Fast Results

Scores

Racecards

17:20 Curragh

Saturday 1 July 2017

All14:0014:3515:1015:4016:1016:4017:2018:00

Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby (Group 1)

Off time: 17:20 | Winning time: 2m 35.45s

Settings

Selected odds by:

(1)

Capri²⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: J A Heffernan| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 113| C

6/1

Third best of the O'Brien sextet when sixth of 18 to stablemate Wings Of Eagles in the Epsom Derby last month. Had previously contested the Ballysax Stakes and the Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial, both over 1m2f, finishing on the premises. Has shown an ability to handle softer ground as a juvenile, including when beating Yucatan by ¾L in the Beresford Stakes over 1m here in September 2016 (heavy).

Form: 113-436

(7)

Cracksman²⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: P J Smullen| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 117| BF

3/1

Son of Frankel who won on debut at Newmarket in October 2016 and followed that up with a narrow victory in a Derby Trial at Epsom in April, getting up to beat Permian in the dying strides. Produced a career best when going under by less than 1L (third) to Wings Of Eagles in the Epsom Derby last month. Very few questions to answer with a new rider taking over in the saddle.

Form: 1-13

(6)

Douglas Macarthur²⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: D O'Brien| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 111

12/1

Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial winner (Capri third) at Leopardstown in May, and prior to that effort was a ½L runner-up to Rekindling in the Group 3 Ballysax Stakes in April. Seems to handle most ground conditions, but found a shade wanting for stamina late on when seventh of 18 to Wings Of Eagles in the Epsom Derby last month.

Form: 354-217

(9)

Dubai Sand^p1⁵⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: K J Manning| T: J S Bolger| OR: 104

100/1

Good winner of a 1m1f Listed race at Leopardstown in October 2016 (yielding), but plenty to find on the book with these rivals and trying this trip for the first time. Held by both Douglas Macarthur and Capri from their clashes in both the Ballysax Stakes and Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial. Wears cheekpieces for the first time.

Form: 621-55

(4)

Grandee²³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: C O'Donoghue| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 102| C| D

33/1

Shown steady improvement this year as he's stepped up in trip, and a winner of the Listed King George V Cup at Leopardstown (1m4f) on similar ground last month. Obviously this is a sizeable step up in grade, but he's earned his place and with stamina proven, could be one of the more interesting outsiders.

Form: 331-621

(5)

Taj Mahal^b⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: W M Lordan| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 113

20/1

Seems to find it difficult to get his head in front, but has competed at the highest level with credit. He backed up a fine fourth to Brametot in the French Derby at Chantilly (Waldgeist runner-up) with a similar finish (on different ground) behind Benbatl in the 1m2f Group 3 Hampton Court Stakes at Royal Ascot last week. Needs to prove he definitively stays and hopefully this race doesn't come too quickly.

Form: 35-2244

(2)

The Anvil²⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Anastasia O'Brien| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 108

66/1

Headed into the Epsom Derby with just a 1m2f Dundalk AW success to his name, and he paid the price for helping to force a demanding pace, dropping out quickly from the two furlong pole to finish 17th of 18 to stablemate Wings Of Eagles. His chance will depend upon how he's ridden and whether or not he's employed to set the pace for his better fancied stablemates.

Form: 230-130

(8)

Waldgeist²⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: P C Boudot| T: A Fabre| OR: 117

3/1

No knocking his record with give underfoot and his juvenile campaign ended with a 1L success in the 1m2f Group 1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud in October 2016 (soft; with many of these runners behind). Went mightily close to landing the French Derby at Chantilly last month when caught in the final strides by Brametot, and arrives here seeking to prove his stamina over this new trip; much respected.

Form: 131-22

(3)

Wings Of Eagles²⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: R L Moore| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 120| D

2/1

Enjoyed his day in the limelight when a surprise 40/1 winner of the Epsom Derby, coming out best of his trainers six runners. Showed a strong finishing effort despite not enjoying the clearest of passages, so no doubting his stamina. Could encounter softer ground conditions today, and whilst he's clearly progressed from two to three, he did only finish ninth of 13 to Waldgeist in the Criterium de Saint-Cloud in October 2016. Retained rider takes over in the saddle.

Form: 7149-21

Forecasts

Wings Of Eagles (2/1), Cracksman (3/1), Waldgeist (3/1), Capri (6/1), Douglas Macarthur (12/1), Taj Mahal (20/1), Grandee (33/1), The Anvil (66/1), Dubai Sand (100/1)

Much like in it's English counterpart last month, Aidan O'Brien emerges mob-handed for the Derby and is responsible for saddling five of the nine runners including Epsom hero Wings Of Eagles. Whilst for most he was a shock winner of the English Derby, he displayed stamina in abundance and despite arriving on a slightly softer surface today, he does have retained rider Ryan Moore aboard. This race has been dominated by Irish trained winners over the past couple of decades, but WALDGEIST arrives as a major contender to add some flavour from France. Already a Grade 1 winner as a juvenile (Criterium de Saint-Cloud), he was agonisingly run down by Brametot in the dying embers of the French Derby at Chantilly last month. He's bred to stay this longer trip, but most importantly with showers forecast, he's fully adept on a softer surface, so he's the selection to break the O'Brien stranglehold on the Classics.