Ormonde a possibility for Derby second Lazy Griff

Lazy Griff is back in work and could possibly make his reappearance in the Ormonde Stakes at Chester’s May Festival.

Charlie Johnston’s four-year-old had the misfortune of continually bumping into Aidan O’Brien’s Lambourn last season, finishing second to him in the Chester Vase and the Derby and then third behind him in the Irish Derby.

He was being prepared for the St Leger, which connections had long thought would be the Classic which would suit him best, but he picked up a problem in the days before the event.

Mike Prince, of owners Middleham Park Racing, said: “He’s grand, he’s back in full work now ready for the season ahead.

“He had that niggle with his knee before the St Leger but that seems to be all good now. He’s cantering away nicely and is due to go into faster work in April.

“We haven’t fully decided what route we are going to go down, we’re pretty confident he would have stayed the Leger trip but Charlie just wants to gauge what speed he is showing at home in his work because obviously he could step up to being a Cup horse or we could campaign him at a mile and a half to three-quarters. We’ll just see what he shows.

“In terms of a seasonal debut, nothing is set in stone at the moment but we are kind of aiming for something like the Ormonde Stakes at Chester, he started his season well last year there and the intermediate mile-and-five trip seems a sensible place to start, but if he’s not ready there’s options at York.

“The timing of his setback was frustrating as it was potentially a winnable race as well but you can’t dwell on the past and we are looking forward to the season ahead.

“Once he gets into his faster work that will tell us which route to go.”