The eyes of the world will be on Epsom Downs next weekend for the latest offering of the English classics with the Investec Derby and Investec Oaks on a mouth-watering day of action next Saturday, but we have the Irish Derby to look forward to first.
The big race in Ireland runs on Saturday evening over at the Curragh and it heads a very tasty looking card. We’ve gone through the 12 furlong card in full and are attacking the race with a couple of big priced selections.
7.15 Curragh
Favourites
The Group 1 Irish Derby is the highlight on a really good looking Curragh card & this year’s renewal has attracted a field of 15 runners. It’s a really interesting race given the lack of racing this year & stamina will have to be taken on trust for a few of these runners, going a mile and a half for the first time.
The O’Brien family saddle 10 of the 15 runners with Aiden responsible for 6, Joseph 3 & Donnacha 1. Aiden has the favourite in Santiago who comes here after landing the Queens Vase on soft ground over 1 mile 6 furlongs. The drop back in trip & the better ground may not be ideal, whilst it’ll take a good performance to come out & win again after less than 2 week break. Arthur’s Kingdom is another coming from Royal Ascot after a 2nd over this trip in the King Edward VII but the form is under question with outsider Pyledriver landing the spoils that day.
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Contenders
Fiscal Rules is well fancied after just 2 career runs where he finished 2nd to Wichita at 2 & then stepped up to finish 5th in the Irish 2000 Guineas. The big question is whether he stays. The form of the Group 3 Gallinule at this track over a mile and a quarter 15 days ago may have a big say in the outcome here. Crossfirehurricane took his career form to 4 wins from 4 runs after winning that race but there are doubts over his stamina whilst the 3rd home Sherpa was considered unlucky in some quarters after finding a little trouble in running.
Betting
I think Gold Maze is the forgotten horse from that race in finishing 2nd. There was a fast pace there & he was the one that raced closest to it. He was outpaced by the winner but stayed on all the way to the line in good fashion, looking like he’d benefit from a longer trip. Being a son of Golden Horn, he’s sure to improve for the extra 2 furlongs.
He’s clearly well regarded as, in his 2 runs last year, he finished behind 2 excellent types in Sinawann & Innisfree. This is just his 4th career start & he looks the type to keep improving for a yard that’s been in good nick. With the price disparity against the 2 he split in the Gallinule, he looks a cracking each way bet.
The 2nd bet is Tiger Moth, one of the lesser fancied from Aiden O’Brien’s string. He’s seen the racetrack just twice, finishing 3rd behind a subsequent Listed winner in his only run at 2. This year, he won his only start in a 10 furlong maiden at Leopardstown. That day, he travelled well just in behind the leaders & once angled out for a run, picked up well & stayed on nicely to win a shade cosily. The 2nd & 3rd repose here but I can’t see any more in which they’ll turn the tables. That Leopardstown race could turn out to be the best maiden race of the season & he looks well worth a shot at a big price.
Tips
PLACED – Back Tiger Moth (e/w) for a 0.75/10 stake at 17.00 Coral BOG (1/5 odds 1-4)
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Back Gold Maze (e/w) for a 0.75/10 stake at 19.00 Betfair BOG (1/5 odds 1-4)
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