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Runner-by-runner guide to the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby at the Curragh

By Racing TV

Last Updated: Tue 5 Dec 2023

Who wins the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby at the Curragh on Saturday? Oliver Brett runs the rule over the nine runners

By Oliver Brett

CAPRI

Trainer: Aidan O'Brien

Jockey: Seamie Heffernan

General odds: 9-1

Top class as a juvenile until bumping into Waldgeist (see below) at Group One level last October, but has not hit any high notes at three and a sixth place in the Derby was more or less as expected given that he'd had to settle for minor prize money in two Group Three contests at Leopardstown. A son of Galileo, but not forecast to lay down a major challenge.

CRACKSMAN

Trainer: John Gosden

Jockey: Pat Smullen

General odds: 3-1

This son of Frankel's defeat of Permian in the Epsom Derby Trial in April is beginning to look very strong form. Permian has since taken a Listed event and two Group Twos (the latest over a mile and a half). Cracksman, third in the Derby itself, was sent to the front fairly early that day by Frankie Dettori and may well appreciate this flatter, more galloping track.

DOUGLAS MACARTHUR

Trainer: Aidan O'Brien

Jockey: Donnacha O'Brien

General odds: 14-1

Was successful in the Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial Stakes in May over 1m 2f, but was not well fancied for the Derby at 25-1. At Epsom, he was ridden as a borderline pacemaker for more fancied stablemates, being asked to stretch his lead three furlongs out before weakening dramatically. A fair bet kinder tactics will be deployed, and he could figure in the finish.

DUBAI SAND

Trainer: Jim Bolger

Jockey: Kevin Manning

General odds: 66-1

His only success in five career starts came on yielding ground and he is unlikely to get significant cut in the turf on Saturday. Only had one horse behind him on most recent start and even if the application of first-time cheekpieces wake him up a bit, he cannot be considered a serious contender - as reflected by his odds.

GRANDEE

Trainer: Jessica Harrington

Jockey: Colm O'Donoghue

General odds: 33-1

A recent Listed success at this trip, in which he accounted for the favourite fairly comfortably, might suggest this one is not as forlorn hope. However, that win came on Leopardstown ground that was yielding to soft and he is likely to be less effective against top-class good ground horses on a quicker surface this weekend.

TAJ MAHAL

Trainer: Aidan O'Brien

Jockey: Wayne Lordan

General odds: 40-1

Only win in 12 attempts came in a Dundalk nursery and he runs for the second time in a little over a week after a fairly modest fourth place in the Hampton Court Stakes at Royal Ascot. Bookmakers price him as the Ballydoyle fourth string of five, and he is likely to be ridden handily to help ensure a decent pace.

THE ANVIL

Trainer: Aidan O'Brien

Jockey: Ana O'Brien

General odds: 66-1

Used as a pacemaker in the Chester Vase and the Derby, and with his big odds for Saturday and frankly unattractive profile it is fair to assume he will be setting the early fractions once again. Another nice day out for the trainer's daughter, who has been riding plenty of winners this season.

WALDGEIST

Trainer: Andre Fabre

Jockey: Pierre-Charles Boudot

General odds: 5-2

A much needed class angle from France, this son of Galileo won one of the most important two-year-old contests, the Criterium de Saint-Cloud, last October with four of the horses in behind (including Wings Of Eagles) re-opposing this weekend. Looked poised to win the Prix du Jockey Club until being headed by Brametot late in the day, so this would represent a fine consolation.

WINGS OF EAGLES

Trainer: Aidan O'Brien

Jockey: Ryan Moore

General odds: 9-4

The shock winner of the Derby at 40-1 is fully entitled to start as favourite, and though it might be argued that victory was partially the result of other riders over-extending their mounts too early, this horse was slightly hampered on three occasions and still managed to win. Few will be able to match his stamina when it matters most.

RACIINGUK.COM VERDICT

Andre Fabre has won this race twice before, an impressive enough return given Aidan O'Brien's general dominance in it. Waldgeist has better overall form than Wings Of Eagles and is taken to make it three despite the clear intention of the Ballydoyle team to make this an out-and-out stamina test.