3 days ago
Irish Derby full race card and tips - list of runners at the Curragh on Sunday
Bank on Lambourn to complete the coveted Derby double in Sunday's Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby at the Curragh.
Twenty colts, five of them trained by Aidan O'Brien, have completed the Epsom-Curragh Derby double while O'Brien is poised to create more history by winning Ireland's premier classic for the 17th time.
Ballydoyle will be responsible for half of the 10-strong field. And Lambourn, a son of Australia, who completed the Derby double in 2014, is undoubtedly the horse to beat as he attemptsto confirm Epsom form with British challengers Lazy Griff (second), Tennessee Stud (third) and Pride Of Arras (17th).
A listed winner in Craon (France) at two, Lambourn chased home stable-companion Delacroix in the Ballysax on his three-year-old debut.
He then challenged late when mastering Lazy Griff in the Chester Vase and stepped-up again when, a 13/2 shot, he made all under Wayne Lordan and saw off all challengers in the Betfred Derby at Epsom, beating Lazy Griff by three and three-quarter lengths, with Tennessee Stud, doing his best work in the closing stages, another length away in third.
Ryan Moore is unlikely to be afforded the opportunity to dictate the pace on Sunday. But Ballydoyle are sure to guarantee a strong, even pace, which should allow Lambourn to be handy before making his move forglory.
Lambourn has outpointed Lazy Griff twice, once from behind and once from the front. And I see no reason why he won't beat him again.
Tennessee Stud , representing Joseph O'Brien, a Group 1 winner last autumn, looked ill-at-ease on Epsom's unique terrain, but finished well. And he might prove the biggest threat to Lambourn this time.
Ralph Beckett, who won with Westover in 2022, relies on Pride Of Arras, completely at sea at Epsom when eased and tailed off, and Sir Dinadan, runner-up to Amloc at Goodwood last time. Pride Of Arras is better than that. But the form of his Dante win has taken plenty of knocks.
Jessica Harrington's Green Impact, runner-up to Hotazhell in the Beresford last year, is taking the leap from a mile, over which he won the Glencairn (listed) at Leopardstown last time, to a mile and a half.
There's plenty of confidence behind Shane Foley's mount but, in a test of stamina, he might come up short. Puppet Master, narrow winner of the Lingfield Derby Trial, looks best of the other Ballydoyle runners.
Here's a full list of the runners and riders, as well as a tip for each race:
1.15pm: 1m1f Dubai Duty Free Handicap (3yo)
1 Thunder Wonder (IRE) Joe Fanning
2 Mississippi River (IRE) Ryan Moore3 Shiota (IRE) Gary Carroll4 Viking Invasion (IRE) Declan McDonogh5 Dignam (IRE) Dylan McMonagle6 Iron Fist (IRE) Keithen Kennedy (5)7 Lady In Paris Shane Foley8 Tangapour (IRE) Ben Coen9 Calrissiana Rory Cleary10 Triple Double A (IRE) Andy Slattery11 Its All Peachy (IRE) Jamie Powell (3)12 Sujet Chris Hayes13 Nyman (IRE) Wayne Lordan
Peter O'Hehir's tip: Mississippi River
1.50pm: 1m Dubai Duty Free Derby Festival Handicap (3yo+)
1 Power Under Me (IRE) Colin Keane2 Coeur d'Or (IRE) Chris Hayes3 Chazzesmee (IRE) Joseph Sheridan4 Love Billy Boy (IRE) Dylan McMonagle5 Spoken Truth (IRE) Leigh Roche6 State Actor (IRE) Billy Lee7 Booyea (IRE) R Whearty (3)8 Akecheta (IRE) Seamie Heffernan9 I Am Superman (IRE) Keithen Kennedy (5)10 Retracement (IRE) Ben Coen11 Serialise (IRE) Shane Foley12 Urban Sprawl Joe Fanning13 Slieve Binnian (IRE) Luke McAteer
Peter O'Hehir's tip: Coeur d'Or
2.25pm: 6f Jebel Ali Racecourse & Stables Dash Stakes (Listed Race) (3yo+)
1 My Mate Alfie (IRE) Colin Keane2 Big Gossey (IRE) Gary Carroll3 Erosandpsyche (IRE) Oisin Orr4 King Cuan Billy Lee5 Russet Gold R G Ryan6 Tango Flare (IRE) Seamie Heffernan7 Super Sox Donagh O'Connor8 Navassa Island (IRE) Ronan Whelan9 Vespertilio (FR) Dylan McMonagle10 East Hampton Luke McAteer11 Seattle (FR) Ryan Moore12 Songhai (IRE) Wayne Lordan
Peter O'Hehir's tip: Songhai
2.55pm: 1m Colm McLoughlin Celebration Stakes (Listed Race) (3yo+)
1 Lord Massusus (IRE) Gary Carroll2 Howyoulikethat (IRE) Chris Hayes3 Skukuza Ryan Moore4 The Liffey (IRE) Dylan McMonagle5 Wahdan (IRE) Declan McDonogh6 Bluedrum (IRE) Shane Foley7 Alakazi (FR) Ben Coen8 Currawood (IRE) Billy Lee9 Fiery Lucy R Whearty
Peter O'Hehir's tip: Currawood
3.30pm: 5f Dubai Duty Free Rockingham Handicap (Premier Handicap) (3yo+)
1 Thunderbear (IRE) James Ryan (3)2 The Highway Rat (IRE) Ben Coen3 Keke Billy Lee4 Little Queenie (IRE) R Whearty (3)5 Go Athletico (FR) Adam Caffrey6 Duran (IRE) F McManoman7 Apache Outlaw (IRE) Rory Cleary8 Greek Flower (IRE) Wayne Lordan9 Harry's Hill M W Hassett (3)10 Fair Taxes (IRE) Chris Hayes11 Red Evolution (IRE) Jamie Powell (3)12 Moral Turpitude (IRE) Nathan Crosse13 Sporting Hero Nicola Burns (7)14 Cuban Grey R M Mulligan (7)
Peter O'Hehir's tip: Keke
4.10pm: 1m4f Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby (Group 1) (3yo)
1 Green Impact (IRE) Shane Foley2 Lambourn (IRE) Ryan Moore3 Lazy Griff (GER) William Buick4 Pride Of Arras (IRE) R G Ryan5 Puppet Master (IRE) Wayne Lordan6 Serious Contender (IRE) Gavin Ryan7 Shackleton (IRE) Ronan Whelan8 Sir Dinadan (IRE) Richard Kingscote9 Tennessee Stud (IRE) Dylan McMonagle10 Thrice (IRE) Declan McDonogh
Peter O'Hehir's tip: Lambourn
4.50pm: 1m4f Tulfarris Hotel And Golf Resort Irish EBF Ragusa Handicap (4yo+)
1 Harbour Wind (IRE) S Coen (7)2 Star Harbour (IRE) Adam Caffrey3 Mashhoor C Geerdharry (7)4 Westminster Moon (IRE) Seamie Heffernan5 Lope De Lilas (IRE) Colin Keane6 Cheeky Wink (IRE) Ben Coen7 Cloud Seeker Andy Slattery8 Fleetfoot (IRE) Declan McDonogh9 Soaring Monarch (IRE) R Whearty (3)10 Ceallach (IRE) Luke McAteer11 Zoffman (IRE) Chris Hayes12 Lord Church (IRE) Wayne Lordan13 Mo Ghille Mar (IRE) Shane Foley14 Beset Dylan McMonagle15 First Ascent (IRE) Nathan Crosse
Peter O'Hehir's tip: Lord Church
5.20pm: 7f GAIN Summer Fillies & Mares Handicap (3yo+)
1 Dance Night Andday (IRE) Colin Keane2 Indigo Five (IRE) D J O'Connor (7)3 Mataariki (FR) Dylan McMonagle4 Orchidaceae (IRE) Billy Lee5 Bella Isabella (IRE) Chris Hayes6 Bellaphina (IRE) James Ryan (3)7 Murkala (IRE) Ben Coen8 Sweet Chariot (IRE) Ryan Moore9 Va Va Vroom (IRE) Shane Foley10 Enchanted Garden (IRE) Rory Cleary11 White Clover (IRE) Wayne Lordan12 Gloriously Glam (IRE) Jamie Powell (3)13 Neo Smart (IRE) Andy Slattery
Peter O'Hehir's tip: Enchanted Garden
5.55pm: 2m Dubai Duty Free Irish EBF Stayers Handicap (4yo+)
1 London City (USA) Ryan Moore2 Eastern Legend (IRE) Ross Coakley3 Gentleman Joe Billy Lee4 Jabbar (IRE) R M Mulligan (7)5 Brilliant Light Gavin Ryan6 Too Bossy For Us (IRE) William Buick7 Weston (GER) Adam Caffrey8 Mordor (FR) Colin Keane9 O'Reilly (FR) Ben Coen10 Dartan Declan McDonogh11 Brosna Town (IRE) Chris Hayes12 Nans View (IRE) Neve Bennett (7)13 Filey Bay (IRE) Luke McAteer14 La Vita Nova (IRE) Shane Foley15 Lot of Joy (IRE) Seamie Heffernan16 Mon Coeur (IRE) Gary Carroll17 Common Practice (IRE) Dylan McMonagle18 Brazil (IRE) Jamie Powell (3)19 La Dame Blanche (IRE) Leigh Roche20 Reverend Hubert (IRE) W Joyce (3)21 Lord Erskine (IRE) Nicola Burns (7)22 Molly Hall (IRE) Rory Cleary23 Pinot Gris (IRE) Wayne Lordan24 Golden Temple (IRE) M W Hassett (3)25 Happy Jacky (IRE) Keithen Kennedy (5)26 Last Ammo (IRE) J Cleary (5)27 Open Secret Nathan Crosse28 Arch Enemy (IRE) J Pietropaolo (7)29 Dark Oak (IRE) Andy Slattery
Peter O'Hehir's tip: Too Bossy For Us
