Harayir to seek Ascot revenge

Dick Hern was hopeful yesterday that Harayir can gain revenge at Royal Ascot for Saturday's defeat in the Irish 1,000 Guineas.

Harayir, winner of the 1,000 Guineas at Newmarket, was made an 11-10 favourite at The Curragh but could finish only fifth behind Ridgewood Pearl.

Hern has given Harayir a clean bill of health and blames soft ground for her defeat. "Obviously I am disappointed but she has come out of the race very well and I hope she will be able to go for the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot if the ground is all right," the trainer said.

"I was probably too confident she would handle the going - her granddam Give Thanks loved it. When we arrived at The Curragh the ground was still good but then we got heavy rain for a couple of hours and that made all the difference."

John Oxx also nominated the Coronation Stakes as a likely target for his Ridgewood Pearl, whose four-length triumph yesterday gave the trainer his first success in the race and provided the first home winner of the Irish 1,000 Guineas since 1991.