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The Irish Derby (Dearbaí na hÉireann) is a Group 1 race in Ireland open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It is run at The Curragh racecourse over a distance of 1 mile and 4 furlongs. It is Ireland’s equivalent of the Epsom Derby, and it is currently held three weeks after the English race.
The earliest version of the Irish Derby was an event called the O’Darby Stakes. This was established in 1817, but it was discontinued after 1824. A subsequent race titled the Curragh Derby was inaugurated in 1848, but this was again short-lived.
The modern Irish Derby was created by the 3rd Earl of Howth, the 3rd Marquess of Drogheda and the 3rd Earl of Charlemont. It was first run in 1866, and it was initially contested over 1 mile, 6 furlongs and 3 yards. It was extended by 9 yards in 1869 and cut to its present distance in 1872. The first Epsom Derby winner to achieve victory in the Irish version was Orby, trained in Ireland by Fred McCabe, in 1907.
The Irish Derby became a major international race in 1962 when its prize money was substantially increased. Joe McGrath, a founder of the Irish Hospitals’ Sweepstake, combined the race with the sweepstake, and it became known as the Irish Sweeps Derby. The event began to regularly attract the winners of the Epsom Derby, and Santa Claus became the second horse to win both races in 1964.
A total of eighteen horses have now completed the English-Irish Derby double, and the most recent was Harzand in 2016. Let’s go through the Irish Derby runners individually and assess their chances one by one. You can also find my free horse racing tips for this race down below.
Adelaide River
Trainer: Aidan O’Brien
Jockey: Seamie Heffernan
Possibly did too much too soon in the English Derby and faded in the closing stages when finishing eighth of fourteen to stablemate Auguste Rodin. Two subsequent winners (Waipiro and King Of Steel) have come out of the race so the form looks quite strong. If given a more patient ride and he learns to settle, he can be seen to better effect, but unlikely to reverse form with Auguste Rodin.
Auguste Rodin
Trainer: Aidan O’Brien
Jockey: Ryan Moore
Was held up in the midfield in the Epsom equivalent and made his move three furlongs out. He stayed on powerfully all the way to the line, collaring King Of Steel in the process. This form has been well advertised by the likes of the runner-up and Waipiro and he has to be high on the shortlist once again. Aidan O’Brien has a fantastic in this record (fourteen wins) and is likely to make a bold bid to do the English/Irish double once again here.
Covent Garden
Trainer: Aidan O’Brien
Jockey: Declan McDonogh
His form falls some way short of his stablemates and he needs to reverse his recent form with Peking Opera. He tried to make all in that last race so similar tactics are likely to be deployed here, but this time as a pacemaker for his better fancied Ballydoyle counterpart. Hard to recommend and not certain to last out this mile-and-a-half trip.
Peking Opera
Trainer: Aidan O’Brien
Jockey: Tom Marquand
A son of Galileo who ought to be well suited by this trip. He only ran at Royal Ascot last week though. He ran a lifeless race and he was firmly put in his place in the Queen’s Vase by Gregory. That was only a Group 2 race so much more will be needed for him to take a hand in the outcome of this particular race. Given his exertions just eleven days ago, he is hard to recommend here.
Proud And Regal
Trainer: Donnacha O’Brien
Jockey: Gavin Ryan
This is his first time at this trip but his last run behind Paddington in the Irish 1000 Guineas does read well, given that his conqueror went on to win the St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot. The form has also been franked by a horse that finished well behind him Age Of Kings won the Jersey Stakes at the same meeting. If he stays, he may not be out of this but his stamina is a definite concern.
San Antonio
Trainer: Aidan O’Brien
Jockey: Wayne Lordan
Locked horns with quite a few of these at Epsom last time out and it has to be said he ran pretty badly. He came home eleventh of fourteen that day so has to turn form around with quite a few of these and that looks quite a tough ask. A return to home soil may help, but he also has no experience of racing on this track. He took the lead half a mile from home in the Derby but that was quickly eroded and he faded pretty tamely. He looks out of his depth here and his chance will come again at a lower level.
Sprewell
Trainer: Jessica Harrington
Jockey: Shane Foley
Ran a fair race in the Epsom equivalent and has seven lengths to find with Auguste Rodin. He was a little unlucky in his run as he became unbalanced in his run a couple of furlongs from home. Back on a more even surface, he could well finish a lot closer to his Epsom conqueror and another big run cannot be ruled out for an in-form team. If he can be held up for a little longer this time around he could well be seen finishing to good effect.
Up And Under
Trainer: Joseph O’Brien
Jockey: Mikey Sheehy
Still a maiden after three career starts and needs to find something extra here to turn form around with a couple of these including the re-opposing Sprewell and White Birch. He and Sprewell faced each other at Leopardstown back in May and the Harrington runner had three lengths in hand over this Lope De Vega colt. Meanwhile, he and White Birch clashed at the same venue the month before with the Hanlon horse coming out with a half-length victory. This just seems a little too much to ask of him at this stage of his career and better days lie ahead.
White Birch
Trainer: John Joseph Murphy
Jockey: Dylan Browne McMonagle
Fared the best of these when getting to with six lengths of Auguste Rodin last time out at Epsom and looks the biggest danger to the favourite amongst this field. He has surprised everyone this season none more so than his rivals when taking the Ballysax Stakes at Leopardstown back in April when getting the better of Up And Under. He was doing all of his best work in the closing stages last time, but could well struggle to reverse the form with the Derby winner here.
Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby Betting Tips
Auguste Rodin looks destined to complete the English/Irish Derby double. He has seen off most of these rivals with the minimum of fuss in the past and he only looks like improving further as the season grinds on. A return to home soil should also suit the Ballydoyle representative and he can stamp his authority all over this field to secure a nineteenth Derby success for Aidan O’Brien.
White Birch looks likely to be the best of the rest and looks likely to settle as a bridesmaid once more. He has thrived for John Joseph Hanlon this year and with the Derby form looking strong, he can cement his position as the best of the rest.
Sprewell should have enough in the tank to make the frame once more for his in-form yard but he will need to improve again to get past the two that beat him in the Derby.
1. Auguste Rodin @ 3/10 with BetVictor promo code
2. White Birch @ 6/1 with Bet365 bonus code
3. Sprewell @ 13/2 with William Hill promo code
All odds are accurate at the time of writing.
