Racing: Tenby eases to 4-7

TENBY worked indifferently yesterday morning and the Derby ante-post market went into reverse. The Henry Cecil-trained colt, ridden by Pat Eddery, failed to impress in work with stable companions, the joint-Epsom hope Commander In Chief, Placerville and Allegan over a mile. The Derby trip is a mile and a half.

Owner Khalid Abdullah's racing manager, Grant Pritchard-Gordon, defended Tenby afterwards, saying: 'He worked rather lazily. We weren't too worried because he had colic last Sunday night and we didn't want to overdo it.'

However, bookmakers Victor Chandler subsequently reported heavy backing for Commander In Chief. They laid a pounds 20,000- pounds 2,000 at 10-1 and a pounds 24,000- pounds 3,000 at 8-1 before cutting Commander In Chief to 7-1.

Tenby, who at 2-5 yesterday morning promised to be the hottest Derby favourite since the war, has now eased to a top-priced 4-7. Other top Derby prices: 8-1 Commander In Chief, 9 Barathea, 10 Fatherland, 16 Planetary Aspect, 20 Bob's Return, 25 Geisway, 33 Desert team, Wolf Prince. 40 bar.

Other Derby news yesterday concerned Lester Piggott who now seems sure to partner Fatherland for Vincent O'Brien in preference to Geisway.

Nicer ran out a decisive winner of yesterday's IAWS Irish 1,000 Guineas at The Curragh. The English raider, trained by Barry Hills at Lambourn and ridden by his son Michael, burst clear approaching the final furlong. Nicer now goes for the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot next month.

The amateur rider John Carden was taken to hospital in Nottingham last night under police escort after being hurt in a crashing fall from King of Shadows in a four- horse pile-up at the fourth flight in the Gunthorpe Handicap Hurdle at Southwell.