We’re taking a look at the full list of Irish Derby 2022 runners ahead of Saturday’s fascinating Classic contest at the Curragh.
Eight final entries have been made for the Dubai Duty Free-sponsored 1m 4f showpiece, which will be broadcast live on ITV at 3.45pm.
BOUNDLESS OCEAN
Jim Bolger’s rank outsider landed a Leopardstown maiden in April but then was only 13th of 15 in the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket and has since been beaten in two lower-class events.
FRENCH CLAIM
Romped home by nine lengths at Cork on his seasonal reappearance but had his limitations exposed when soundly beaten in third behind Stone Age in Leopardstown’s Derby Trial Stakes and is another longshot for Paddy Twomey.
GLORY DAZE
Andy Oliver’s colt finished just ahead of French Claim in that contest but was then a distant 14th behind Desert Crown in the Epsom Derby as a 66/1 shot, so big improvement is required just to be competitive here.
HANNIBAL BARCA
Showed promise when with Brian Meehan in England last term, scoring at Salisbury before a fair fourth to Luxembourg in the Group One Futurity at Doncaster. Kept on well to win the Gallinule Stakes here on his debut for Joseph O’Brien last month, despite still displaying signs of greenness, and will receive support in some Irish Derby each-way bets.
LIONEL
David Menuisier sends this home-bred son of Lope De Vega, out of a Galileo mare who won the Park Hill Stakes over 1m 6f, across from Sussex and he is not without a chance. Battled on bravely to claim the Cocked Hat Stakes at Goodwood and will receive a patient ride from Jamie Spencer.
PIZ BADILE
Donnacha O’Brien will have been disappointed with 12th place at Epsom, where he was never better than mid-division and dropped out tamely, but the spirit he previously showed to win the Ballysax Stakes by a short-head will earn him another chance with plenty of punters seeking a value pick.
WESTOVER
Ralph Beckett’s charge met trouble in running when a fast-finishing third behind Desert Crown in the English Derby and connections have reacted by replacing Rob Hornby with Ireland’s champion jockey Colin Keane. Barry Mahon, representing owner-breeders Juddmonte, said: “Our decision is purely down to Colin’s experience of the Curragh and Curragh Classics. He knows the track inside out and hopefully that will be a help. Westover is good. He did his last bit of work on Monday morning and Ralph and the team were happy.”
TUESDAY
This brave Oaks winner will bid to become the first filly since Balanchine in 1994 to land this prize and provide a 15th Irish Derby victory for Aidan O’Brien, with connections opting to supplement her and leave out four colts. Having also been placed in the English and Irish 1,000 Guineas, the daughter of Galileo boasts rock-solid credentials and is battle hardened. Although possibly a touch fortunate to beat Emily Upjohn at Epsom, that form received a notable boost when third-placed Nashwa landed the French Oaks at Chantilly.
Verdict: O’Brien enjoyed another successful Royal Ascot last week and Tuesday has to be respected, but history is against her and WESTOVER looks tailor-made for this stiffer test of stamina after doing all his best work late on in the Derby. Hurricane Lane was also third at Epsom before striking in this race 12 months ago and Beckett’s colt can repeat that feat.
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