VAT’S THE WAY TO DO IT

It would be a cardinal sin if O’brien fails to

VATICAN CITY is the answer to punters’ prayers in the Investec Derby (4.55) at Epsom today.

Thanks to the coronavirus pandemic, the 2020 running of the world’s greatest horserace is unlike any of the 240 that preceded it, taking place five weeks later than originally scheduled and run behind closed doors.

But some things haven’t changed – notably a six-strong challenge from the Ballydoyle powerhouse as Aidan O’brien (top) seeks to claim an outright record of eight Derby triumphs.

Ryan Moore has plumped for Mogul from the sextet, but he got his sums wrong with Sir Dragonet, fifth to stablemate Anthony Van Dyck 12 months ago and when opting to partner Cliffs Of Moher, second to O’brien’s Wings Of Eagles in 2017.

Padraig Beggy sprang from obscurity to immortality aboard 40-1 outsider Wings Of

Eagles, and the man who gets out of bed only to ride Derby winners has a prized mount in Vatican

City.

Co Meath-born Beggy (above), who also captured his home Derby aboard Sovereign last summer, was on board when the son of Galileo made his return to action in the Irish 2,000 Guineas at the Curragh 22 days ago.

Vatican City, a Dundalk maiden victor on the latter of two starts as a juvenile, was hemmed in on all sides when Lope Y Fernandez edged to his right after sweeping down the outside of the field under Seamie Heffernan.

It was only passing the furlong marker that Beggy’s mount found daylight, and the way Vatican City gathered momentum to take