The David Menuisier trained Lionel put up an underwhelming performance in the Irish Derby at the Curragh on Sunday and now his French handler is set to give him a break and wait for soft ground conditions.
Menuisier saw his stable star finish last of the eight runners in the Irish Classic event at the weekend and put the bad run down to the ground conditions being too quick for his colt.
Lionel had shown some extremely smart form before being bumped up to Group One company, Placing on his first run of the season behind the smart Ottoman Fleet and then got off the mark at the second time of asking in the Listed Cocked Hat Stakes at Goodwood.
Primed for a big run at the Curragh it was not to be and the French handler is now going to wait for soft conditions for the son of Lope De Vega.
🎵 Lionel is dancing on the ceiling at @Goodwood_Races
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) May 20, 2022
Nothing Messi about this performance from Lionel who sheds his maiden tag in the £55,000 Listed Cocked Hat Stakes for @DavidMenuisier
He needs to be supplemented for the Derby, but does hold an Irish Derby entry 👀 pic.twitter.com/PuMK05XVHC
(Credit ATR) Menuisier said: “He seems fine. The ground was a bit quick for him, so he couldn’t quite find his feet.
“The ground dried out dramatically. We walked the course in the morning and the horse had a little exercise and seemed fine, but the wind was strong and it dried out too much for him.
“Obviously the rain came at night and the ground was soft the next day, so it’s just one of those things.
“He’s going to go for a little break now. The horse will want soft ground, but there’s no real plan.
“He’s only just run, so we’ll see. We feel he wants a little break and we’ll see what happens.”