DOUBLE HANDFUL

AFTER a feast of racing at Ascot last week, we’ve the Irish Derby to savour from the Curragh.

Normally the Irish Derby takes place after the English and French Derbies but with Covid pushing back those schedules the Irish version has maintained its position in the racing calendar.

Meanwhile, I haven’t a clue what day of the week it is.

As ever, Aidan O’Brien, who has won this race 13 times, dominates the race. In fact, only five of the 14 runners aren’t trained by an O’Brien of some description, whether it be father Aidan or sons Donnacha and Joseph.

The favourite is likely to be Aidan O’Brien’s Santiago on the back of his Queen’s Vase win at Ascot just eight days ago.

Seamie Heffernan has selected him as the best of Coolmore’s six runners in this race.

Santiago is stepping back down in trip following that tough race at Ascot where he seemed to need every yard of that one mile and six furlongs.

Next in the betting is Aidan O’Brien’s Arthur’s Kingdom who also ran at Ascot, finishing a well beaten second in the King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot to Pyledriver.

Joseph O’Brien’s Crossfirehurricane is the only horse in the race to have the benefit of two runs this season. Unbeaten in four, his best performance came last time out at the Curragh when winning the Group 3 Gallinule Stakes over 10 furlongs.

All the above-mentioned horses have strong claims today but I prefer to take a chance on one of Aidan O’Brien’s lesser-fancied runners,

DAWN PATROL.

He was a half-length second to another Aidan O’Brien runner Tiger Moth (who he re-opposes today) at Leopardstown two and a half weeks ago.

He was the more fancied O’Brien horse that day, going off as favourite, and seemed to be closing at the finish.

By Galileo and a three-parts brother to Epsom Derby winner Pour Moi, he should relish the step up in trip and looks a cracking each-way selection.