5/24/12 - With Parish Hall appearing to be bang on course to make his seasonal return on the Curragh, on Saturday, in the Abu Dhabi Irish 2000 Guineas over a mile, the automatic assumption is that connections have ruled out a bid for the Investec Derby, a week later.

However, that would be somewhat jumping the gun, as no firm decision has yet been made on Jim Bolger’s colt running at Epsom, writes Elliot Slater.

Clearly, a tough race for Parish Hall would make it unlikely that he would be asked to turn out, just seven days later, against a seemingly stronger field on the Surrey Downs.

Punters should probably bide their time, and wait to see, first of all, if the son of Teofilo does actually run at the Curragh, as a late decision to bypass the first Irish classic of the 2012 season would almost certainly signal that Bolger and his team are going to have a crack at Camelot and company.

Parish Hall missed the Qipco 2000 Guineas at Newmarket, earlier in the month, on account of the testing ground at HQ, when fancied in many quarters to put up a bold show.

The news that the ground in Ireland appears to be drying out nicely during the current sunny spell must be another significant factor in favour of Bolger going ahead with a crack at the mile race.

The surprise winner of last season’s Group 1 Dubai Dewhurst Stakes, when coming out best in a blanket five-way finish to win one of the top two-year-old races of the year, the exciting prospect is currently available at 16/1 in the Epsom Derby 2012 tips.

That price would be but a distant memory if he does indeed score at the Curragh. For more horse racing tips, news, and odds, visit the Betfair website.