Act One is set to miss Irish Derby

French star Act One could miss his eagerly expected clash with Epsom Derby hero High Chaparral in the Budweiser Irish Derby on Sunday if reports that the Gallic colt has injured a leg in training prove correct.

Handled by Jonathan Pease at Chantilly, the son of In The Wings would take much of the interest out of the Curragh highlight if he misses the race.

Act One lost his unbeaten in five starts tag when defeated by Sulamani in the French Derby, Chantilly's Prix du Jockey Club but his trainer thought that was just a blip and was confident that he would give Aidan O'Brien's Vodafone Derby winner High Chaparral, a good run for his money in the Irish Classic.

Sunday's event, worth £812,500 would also suffer as a betting medium in Act One's absence. Irish bookmakers Cashmans had O'Brien's High Chaparral at 8-13 favourite with the French horse at 2-1. Yet if Act One is pulled out High Chaparral would be virtually unbackable at around the 1-4 mark and the race would suffer as a spectacle from his nonparticipation.

Act One belonged to Gerald Leigh, one of Britain's major owner/breeders, who died on Saturday after a long battle with cancer and Pease was busily trying to contact his family about the colt's suspected setback yesterday.

The Curragh race could now turn into even more of an O'Brien benefit than it looked to be before Act One's probable defection.