16:35 Curragh

Sunday 28 June 2026

All13:1013:4014:1014:4515:2015:5516:3517:1517:45

Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby (Group 1)

Off time: 16:35 | Winning time: 2m 28.33s

(4)

Action²²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Declan McDonogh| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 111| BF

22/1

Had Christmas Day behind him in third when second in the Dante at York but ran no sort of race when well adrift of his stablemate in the Derby. First-time cheekpieces worn at Epsom are quickly discarded.

Form: 132-420

(8)

Benvenuto Cellini⁵³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: R L Moore| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 114| BF| D

7/4

Group 2 winner at 2 yrs and looked a top prospect when easily winning Chester Vase (good to firm) on reappearance. Floundered in the mud in the Derby at Epsom (subsequently declared a non runner) but remains capable of better back under much quicker conditions and Ryan Moore keeps the faith.

Form: 2113-1

(5)

Bunyola Bay²⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: S M Levey| T: R Hannon| OR: 102

50/1

Has made rapid progress in a short career, producing a very useful effort to make it 2-3 in valuable Gowran Classic (9.5f, good) 4 weeks ago. Up in trip again. This is a big jump in class but there is almost certainly more to come.

Form: 3-11

(6)

Christmas Day²²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Ronan Whelan| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 118| BF| D

4/1

Only third in the Dante but relished the step up to 1½m and a return to soft ground when a convincing 2¾-length winner of the Derby at Epsom under Ronan Whelan. Open to further progress when his abundant stamina is tested even more but that's not sure to be the case back on a quicker surface.

Form: 511-131

(7)

James J Braddock²²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Dylan Browne McMonagle| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 111| C

7/1

Edged out Pierre Bonnard to win the Derby Trial at Leopardstown (1¼m, good) in May. Built on that when 5¼ lengths third of 13 to Christmas Day in the Derby at Epsom (soft) 3 weeks ago, as expected proving well suited by 1½m. Likely capable of even better.

Form: 21-513

(1)

Pierre Bonnard²²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Wayne Lordan| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 108| BF

9/1

Highly promising Group 1 winner at 2. That makes this season's efforts slightly underwhelming, failing to build on his narrow near miss to James J Braddock at Leopardstown when 10 lengths seventh of 13 to Christmas Day in the Derby at Epsom (1½m, soft) 22 days ago.

Form: 111-727

(3)

Raaheeb⁶⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Rossa Ryan| T: Owen Burrows| OR: 112

11/4

Brother to the top-class pair of Hukum and Baaeed and the way he made it 2-2 in the Classic Trial at Sandown (1¼m, good) on reappearance in April suggests he could be of a similar calibre himself. Will stay 1½m. Not to be underestimated.

Form: 1-1

(2)

Shaihaan³⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Tom Marquand| T: Donnacha O'Brien| OR: 103| C

33/1

Convincing winner of 1¼m maiden here (heavy) on reappearance but his limitations have seemingly been exposed in Group 3s over that trip since. First attempt at 1½m. Significant improvement will be needed.

Form: 724-143

Forecasts

Benvenuto Cellini (7/4), Raaheeb (11/4), Christmas Day (4/1), James J Braddock (7/1), Pierre Bonnard (9/1), Action (22/1), Shaihaan (33/1), Bunyola Bay (50/1)

Ryan Moore sticks with BENVENUTO CELLINI who is taken to bounce back from his flop in the mud at Epsom and provide Aidan O'Brien with a record-extending 18th success in this. Raaheeb created a really strong impression when quickening clear in the Classic Trial at Sandown and may provide a bigger threat than the selection's Derby-winning stablemate Christmas Day, who needs to prove he's as potent away from soft ground.