Irish Derby runners and tips: Your top pinstickers’ guide to the Group 1 at the Curragh
THE bookies will be left with a nasty Bee sting after the Irish Derby.
Mark Johnston's Dee Ex Bee finished second in the Derby at Epsom but can go one better in the Irish equivalent.
Connections of the horse coughed up €100,000 to run him in the Classic, and he is fancied to gallop his rivals into the ground.
Bandua 2/5
Dermot Weld will be striking up the band if Bandua can give him a fourth Irish Derby win. Unbeaten in two starts, winning easily at Cork most recently. Both runs have come on a slow track so quick conditions are a concern.
MISSING LADY Wesley Ward still puzzled by Lady Aurelia's no show in King's Stand
Carlo Biraghi 1/5
Carlo looks a Rag in this line-up. The Fozzy Stack-trained colt won easily on his debut on soft ground in May but out of his depth up in class last time. Up against it.
Dee Ex Bee 5/5
Dee Ex Bee can fly in. Second in the Chester Vase in May before he stepped up to take the runners-up spot in the Derby at Epsom. Looks an out-and-out stayer and he is proven on fast ground.
Delano Roosevelt 3/5
Del Boy looks a plonker. Looked a very smart prospect last season, but has been a bit disappointing this year. Given a lot to do when fifth at Royal Ascot last time so could hit the frame.
Knight To Behold 2/5
More Gladys Knight than Knight in shining armour. Thrashed Kew Gardens in the Lingfield Derby Trial but only beat one horse home when stuffed out of sight at Epsom.
Latrobe 2/5
You must be in la la land if you think Latrobe can win. Opened his account at the fourth time of asking at this track last time, but that form is well short of what is required to win a race like this.
Old Persian 3/5
Beast from the east. Won the King Edward VII at Royal Ascot. He's improving fast but will need to up his game again to score. Will love the ground so worth chancing each-way.
Platinum Warrior 3/5
This won't be on a silver plat-ter. Career best form last time when winning a Group 3 in good style. The step up in trip will suit. Form is working out so one to consider closely.
Rostropovich 1/5
Cello darkness, my old friend. Won the Futurity Stakes last year but doesn't look the same horse this time around. Second to Old Persian in the King Edward. Likely playing for places.
Saxon Warrior 4/5
It could be Saxy time. Won the 2000 Guineas in decisive fashion in May and never able to land a blow on the leaders when fourth in the Derby at Epsom. The best horse in the race, but a suspicion he wants dropping in trip.
SAND STORMER Withhold heads a top class field of twenty for the Northumberland Plate
The Pentagon 1/5
Penta-gone. Talked up after a good start to his career as a two-year-old. Gone backwards this season though, and it's hard to see him playing anything other than a minor role.
Theobald 1/5
Unlikely Theo-ry. The outsider of the field has finished seventh in his last three outings. Jim Bolger knows how to win this contest but impossible to see the horse getting involved.