New Approach was second in the Irish Classic before winning at Epsom, although on that occasion, in 2008, there was a fortnight between races. However, after winning Sunday's Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial at Leopardstown with Light Heavy, the trainer said he was unfazed by the proximity of both races.
“Sure,” he said, “there’s nothing around to give him a tough race in the Irish Guineas.
“Parish Hall hasn’t been held up by the rain but we couldn’t run him on the soft. He was second in a maiden at Navan the only time we ran him on it before so we know he doesn’t like it. There are not an awful lot of similarities between him and New Approach, except for ability.
“I said after the Dewhurst he was up there with the best of them. I have no doubt he will stay 10 furlongs and I’m optimistic he’ll stay a mile and a half. There’s a lot of stamina in the pedigree and I always felt Teofilo would stay a mile and a half.”