17:15 Curragh

Saturday 30 June 2018

All13:4014:1514:5015:2516:0016:3517:1517:55

Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby (Group 1)

Off time: 17:18 | Winning time: 2m 32.62s

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Selected odds by:

(7)

Bandua⁵⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Declan McDonogh| T: D K Weld

33/1

Unbeaten in two starts on heavy ground and shaped like he would appreciate a greater stamina test at Cork last time. Needs to take his form to a whole new level here but quicker ground likely to be in his favour judged on his pedigree.

Form: 11

(3)

Carlo Biraghi²³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Chris Hayes| T: J A Stack| BF| C

100/1

Won a 1m2f maiden here on debut but well beaten in Listed company at Leopardstown on only subsequent run earlier in the month. Hard to imagine him improving enough to be in the shake up here and needs to settle better.

Form: 15

(1)

Dee Ex Bee²⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: S De Sousa| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 118

10/3

Has won just twice in his nine starts but improving with every run and improved markedly from his run in the Chester Vase to finish runner-up in the Epsom Derby last time out. A more conventional track likely to suit here and holds leading claims.

Form: 312-322

(4)

Delano Roosevelt⁸

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

12/1

Won a Leopardstown maiden on debut and has held his form well in Group company since including when sixth in the Epsom Derby. Needs more to make his presence felt at this level and disappointed at Ascot last time but he's the type to bounce back.

Form: 32-2265

(5)

Knight To Behold²⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: L Dettori| T: Harry Dunlop| OR: 110| D

16/1

Impressive when winning the Lingfield Derby Trial and making it two wins from three starts but he disappointed when tailed off in the Epsom Derby. Will want an easy lead here and little chance of that with several O'Brien runners in opposition.

Form: 21-10

(8)

Latrobe²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: D O'Brien| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 103| CD

14/1

Narrowly beaten in two maiden before finishing runner-up in Group 3 company here in May. Made light work of a maiden when dropped in class over C&D earlier in the month but needs to take a big step forward to mix it at this level. Others preferred.

Form: 2-221

(6)

Old Persian⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: W Buick| T: C Appleby| OR: 111| D

8/1

Very impressive when winning a Royal Ascot Group 2 last time and clearly progressive, winning three of his four starts this year. Certainly worth a crack at this level with more progress likely and it's interesting he's been supplemented for this.

Form: 17-1211

(9)

Platinum Warrior³⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: S Foley| T: M Halford| OR: 108| C

25/1

Career best effort when getting the better of Latrobe in a Group 3 here over 1m2f last time. Needs to improve for the step up in trip here though and others already proven at this level.

Form: 821-641

(10)

Rostropovich^t⁸

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

25/1

Group 2 winner here as a juvenile and very impressive when winning the Dee Stakes at Chester in May. Well beaten in the French Derby but back to form when second to Old Persian in a Royal Ascot Group 2. May struggle to reverse the form here.

Form: 13-4192

(2)

Saxon Warrior²⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: R L Moore| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 121| BF| C

1/1

Racing Post Trophy winner and an impressive 2,000 Guineas winner on seasonal return. Fourth when odds-on for the Epsom Derby last time and no obvious excuse has come to light since but that's still excellent form and may be able to bounce back here.

Form: 111-14

(12)

The Pentagon²⁸

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

16/1

Very promising juvenile who finished third in the Racing Post Trophy last year. Hasn't progressed as expected since though and he's down the order on jockey bookings here. May appreciate the likely faster ground.

Form: 113-338

(11)

Theobald²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: K J Manning| T: J S Bolger| OR: 99

150/1

Ended 2017 with a win on AW at Dundalk but has failed to make his presence felt in Group class subsequently and this is his toughest test to date.

Form: 701-777

Forecasts

Saxon Warrior (1/1), Dee Ex Bee (10/3), Old Persian (8/1), Delano Roosevelt (12/1), Latrobe (14/1), The Pentagon (16/1), Knight To Behold (16/1), Rostropovich (25/1), Platinum Warrior (25/1), Bandua (33/1), Carlo Biraghi (100/1), Theobald (150/1)

The Epsom Derby form looks rock solid and DEE EX BEE is taken to confirm the form with Saxon Warrior with the more conventional track likely to play to his strengths here. The aforementioned Aidan O'Brien runner failed to sparkle at Epsom but he may still prove to good for the rest of the field and O'Brien's record in this race demands respect. Old Persian is getting better with every start and further progress looks likely on just his second try at 1m4f.