Racing Centre

Jim Bolger (right) and his wife Jackie in the winner’s circle with Darley’s John Ferguson after New Approach’s success in the2007 Darley Dewhurst Stakes

JIM Bolger has entered five colts in the Darley Dewhurst Stakes as he bids to become the first trainer since Frank Butters in 1935 to send out three consecutive winners of the Group 1 contest.

The Irish trainer triumphed with Teofilo in 2006 and subsequent Epsom Derby victor New Approach last year. In 2008, Bolger could be represented in the £270,000 race by Gan Amhras, who beat the Aidan O’Brien-trained Masterofthehorse in a mile maiden at Naas, and Coventry Stakes runner-up Intense Focus.

Bolger commented: "We’ve entered five horses in the Darley Dewhurst Stakes and I hope that we might be represented in it because we would like to keep the sequence going.

"Gan Amhras was entered in a Listed race at Tipperary on Thursday, but he will not be running because he doesn’t fancy soft ground. He’s a miler but I’m sure he would have no problem in dropping down to the seven furlongs of the Darley Dewhurst.

"I don’t think he will take in the National Stakes at the Curragh in September and I think he will be stepping up to a mile now but we could easily be tempted to drop him back to seven for Newmarket. He’s got the class to do that."

After chasing home Art Connoisseur on his third start in the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot, Intense Focus finished a close third in the Group 2 Railway Stakes at the Curragh before posting a below par effort when fifth in the Group Three Anglesey Stakes at the same course on his latest start.

Bolger hopes that a step up in distance will see the son of Giant’s Causeway improve further and envisages that the colt will prove be seen to good effect over the seven-furlong trip of the Darley Dewhurst.

He continued: "I thought that Intense Focus ran well at Royal Ascot on a trip that was short of his best and on ground that was possibly a little on the fast side for him. We were disappointed with his latest run in the Anglesey Stakes.

"I think that seven furlongs would suit him better or maybe even a mile. I would have no problem in stepping him up in distance or indeed dropping Gan Amhras down in trip, if either of those two are chosen for the Darley Dewhurst at the time.

"The three unraced colts, O’Graolaigh, Smart Miler and Vocalised will all start of in maidens before we decide where to go with them."

There are a massive 138 entries for the Darley Dewhurst Stakes, including Phoenix Stakes hero Mastercraftsman, Vintage Stakes winner Orizaba, Weatherbys Superlative Stakes winner and TNT July Stakes winner Classic Blade.

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