Minor setback rules Guineas fourth Eydon out of Derby date

Roger Varian has revealed 2,000 Guineas fourth Eydon will miss Saturday's Cazoo Derby after meeting with a minor setback.

Connections announced their intention to run in the Derby on Tuesday, rather than take part in Sunday's Prix du Jockey Club, but the setback means the son of Olden Times will not be appearing at Epsom this weekend.

Varian said: "Sadly Eydon will miss the Derby at Epsom. He has met with a minor setback which will keep him from running on Saturday.

"While it is of course hugely frustrating to miss a Classic opportunity, we will look forward to the rest of the season with Eydon and he remains a very exciting prospect for his owner, Prince A A Faisal."

Eydon had been a general 20-1 shot for the Derby, a market headed by Dante winner Desert Crown.

Andy Oliver set to saddle first Derby runner if ground is 'safe' for Glory Daze

Andy Oliver believes Leopardstown Derby Trial runner-up Glory Daze is fully entitled to take his shot at Classic glory this Saturday, with Epsom's recent rain increasing the likelihood of connections getting the "safe" ground they desire.

It will be Oliver's first runner in the Cazoo Derby if his Cotai Glory colt is given the green light, priced up as a general 100-1 chance in comparison to 7-2 shot Stone Age – the horse he chased home at Leopardstown last month.

A decision from connections to stump up £12,000 for a possible Derby run at the second entry stage last month was vindicated when Glory Daze finished runner-up in the race previously known as the Derrinstown, having had just a Curragh maiden win to his name at the time of entering.

Glory Daze: impressed when landing a Curragh maiden on his seasonal reappearanceCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Oliver still has the option of waiting for the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby on June 25 with his £3,000 yearling bargain-buy, but stressed he wanted kindness in the ground, given the three-year-old's size and the fact he would be racing downhill.

"He's in good form and all is well with him," said Oliver. "We'll see what happens over the next few days as my thinking is that he's a big horse, and I'd like to be guaranteed kindness in the ground on that track [at Epsom].

"He's very versatile and goes on any ground, but he's just big and I don't know if it'd be wise to run without kindness in the ground around there. We want it to be safe."

Full racecard for the 2022 Derby at Epsom on Saturday June 4 (4.30)

Conditions were described as good to soft, soft in places at the Surrey venue on Wednesday morning after 3mm of rain in the previous 24 hours. There is a chance of showers during Wednesday, but the forecast from Thursday to Saturday looks set to be mainly dry with temperatures of 19C to 21C.

Oliver added: "He's in the Irish Derby too and that would be an option, but there's only one Derby at Epsom. We took the decision to put him in and we're going to hold tight for the moment."

Based in County Tyrone, the trainer has sold a number of high-quality performers from his yard, including triple Group 1 winner Lucky Nine to Hong Kong and 2015 Queen Mother Champion Chase hero Dodging Bullets to Paul Nicholls.

Glory Daze (white cap): finished five and a half lengths behind Stone Age at LeopardstownCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

His phone would have surely been ringing after Glory Daze's fine start to the 2022 campaign, but the promising youngster remains in the silks of the Glory Gold Partnership for now.

Oliver, who is also a qualified veterinarian, said: "He's still with us. We've just played a straight bat and said we'll roll the dice and carry on.

"He looks like he's still raw and green – his best work is always at the end of his races. I trained his half-brother [Play The Crowd] and I know he stays. This horse is a clean-winded good mover and I'm not so worried about the Derby trip.

"The bottom line is that he was second in a Derby trial. There are only a couple of trials in Ireland and that performance gives him the right to line up."

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