ADAM Kirby gets back on board John Leeper today – four weeks after he was jocked off the horse in the Derby.
Kirby was booked to ride Ed Dunlop’s exciting three-year-old at Epsom before losing the ride to Frankie Dettori on the eve of the race.
But top jockey Kirby bounced back from that disappointment to win the Classic on 16-1 shot Adayar – with John Leeper well-beaten.
The incident is water under the bridge to Kirby and he is hopeful the colt can get his season back on track in Sandown’s Listed Gala Stakes.
Kirby said: “There’s no hard feelings at all, these things happen in racing and you have to move on from them.
“I’m really looking forward to getting back on him. I haven’t sat on him since I rode him around Epsom before the Derby.
“They wouldn’t be running him again so soon if they didn’t think he was in good shape. The trip will probably be ideal for him, dropping back from a mile and a half.
“He’s got a nice draw and he has shown already that he is a horse with class, so hopefully he can show that at Sandown.
“He has been keen in his last few starts but I’ll get him to relax, he’ll be fine.”
Newmarket-based Dunlop is pleased to have Kirby back in the saddle for Friday’s £52,000 contest.
He added: “The circumstances (of booking Dettori) were at the request of the owner, and the surprise came because Aidan only declared one horse and we were expecting Frankie to ride for him.
“Some people liked it Frankie and a lot didn’t. But we move on, it’s history.
“Adam loved the horse when he rode him at Epsom and it all worked out in the end for Adam because he won the Derby.
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“He is a big strong jockey and I think he is the ideal man to ride John Leeper.
“He was a bit keen at Epsom and Frankie suggested we drop him back in trip, this seems an ideal race.
“We’ve always thought on pedigree and looks he should stay a mile and a half, but we mustn’t forget he’s only run four times in his life.
“That dream has gone now, we’ve moved on and he’s a horse we’re in no rush with. He should be better as an older horse and we retain utmost faith in him.”
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