Aidan O’Brien saddles three in Sunday’s Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh despite the absence of Minding
Despite the absence of Minding, who has been ruled out for the summer, O'Brien can call on three classy substitutes for the Group 1 contest at the Curragh on Sunday
DESPITE the absence of brilliant filly Minding, Aidan O'Brien still has three big chances in the Tattersalls Gold Cup as he bids to win the Curragh prize for a record seventh time.
O'Brien saddles Deauville, Johannes Vermeer and Somehow, who turns out just eight days after finishing fourth in the Lockinge Stakes at Newbury.
The Ballydoyle handler said: "Deauville did it nicely in Chester and is in good form. If the ground is good that will suit him well. He doesn't want to go further than a mile and a quarter, but the trip is fine for him.
"Jan Vermeer had a lovely run in Naas and has come forward since then. We were going to run Somehow in the Group 2 fillies' race (Lanwades Stud Stakes), but when Minding came out we said we would let her take her chance.
"A mile and a quarter is a good trip for her. She has taken her races very well."
Trainer Ken Condon is keeping his fingers crossed the forecast rain materialises ahead of Success Days' latest shot at Group 1 glory.
"It looks an open enough renewal. Even on ratings quite of few of them are fairly evenly matched," said the Rathbride-based trainer.
"We were very happy with his run in Naas, he's been in very good form since and all his checks earlier this week were good, so we're looking forward to it.
"I suppose the ground would be more of a concern than the horses he's up against.
MOST READ
"We're very happy with the horse, he's won at the Curragh before and ran a good race in this race last year.
"Hopefully he'll run well again if the ground is right."
Roger Charlton, who won the Tattersalls Gold Cup twice with Al Kazeem in 2013 and 2015, is represented by Group 1 winner Decorated Knight, the only British runner in the eight-strong field.
The Jim Bolger-trained Moonlight Magic, Joseph O'Brien's Reckless Gold and Gentil J from Harry Rogers' stable complete the line-up.