Who To Follow At The Curragh On Saturday - 25/06/22

James Mackie | @JMackieRacing

Thu 23 Jun 2022 13.06

Curragh 14:45

7(5)

Westover

J: Colin Keane

T: Ralph Beckett

N/A

Age: 3

Weight: 9-2

OR: 116

Days: 21

The feature race of the afternoon in Ireland is the Irish Derby over 1m4f and fancy the British raider Westover for Ralph Beckett to make it back to back wins for the English in the Irish Classic.

A three year old son of Frankel the colt was seen three times as a juvenile, winning on debut over a mile at Sandown in a decent event and then placing twice behind the Queen's Vase second and a nice type for Alice Haynes.

Progressing massively for a step up in trip on three year old debut he landed the Group Three bet365 Classic Trial at Sandown, which set him up perfectly for a crack at the Derby.

Up to 12f at Epsom he ran an absolute cracker to finish third behind Desert Crown, hitting traffic in running and when getting a clear run absolutely flew home and wasn't beaten far.

If the rain comes on Saturday he won't mind it and the Curragh looks a perfect galloping track that will suit him down to the ground.Big player.

Johnny Murtagh has been a superstar trainer over the last few years in Ireland and on Irish Derby day he has a handful of runners that could go close.

In the opener he fields Measure Magic who is looking to get back to form and then in then in the next he holds a huge chance with Karkiyna making her handicap debut.

Raadobarg for Amo Racing goes for the yard in the Celebration Stakes and then in the Group Two Railway Stakes Shartash could turn out to be quite useful.

Other horses to note for the handler include Carrytheone and Chicago Bear with the latter potentially his best chance of the day.

Colin Keane has a superb book of rides across Saturday afternoon, none better than Westover in the Irish Derby, jumping on the second favourite for the Classic event from Rob Hornby.

In the opener he rides Power Under Me for Ger Lyons with the four year old being a course and distance winner and will be looking to get back to winning ways.

He teams up with his retained trainer again with Marbling in the next and then in the Celebration Stakes he holds a leading chance with Straight Answer.

Westover is his big ride of the day in the Derby, but he could also go close in the Premier Handicap on Bucky Larson, who holds a big chance.

Keane finishes the day on board Team Of Firsts who needs to bounce back to form.