ONE OF the smallest fields in years is set to line up at a delayed start time of 5.10pm on Sunday afternoon for the Curragh’s Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby.
Television scheduling clashes with the continuing football World Cup in South Africa and some GAA matches mean that Ireland’s premier Classic will be run as the seventh of an eight-race card and at a much later time than normal.
“It’s pressure on RTÉ’s schedules and our slot is late due to the World Cup and the GAA,” the Curragh manager Paul Hensey said yesterday.
“That pressure means we will have a much later start on Saturday as well with the first race off at 1.15pm. Saturday’s feature race, the Pretty Polly Stakes, will be run at 2.20pm. Again that is due to World Cup matches starting at 3pm.”
Just 11 entries remain in the Derby after yesterday’s forfeit stage and they include last Friday’s King Edward VII Stakes winner, Monterosso, who was supplemented into the Classic at a cost of €125,000.
“The horse seems very well. It’s tenterhooks from now until Sunday but I can’t see any reason not to go,” said Monterosso’s trainer, Mark Johnston.
Godolphin have the option of running the Dante flop, Chabal, while the Lingfield Trial runner-up, Dubawi Phantom, has been left in by trainer David Simcock. The other British contender, Coordianted Cut, is a definite starter. “He’s in good form at present,” said his trainer Michael Bell.
“The track at the Curragh will suit him much better than Epsom so hopefully we will be able to get a true handle on the real level of ability he has.”
It is 16 years since the last British-based winner of the Irish Derby – Balanchine in 1994 – and bookmakers reckon Aidan O’Brien is set to continue his recent dominance of the race.
Ireland’s champion trainer has five left in the race and Ladbrokes have installed Jan Vermeer, fourth to Workforce at Epsom, as 2 to 1 favourite. Monterosso is rated a 4 to 1 shot with Paddy Power while O’Brien’s other main hope, Cape Blanco, is at 9 to 2 with that firm.
Jim Bolger is the only other Irish trainer represented with two hopefuls, the Ballysax winner Puncher Clynch and the Silver Stakes victor Carraiglawn, a half-brother to the 2007 Irish Derby hero, Soldier Of Fortune.
The Curragh authorities reckon there could be at least a couple of defections from the current 11 -strong entry before Sunday which may see the smallest Derby field line up since Hurricane Run beat eight others in 2005. Just six lined up in 1991 when Generous beat Suave Dancer in a memorable contest.
Ground conditions on the round course at the Curragh remain good to firm with watering continuing and little rainfall predicted before the weekend festival begins on Friday evening.
Sunday’s main supporting contest, the Group Two Ladbrokes Railway Stakes, has 15 entries including a quartet from Ballydoyle that could attempt to continue Aidan O’Brien’s dominance of the six-furlong event.
O’Brien has won 10 of the last 11 renewals with stars of the calibre of George Washington, Rock Of Gibraltar and Holy Roman Emperor. He has indicated that Samuel Morse could lead his challenge this time although the Listed winner, Clondinnery, and the impressive Leopardstown maiden winner, Longhunter, are also contenders.
