IRELAND: Bolger Makes Bold Plans For Parish Hall

Trainer Jim Bolger has confirmed his intention to run Dewhurst Stakes winner Parish Hall in Saturday's Irish 2000 Guineas and back him up in the English Derby at Epsom a week later.

"I think he is good enough to win a classic. He will come into his own over a mile and a quarter and a mile and a half," Bolger said.

Parish Hall heads a field of 11 with Aidan O'Brien, looking for his fourth Irish 2000 Guineas win in five years, to field four runners - Power, Wrote, Daddy Long Legs and Reply.

Pat Smullen has been named as the rider of Born To Sea, the half brother to champion Sea The Stars.

With Johnny Murtagh retained by the Aga Khan to partner stablemate Takar in the mile classic, trainer John Oxx stepped in to sign Smullen for Christopher Tsui's homebred.

Born To Sea will sport blinkers for the first time.

"Born to Sea has been working in a hood and it seems to keep him calm, so we're going to run him in it," Oxx said.

"He'd blown his chance after two furlongs in the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket, so we want to see him relax.

"I haven't raced a horse in a hood for many years; in fact, the last time might be when my father still trained."



The Richard Hannon-trained Trumpet Major will be joined by Bryan Smart's Foxtrot Romeo as the only two British runners.

Hermival, third in the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket, will travel from France.

Alkazim, trained by David Wachman, completes the field.


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