Derby still possible for impressive dual Guineas winner

Henrythenavigator (Kingmambo - Sequoyah, by Sadler's Wells) showed an impressive turn of foot to win the Irish 2000 Guineas at the Curragh on Saturday, beating New Approach by nearly two lengths - the margin between the pair in the English Guineas had been a nose. Stubbs Art was third to the pair once more.

New Approach again tried to make all, but held his head awkwardly on the firm going. Henrythenavigator travelled beautifully for Johnny Murtagh in third. As the tempo increased three furlongs out Stubbs Art took closer order in second, but New Approach found more and fought him off.

Murtagh took Henrythenavigator wide and came with a powerful run down the outer, showing impressive acceleration to sprint past New Approach, who had no answer, going clear to win by a length and three quarters.

O'Brien said: "He is a very classy horse, he has fantastic speed. All the horses are coming forward from their first runs and obviously he has as well. All the options are open to him. He is still in the Derby, that is an option as well as Royal Ascot (St James's Palace). The boss will make that decision. He is a very classy horse. He has relaxed, quickened and done everything right.

"The lad who rides him every day said before Newmarket that he is a mile-and-a-quarter horse on the dirt, but some of the other lads said he is very fast and Johnny always thought a mile would be very easy to him.

"All the options are open, but most Kingmambo horses stay well and he is out of a Sadler's Wells mare.

"The Derby is very much in the picture. He is a definite possible as he is fit and well and handles all of the things.He is very solid an hacked down to the start very good.

"He has a devastating turn of foot and that is what makes the good horses special."