals

In-form rider Gary Carroll was the first to realise there was a golden highway of better ground on the stands' side of the track, and he took advantage to record a quick double.

Carroll galvanised a winning effort from newcomer White Lavender, trained by the bang in-form Joe Murphy in the 5f maiden, and repeated the trick in the sprint handicap 35 minutes later on the Kevin Coleman-trained Only Spoofing, who quickened clear up the hill to score by three lengths.

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