T – Aidan O’Brien
J – Ryan Moore
Winner of the Epsom Investec Derby earlier this month, and bids to become the nineteenth horse to do the iconic Classic double.
Always primed as a Derby horse, he won his trial at Lingfield in great fashion at a venue which also produced the Oaks winner Anapurna.
Top class three-year-old, and will be hard to beat here given his credentials.
T – Aidan O’Brien
J – Donnacha O’Brien
Ridden by this jockey at Epsom, Broome finished a better at Epsom than it suggests fourth on paper – well under a length behind his winning stablemate.
Looked impressive at Leopardstown on first two starts this season – particularly in the Derby Trial Stakes.
Produced natural-looking performances to-date, and could go very close to reversing the form on home soil.
T – J S Bolger
J – Kevin Manning
Plenty of experience behind him, but will surely be outclassed by the O’Brien battalion.
Won on his last start here in Listed company over ten furlongs but form that does not sit strong enough with most of these.
Massive career best required, and ‘guaranteed’ to not figure after his previous Group One performance in the Guineas.
T – Aidan O’Brien
J – Wayne Lordan
Improving Galileo colt, who’s form reads 3221 – including that maiden success last time out at Leopardstown.
Steps up the distance ladder now to unknown territories and a worry that this race just may come too soon for him.
Yet to race in Class One level, and perhaps will be a Group horse in time.
Pace angle?
T – Kevin Prendergast
J – Chris Hayes
Excellent performance in the British Derby, staying on stoutly behind Anthony Van Dyck when not appearing bred to do so.
Lost his unbeaten record this season after a pair of wins as a juvenile, but ran on with much spirit at Epsom and on another day, he might have won.
That could come here, and a repeat performance should give the winner last time and O’Brien’s mounts plenty to worry about.
Big claims.
T – Aidan O’Brien
J – Seamie Heffernan
Epsom winning rider Seamie Heffernan has been demoted from Anthony Van Dyck in place of Ryan Moore, and has more of an outsider’s chance on Norway this time around at the Curragh.
Tipped as a St Leger horse in time, he returned to finish second in the mud to Sir Dragonet at Chester in the Vase, but faded in the Surrey Classic back to eighth.
Never involved in the Queen’s Vase at Royal Ascot last week; despite being sent out quickly to turn things around, improvement looks unlikely here.
T – Dermot Weld
J – Jim Crowley
Son of Sea The Stars and a second player for owner Hamdan Al Maktoum, Rakan is probably the least known quantity on the field.
Emerged onto the Irish Derby scene with an easy win in a Listed race in a small field at Leopardstown three weeks ago.
Well worth a crack in this company, and with three-places on offer, each way betting is tempting.
Jim Crowley heads over the Irish Sea to ride.
T – Aidan O’Brien
J – Padraig Beggy
Possible pace-making role on the cards which he was rushed up to do at Epsom despite falling out of the stalls.
Can play some of the big guns into contention, and even with a Derby winning rider onboard sporting winning colours from last time out, a win looks least likely here.
No chance.
