Green Impact could reap ultimate reward for Marc Chan in Sunday's Irish Derby after his first foray into breeding

Owner Marc Chan's foray into breeding could reap the ultimate reward on Sunday when his first homebred Green Impact bids for Classic glory in the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby.

The Jessica Harrington-trained colt was among the top juveniles in Ireland last year, landing two of his three starts, with both successes coming at Leopardstown and against Delacroix as he defeated this year's beaten Derby favourite in his maiden and in the Group 2 Champions Juvenile Stakes.

He kicked off his three-year-old campaign in the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket, coming home in sixth under Shane Foley, and got back into the winner's enclosure last time in the Listed Glencairn Stakes at Leopardstown, beating Currawood by half a length to justify 11-8 favouritism.

He is an 8-1 chance to give Harrington her first Irish Derby win behind Epsom hero Lambourn for Aidan O'Brien, who has been installed as 4-5 favourite.

Chan, whose purple and yellow silks are familiar on the track in Ireland and Britain through the exploits of the likes of Angel Bleu, Kinross, Starzintheireyes and Bold Discovery, is also responsible for the Ralph Beckett-trained Sir Dinadan, who was last seen finishing runner-up to subsequent King Edward VII winner and stablemate Amiloc in the Listed Cocked Hat Stakes at Goodwood.

Chan's racing manager Jamie McCalmont said: "Green Impact is the first horse Marc Chan ever bred. He bought the mare when she was carrying Green Impact. In the Guineas, he maybe didn't handle the track all that well and the ground didn't really suit him, but we were very pleased with his win at Leopardstown last time.

"Sir Dinadan's form from Goodwood has worked out well. We dodged Ascot last week as we thought the ground was too firm. He hasn't got many options but he's in good form and we're happy to go to the Curragh."

Marc Chan: will be doubly represented in Sunday's Irish DerbyCredit: Tattersalls

Green Impact will be running over a mile and a half for the first time but there is encouragement from his pedigree, being by Wootton Bassett out of a Galileo mare who stayed a mile and five furlongs.

He was born and raised at Harry McCalmont's Norelands Stud in County Kilkenny, as was Sir Dinadan, and Chan elected to buy Green Impact's dam Emerald Green in November 2021, just a few months after Galileo's death.

Jamie McCalmont added:  "When you take the various factors into account and the way the form of the race has worked out, it wasn't a bad run from Green Impact in the Guineas, especially as he wants ten furlongs-plus.

"It will be interesting to see him step up to a mile and a half. Wootton Bassett sired a Queen's Vase winner [Carmers] last week and is one of the most versatile stallions I've seen in my lifetime. He's proven this year he can get a horse over any distance.

"A lot of credit goes to Marc as Galileo had just passed when he bought the dam and he was very keen to have a Galileo mare."

Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby (4.10 Curragh, Sunday)

Betfair: 4-5 Lambourn, 5-2 Tennessee Stud, 7 Pride Of Arras, 8 Green Impact, 12 Puppet Master, 14 Lazy Griff, 33 Serious Contender, 50 Sir Dinadan, 66 Thrice, 100 Shackleton

Read more:

Joseph O'Brien excited to turn the tables on Lambourn in the Irish Derby as Epsom 1-2-3 meet again 

Unbeaten Amiloc set to return to Ascot for King George as his star stablemate bids for Irish Derby redemption  

Derby rematch moves closer as Epsom 1-2-3 are all confirmed for Sunday's Irish equivalent at the Curragh 

Pricewise is red-hot after 22-1, 10-1, 10-1, 7-1 and 7-1 winners at Royal Ascot - make sure you never miss out by joining Racing Post+ Ultimate for £20 when you sign up via web using code JUNEJEWELS20 – that's a whopping 60% discount. Available only to new and returning customers. Subscription will auto-renew at £49.95 unless you call our cancellation line to cancel. Sign up now.