All eyes are on Auguste Rodin at the Curragh today as he looks to become the first horse for seven years to win the Irish Derby after taking victory in the British Derby.
Aidan O’Brien’s runner won by half a length at Epsom a month ago, and is the 1.30 clear favourite with William Hill to complete the double, which would be O’Brien’s fifth as a trainer.
Outclassed in the 2000 Guineas in May, the step up from 1 mile to 1 ½ miles seems to have suited Ryan Moore’s mount perfectly, and this seems to be Moore’s best chance of breaking his Irish Derby duck.
※ Current Odds Date & Time: July 2nd, 10:30 A.M. (BST)
The nearest challenger, in the betting at least, is 7.50 chance White Birch, who was third at Epsom for trainer Dylan Brown McMonagle.
John Joseph Murphy will be on board today, the fifth different jockey in the colt’s six-race career. A career that has seen him come second in the Dante Stakes at York and win a Group 3 at Leopardstown in April.
Next up attempting to win the €712,500 prize is Sprewell at 8.50, who was one place behind White Birch at Epsom.
A winner of a Group 3 Derby Trial at Leopardstown in May, Shane Foley takes his usual ride for Jessie Harrington and they have a strong chance of improving on their Epsom result.
The lightly-raced Up And Under will take to the track for just the fourth time and is still in search of a first win. That being said, Joseph O’Brien’s runner was runner-up to both White Birch and Sprewell in those Leopardstown Group 3s. At 19.00 he looks a promising each-way chance.
Aiden O’Brien has five of the nine runners, the second is San Antonio (23.00), ridden by Wayne Lordan.
11th of the 14 runners in the Epsom Derby – his first group race – he will need a rapid improvement to get among the favourites this time.
Proud And Regal (34.00) has a win and two places from four outings at the Curragh, including second in the Group 1 Vincent O’Brien National Stakes in September. He then won the Group 1 Criterium International at Saint-Cloud.
However, he was only seventh in the Irish 2000 Guineas in May. Gavin Ryan retains the ride as Donnacha O’Brien hopes the longer trip will help regain his form.
The final three in the betting are all Aidan O’Brien runners, the shortest price of which, Adelaide River (51.00), was eighth at Epsom. Peking Opera (81.00) was second in the Queen’s Vase at Royal Ascot and Covent Garden (126.00) was eighth of nine in his only group race to date.
