Balding ‘tricky’ training feat

Andrew Balding believes Elm Park will improve for his run in Thursday’s Betfred Dante Stakes, after being trained for the 2000 Guineas.

Balding’s star colt won four of his five juvenile starts and ended the campaign by winning the Group One Racing Post Trophy at Doncaster but he has not run since. He was trained to reappear in the Qipco 2000 Guineas on May 2, but was withdrawn from the Newmarket Classic late on due to the fast ground and Balding hopes he is still able to reproduce his best in York’s Derby trial, despite the altered plans.

“We are very happy with the horse. It’s a little bit tricky when you thought you might have got him at his peak for the Guineas and then not running.” Balding told Racing UK.

“It’s a bit tricky to know how much to do or how little to do leading up to York, but the main thing is the horse needs to run now with the Investec Derby in mind.

“He’s got to run in a trial and get the season going so whatever happens at York he’ll come on for the run.”

The Dante sees a mouthwatering clash between Elm Park, the John Gosden pair of Jack Hobbs and Golden Horn and challengers from Ireland that’s set to rewrite the antepost betting for the Epsom Classic.