LYNX JOINS O’DONOVAN AND SET FOR TOWCESTER TRIAL

Ian Fortune

Ryhope Beach won’t be on his own when he travels to Towcester for a trial on Sunday as Pennys Lynx, who finished fourth behind Ryhope Beach in Saturday’s Shelbourne Open 600, has also joined Michael O’Donovan and will be trialing at Towcester on Sunday with a potential crack at the Star Sports/ TRC English Derby in the works.

Speaking to the Racing Post, O’Donovan said, "He's just joined me and is a lovely looking dog. He beat Ryhope in the semis at Shelbourne".

O'Donovan continued, “I've booked them for 500m solos on Sunday. We'll be getting the early boat over and it's a case of seeing how they go before deciding on the English Derby or not."

Speaking of his Shelbourne 600 winner, he said, “If the Derby was at Wimbledon then it wouldn't be for Ryhope Beach. When he trials his sectionals do stack up okay, but it's different when you're in with five others.

"He's a very fast dog, but the long run to the bend in the 600 at Shelbourne suits him. But it could be that Towcester suits him too, and he's certainly a strong dog. We'll give them a look and see how it goes on Sunday."