Next stop the Curragh for Green Impact after Listed strike

Green Impact made the most of having his sights lowered when stamping his class on the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Stakes at Leopardstown, to set up a second Classic bid and also give this weekend’s Epsom hopefuls a boost.

Winner of a Group Two here last year from Derby favourite Delacroix, Jessica Harrington’s charge finished sixth to Charlie Appleby’s also-Epsom bound Ruling Court in the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket on his reappearance and was the 11-8 favourite to take advantage of calmer waters in this nine-furlong Listed event.

Sent straight to the front by Shane Foley, the Marc Chan-owned Green Impact saw off his long-time pursuer Azada before then being challenged by Currawood, but had kept enough up his sleeve to prevail by half a length.

Harrington revealed the Curragh for the Irish Derby on June 28 will be the target, saying: “Nobody wanted to go on and he only dosses in front. Shane said he was squeezing him along all the way. When the other horse came to him it looked like he was going to go past him, but he keeps lengthening.

“All being well he’ll go straight to the Irish Derby. Shane can’t wait to see him run over a mile and a half.

“I know he’s by Wootton Bassett, but he’s out of a Galileo mare so you’d hope he will stay.

“I think he can go on any ground. That’s ideal for him, it’s good ground and there is no yielding in it.”

Paddy Power make the winner a 16-1 shot for the Dubai Duty Free-sponsored Irish Derby and 33-1 for the Eclipse at Sandown.