ONE of the biggest races in Ireland will be run on Saturday – and it could be won by a Brit.
Yes, in a total reversal of what we saw at Cheltenham Festival when Willie Mullins and Henry de Bromhead dominated, one of our own could scoop top spot at the Curragh.
Here, SunSport tipster Templegate – the best in Britain – gives us a rundown of the key competitors.
And he reveals his main pick to land the big one – but first, the confirmed list of runners.
Irish Derby runners and jockeys
Arturo Toscanini (McNamara)
Earlswood (Coen)
Fernando Vichi (Ryan)
High Definition (Moore)
Hurricane Lane (Buick)
Lone Eagle (Dettori)
Mac Swiney (Manning)
Matchless (Hussey)
Mojo Star (Ryan)
Van Gogh (Keane)
Wordsworth (Heffernan)
Templegate’s verdict
IT’S the Irish Derby at The Curragh where the second and third from Epsom lock horns again.
Throw in a Guineas winner and a big Ballydoyle hope and it should be a cracking contest at 3.45 on Saturday.
High Definition will be carrying the home hopes for Aidan O’Brien with Ryan Moore in the saddle.
He was one of the big winter fancies for the Epsom version only to put in a below-par effort when third in the Dante at York.
O’Brien has been patient with him since, swerving Royal Ascot and Epsom with this race in mind.
But he has plenty on his plate as Epsom third HURRICANE LANE can reverse Blue Riband form with Mojo Star.
William Buick’s mount didn’t handle the tricky track last time and will be happier on The Curragh’s fairer surface.
He saw out the 1m4f trip well enough and the decent ground will be no issue.
Can Hurricane Lane lead them all home for trainer Charlie Appleby?
It’s amazing to think Mojo Star is still a maiden. He went from a Newbury maiden to chasing home Adayar last time.
This is likely to be the quickest ground he’s tackled so far and it would be some feat to break your duck in a Classic.
Looking at the others, Mac Swiney was impressive when winning the Irish 2,000 Guineas here in March. He is bred to see out this trip but didn’t seem to get home when a distant fourth at Epsom.
It could have been the track to blame and it would be no shock to see Jim Bolger’s hope run a lot better here.
He could nick a place but Hurricane Lane looks the one to beat.
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