Green Impact would be an immensely popular winner for Harrington

It’s hard to imagine that there could be a more popular winner of this year’s Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby at the Curragh than the Jessica Harrington trained Green Impact.

The showpiece event of Irish flat racing is one rare omission from Harrington’s incredible CV and as she discussed the race with the media at her base in Commonstown Stables this week, she said would dearly love to put that right.

“They are very important races, races that are recognised worldwide. It’s like winning a Gold Cup or a Champion Chase in the National Hunt sphere. To win an Irish Derby would be absolutely fantastic,” she said.

At 78 years of age, and thankfully over her cancer scare of a few years ago, Harrington was a picture of health as she strode the gallops and displayed 30 horses as they went through their work. The rolling hills of over 120 acres aren't just used for the horses and Harrington's daily routine includes covering enough furlongs to test the fitness of many half her age. 

To have that number of horses primed for action at this time year shows how Harrington has moved away from her previous comfort zone within national hunt racing to have more of a focus on flat horses but there is no doubt that all eyes were on Green Impact, rated an 8/1 fourth favourite in the bookies for Sunday's race.

It will be Harrington’s third attempt at the Derby having previously finished seventh with The Bull Hayes in 2009 and sixth with Sprewell two years ago. There’s every reason to believe that Green Impact could go even closer.

He ran in this year’s English 2,000 Guineas in Newmarket and although he finished a slightly disappointing sixth, Harrington said there were reasons to overlook that finish.

“I wouldn't say he didn't get the run of the race in the 2,000 Guineas as he travelled into the race great, but when he got down to the dip he went to change his legs and went to go and try to win the race and he then just lost a shoe and got a bit unbalanced and ended up finishing sixth.

“At the time I was disappointed but coming out of that race afterwards he was sore and so we gave him a bit of time. The intention was to go to the French Derby but we didn't get there, so we gave him the run in Leopardstown and all roads lead to the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby after that.” 

That run at Leopardstown ended as his third win at the track having won there twice last year as a two-year-old but although he is stepping up in trip on Sunday, the 1m4f distance holds no fear for Harrington.

“I think he'll benefit for the step up in trip, he won over a mile as a two-year-old and usually if they do that they stay.

“He's by Wootton Bassett and out of a Galileo mare and he's also a very laid-back character and very relaxed and easy to do anything with, so I think he will stay.

Equally, she is relaxed about the ground as well as Green Impact is quite versatile.

“As long as the ground is good, and I know that the Curragh will produce good ground as it is there big day of the year,” she said.

All that being said, Harrington is under no illusions about the size of the task of her as she bids to become the first female winning trainer in the 160th running of the race.

The three horses ahead of Green Impact in the betting - Aidan O’Brien’s Lambourn, Charlie Johnston’s Lazy Griff and the Joseph O’Brien-trained Tennessee Stud – were the first three home in the Epsom Derby.

“It's a big task and everyone looks and sees only nine runners, but the majority of those nine runners are quality horses,” said Harrington.

The man on board Green Impact will once again be stable jockey Shane Foley.

The partnership between himself and Harrington has been a fruitful one, and they warmed up for the weekend ahead with a win on Barnavara at Naas on Wednesday, and Foley would love to deliver another Classic for Harrington.

“She’s won Guineas, and Oaks’, Gold Cups, Champion Hurdles, so the Derby would be a nice one to tick off for her,” said Foley, who insists Green Impact has a live outside chance.

“He had a good run in the Guineas. He showed his liking for Leopardstown and I can’t see how the Curragh would be a problem, he ran there before and was second first time out. He’s in good shape. Seanie rides him every day and said he came out of Leopardstown really well. Fingers crossed all goes well on Sunday,” he said.

Foley is set for a busy weekend at the Curragh and Dark Viper in the 5.50pm and Instant Appeal in the 6.50pm would seem to give the partnership a decent chance of making a winning start to the Festival on Friday evening but there is no doubting that all eyes are on the big race on Sunday.

“I’ve been grateful here since I started. It’s been a good association and we have a couple of nice runners again this weekend. A couple of nice two-year-olds to start off with on Friday night and then a couple in the bigger handicaps but Green Impact is the main one,” said Foley.