Horse Racing: Visindar 6-1 for Derby

Hype, over-reaction, a bandwagon that will soon stop rolling: the gamble on Visindar that has seen the colt join Horatio Nelson at the top of the Derby market could well prove to be all of these within a few weeks. Anyone who decides to follow the early money after Visindar's easy victory at Longchamp yesterday, however, can at least be assured that Andre Fabre, who trains the son of Sinndar, seems as confident about his ability as the ante-post speculators.

Fabre is, by any realistic measure, the most successful trainer now preparing thoroughbreds in Europe. He has been the champion in France almost since the days of de Gaulle, while his many foreign victories include the Breeders' Cup Classic and last year's Breeders' Cup Turf.

The Derby, however, has always eluded him, most notably when the unbeaten Guineas winner Pennekamp started favourite for the race in 1994, only to suffer a career-ending injury. Though Val Royal - a subsequent Breeders' Cup Mile winner - travelled from Chantilly to finish behind Oath in 1999, it had seemed as though Fabre had largely turned his back on the Epsom Classic.

As a result, the simple fact that Fabre added Visindar to the Derby field at the latest entry stage was enough to launch a gamble, and Visindar's performance yesterday did nothing to quell the momentum. Christophe Soumillon settled him in third in the early stages as Thomamix, his stablemate, set the pace, and was still cantering at the top of the straight. A twitch of the reins was enough to send him into the lead to beat Racinger with any amount in hand.

Visindar was a 50-1 chance for the Derby at the start of the month, but is now clear favourite with a handful of internet bookmakers, and no better than 6-1 (totesport) with the major layers. If the Derby is indeed his principal target, then he can be expected to run in a more significant trial next time out, and though Visindar is not entered for the Dante Stakes at York, a race at Chester - where Fabre saddled Toulon to win the Chester Vase prior to a run at Epsom - might be a possibility.

The market proved no guide to the Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse yesterday, as Dun Doire, the 9-2 favourite in a 26- runner field, was barely sighted.

It was left to Point Barrow, an eight-year-old from the Pat Hughes yard, to take up the running four from home and win at 20-1, ahead of Oulart and A New Story.

Ron Cox's tip of the day

Mashaahed 4.20 Newmarket

It is, of course, impossible to be certain, but this does not have the look of a vintage renewal of the Museum Maiden Stakes, won in the past by Commander In Chief and Greek Dance. Mashaahed, one of the more experienced in the field, has the pedigree to suggest that this trip may bring the best out of him and Barry Hills' runners are going as well as is usual this early in the year.