Jim Bolger is hoping one of his five entries will run in the Darley Dewhurst Stakes towards the end of his season because he wants to capture the feature for the third successive year.

Teofilo and New Approach scored for Bolger in 2006 and 2007 and the Coolcullen handler has high hopes for his quintet, which is headed by Gan Amhras.

In addition, Bolger has Intense Focus, O’Graolaigh, Smart Miler and Vocalised entered in the juvenile feature at Newmarket on October 18.

“We’ve entered five horses in the Dewhurst and I hope that we might be represented in it because we would like to keep the sequence going,” Bolger declared.

Gan Amhras would appear to be Bolger’s best chance at present following his victory over recent scorer Masterofthehorse last month, and the handler does not envisage any problems with the trip.

“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,” Bolger continued.

“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.”

Intense Focus was second to Art Connoisseur in the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot before finishing third in the Phoenix Stakes. He was disappointing when fifth of seven in the Anglesey Stakes, but Bolger expects the Giant’s Causeway colt to improve over a longer trip.

“I thought 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,” explained the Derby-winning trainer.

“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 Dewhurst at the time.”
(Source: Setanta Sports)