£800 cast-off back among riches

A CAST-off who fetched more than half-a-million pounds as a yearling and changed hands 12 months ago for £800 is proving that he is no last cause after all.

Owner Chris Green could hardly contain his delight as bargain-buy Polish World completed a hat-trick at Beverley.

The son of Danzig fetched 550,000 guineas (577,000) at the Keeneland sales as a yearling but after failing to shine in stints with Ed Dunlop and Tim Etherington, Green snapped him up for just 800 in May of last year.

The gelding has looked a different horse since switching to the care of North Yorkshire handler Paul Midgley and, following wins at Beverley and Ripon, he returned to the former venue as a short-priced favourite to make it three on the bounce.

Barry McHugh sent the 11-10 market-leader straight to the head of affairs and while he tied up late in the day, he managed to prevail by a short head from his stablemate Pretty Orchid.

"I was at the sales and this horse was the last one in," said Green. "There was no bid so I thought I'd just bid 800 and I got him. I just liked the way he looked and that he was by Danzig.

"I didn't have a plan for him at the start and I just chucked him out in a field. Then I just thought I can't not let him have another race, so he went to Paul last March and he had him ready for the end of April.

"I have a stallion at home and seven or eight mares. I've had placed horses and I've bred two or three winners, but to buy this one and for him to win three is marvellous."

Midgley added: "That was close. Barry has been riding work for us and, with Paul Pickard suspended, it was nice to give him a winning ride."

Meanwhile, supplementary entry Monterosso has been installed as low as a 3-1 shot in William Hill's book for the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby at the Curragh on Sunday.

The Mark Johnston-trained colt could be the one to end Aidan O'Brien's domination of the Classic after connections decided to pay the 150,000 to put the impressive King Edward VII Stakes winner into the big race. O'Brien's Jan Vermeer is the 2-1 favourite.

O'Brien could also be represented by At First Sight, Bright Horizon, Cape Blanco and Midas Touch as he seeks to be successful for an eighth time in total and the fifth in a row.

William Hill bet: 2-1 Jan Vermeer, 4-1 Monterosso, 9-2 Cape Blanco, Midas Touch, 10-1 Coordinated Cut, 12-1 At First Sight, Chabal, Puncher Clynch, 20-1 bar.

Ladbrokes: 2-1 Jan Vermeer, 3-1 Cape Blanco, Monterosso, 6-1 Midas Touch, 9-1 Chabal, 12-1 Coordinated Cut, 16-1 bar.