Delacroix set for Ballysax Stakes test

Delacroix appears to be Aidan O’Brien’s chief hope of winning a 12th P.W. McGrath Memorial Ballysax Stakes at Leopardstown on Sunday.

The Ballydoyle handler has farmed this recognised Derby trial over the past 30 years, with subsequent Epsom heroes Galileo (2001) and High Chaparral (2002) joined on an illustrious roll of honour by four-time Gold Cup hero Yeats (2004) and multiple Group One winner Fame And Glory (2009).

Delacroix, a son of Dubawi out of the top-class racemare Tepin, won two of his five juvenile starts including the Group Three Autumn Stakes at Newmarket and rounded off his campaign with a nose second to Jessica Harrington’s Hotazhell in Doncaster’s Futurity Trophy.

The three-year-old is a best priced 25-1 in a Derby market headed by his stablemate The Lion In Winter and O’Brien is looking forward to his weekend return.

“He’s very well, he was at the Curragh (for a racecourse gallop) and we’re starting him in a Derby trial,” he said.

“He’s come to hand fairly quick but he will improve a lot for it.

“He’s a nice horse but we thought there was a chance to get two runs into him before the Derby – he will improve plenty.

“He’s been green in his races, as the race at Doncaster went on he got better.

“He will stay well. Physically he’s done very well. We’ll run him in a trial with a view to being a Derby horse.”

O’Brien also saddles Puppet Master and Lambourn, while son Joseph is represented by the once-raced Curragh maiden winner Kibris and the more experienced filly Wemightakedlongway.

The field is completed by a pair of Adrian Murray-trained runners in Tiberius Thunder and Spicy Margarita, with hopes seemingly high for the former, who won on his only start to date on the all-weather at Dundalk in mid-February.

Murray said: “He’s a fair horse now (Tiberius Thunder), he’s a fair horse and should run a big race.

“He’s right up there I think and we’re expecting a big run from him. You have to run them to find out.

“Spicy Margarita will be there doing her best.”