15:40 Curragh

Sunday 2 July 2023

All13:5014:2515:0015:4016:1516:5017:2518:00

Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby (Group 1)

Off time: 15:40 | Winning time: 2m 33.24s

(3)

Adelaide River²⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Seamie Heffernan| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 106

33/1

Winning debut on AW last summer and placed 4 times at Group level since. Ran as well as could have been expected when 10¾ lengths eighth of 14 to Auguste Rodin in Derby at Epsom (12f, good to firm, 33/1) 29 days ago. Up against it again.

Form: 1223-28

(1)

Auguste Rodin²⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: R L Moore| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 124| BF| D

4/11

Unlucky on debut and made no mistake in 3 subsequent outings at 2 yrs, running out the comfortable winner of Group 1 Futurity at Doncaster (1m, heavy) in October. Ran no sort of race when favourite for 2000 Guineas but back with a bang when comfortably winning the Derby at Epsom. Hard to beat.

Form: 2111-01

(6)

Covent Garden^b⁵⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Declan McDonogh| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 97

80/1

Useful colt. Blinkered for 1st time, very good length third of 6 to Peking Opera in listed race (9/2) at Navan (13f, soft) 50 days ago. Plenty to find on form. Potential pacemaker.

Form: 6218-3

(9)

Peking Opera¹¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Tom Marquand| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 99

66/1

Off the mark at the second attempt, then upped his form again to make a successful return in listed race at Navan. Not seen to best effect in Queen's Vase (6/1) at Royal Ascot (14.2f, good) 11 days ago but this is a huge ask.

Form: 21-17

(4)

Proud And Regal³⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Gavin Ryan| T: Donnacha O'Brien| OR: 109| BF| C

33/1

Group 1 winner over 1m at 2 yrs in France (Criterium International at Saint-Cloud). Respectable 5½ lengths third of 8 to Sprewell in Derby Trial Stakes at Leopardstown (10f, heavy, 6/4) on return but only sixth in Irish 2000 Guineas here since. Step up in trip should at least suit.

Form: 1321-37

(2)

San Antonio²⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Wayne Lordan| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 106

16/1

Continued his race-by-race progression when winning the Dee Stakes at Chester, making most. However, well held in Derby at Epsom since, albeit looking ill at ease on the track.

Form: 53-110

(5)

Sprewell²⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Shane Foley| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 113

13/2

Confirmed 2-y-o promise when making a winning return in novice at Naas. Progressed again when following up in Derby Trial at Leopardstown before good 7 lengths fourth to Auguste Rodin in Derby at Epsom, hampered at crucial stage. Remains capable of better.

Form: 42-114

(7)

Up And Under⁵⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Mikey Sheehy| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 106

28/1

Still a maiden but was only ½ length behind White Birch in Group 3 at Leopardstown and pulled clear of rest when 3 lengths second of 8 to Sprewell in Derby Trial Stakes there since. Not taken lightly.

Form: 3-22

(8)

White Birch^t²⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Dylan Browne McMonagle| T: J J Murphy| OR: 115

6/1

Confirmed debut promise to win maiden at Dundalk and took another big step forward when following up in Ballysax Stakes at Leopardstown on return. Ran on strongly when close second in Dante at York before good 5¼ lengths third to Auguste Rodin in Derby (12/1) at Epsom, poorly placed. Respected.

Form: 51-123

Forecasts

Auguste Rodin (4/11), White Birch (6/1), Sprewell (13/2), San Antonio (16/1), Up And Under (28/1), Adelaide River (33/1), Proud And Regal (33/1), Peking Opera (66/1), Covent Garden (80/1)

AUGUSTE RODIN produced a high-class performance to run down subsequent King Edward VII winner King of Steel in the Epsom Derby and can become the first horse since Harzand in 2016 to complete the Derby double. Sprewell and White Birch both weren't seen to best effect behind the selection at Epsom and they have solid claims of making the frame again.