'It'd be brilliant to be there' - Lee hopes French Claim can enter Derby picture

Billy Lee believes a good run from the exciting French Claim in Sunday's Derby Trial Stakes (4.35) at Leopardstown will lead to a tilt at Classic glory, with the colt pleasing the dual Group 1-winning jockey at home.

Lee will partner the Paddy Twomey-trained son of French Fifteen in the 1m2f Group 3. Twomey's County Tipperary stable has made an increasing impact over the last few seasons, and French Claim could take it to the next level this summer in either the Cazoo Derby or the Irish Derby at the Curragh.

Classic success has eluded Twomey and Lee, but French Claim is a general 33-1 shot for the Derby at Epsom on June 4 and Lee believes a mile and a half will be no issue.

"He seems to be progressive, he's done nothing wrong. We think a mile and a quarter is his minimum so the further he goes the better he will get," Lee said on Wednesday.

"The Derby trip will certainly not be a worry with him, but we'll see where we go after Sunday. If he ran well and won, it would lead to one of the Derbys anyway. If he can get to either Epsom or the Curragh it'd be brilliant to be there and participating in it, but we'll make a plan one step at a time. We'll keep trying to step him up as he goes along."

Paddy Twomey and Billy Lee after Pearls Galore win in the Gradguide Heritage Stakes (Listed)Spin 1038 Student race day.Leopardstown. Photo: Patrick McCann/Racing Post06.04.2022Credit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

French Claim impressed on his seasonal reappearance when an emphatic winner of a rated contest at Cork on his third career start when the ground was on the slow side, and although hanging left late on, Lee does not believe it's a cause for any concern.

"He scooted away at Cork and was only just getting going. I think he will be better for that too," Lee said. "It surprised me he hung a little left late on, he's never done that before, so hopefully that won't be an issue again.

"He'll probably just want a bit of juice in the ground. He will go on good, but I think he will be better with a little ease."

Last season's KPMG Juvenile Stakes winner Atomic Jones is still in contention for Sunday's Derby Trial as is Eyrefield Stakes winner Duke De Sessa, while the Ballydoyle contingent of Bluegrass, Shark Bay, Stone Age and United Nations could also line up.

Cazoo Derby - entries and betting

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