16.30

Second in the Irish Derby and Grand Prix de Paris in 2023; failed to match that level in Australia until finishing a nose second to Birdman in a 1m2f Group 3 at Randwick last September; down the field in the Caulfield Cup on his final start; resumes his Irish career, now a gelding and housed with Joseph O'Brien.

20/1

1st

5

(2)

9th Sep 2023

Good

1m 4f 0y

9st 1lb

made all, pushed along and increased tempo 2f out, ridden clear over 1f out, ridden out and much reduced lead towards finish

13/8

2nd

1

(3)

2nd Jul 2023

Good

1m 4f 0y

9st 2lb

Group 1-placed at Saint-Cloud on final start at two; 6 1/2 runner-up to Arrest in Chester Vase; form of the race has been let down by the winner in the Derby and at Royal Ascot; prominent for a long way before fading into eighth behind Auguste Rodin at Epsom.

33/1

OUR TIP

2nd

1 (4)

Al Aasy

J: Jim Crowley

T: William Haggas

15/8

Place: £1.01

Form: /1-511 D

Last run: 28 days

W: 9st 12lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 113

Form & Verdict

Smart form at 1m4f in the first half of 2021, notably when second in Coronation Cup; ran only once last year, winning a Listed event at Ascot; won five-runner 1m2f Listed race at Newbury on his second start this season; backed that up with Group 3 win at Haydock four weeks ago; by far the most appealing of three older horses here, but may not contain Adelaide River.

Place / No / Draw	Date / Going / Distance / Class	Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer	Verdict	Starting price
2nd 3 (5)	18th Apr 2026 Good 1m 4f 0y Class 1	14:35 Newbury Al Aasy 9st 2lb J: Tom Marquand T: William Haggas	Held up; eight Group 3 wins are already in the bag, including this race in 2021 (his only appearance in it); has a slightly mixed reappearance record but he was almost as good as ever with his two wins last term, including first time out, and a return to that level would make this 9yo the one to beat.	5/2
9th 1 (4)	25th Oct 2025 Good To Soft 1m 4f 0y Class 1	15:45 Newbury Al Aasy 9st 9lb J: Ray Dawson T: William Haggas	4-8 at Newbury but he was a below-form third in this race last year on heavy going (acts on soft); Sandown in April and Glorious Goodwood in August made it eight Group 3 wins now in total; held up as usual in Ireland last time but he did not get run of the race; the chance of heavy ground is far more of a concern but he has a leading form chance if the ground is okay.	11/2
5th 1 (6)	13th Sep 2025 Soft 1m 4f 0y	15:50 Leopardstown Al Aasy 9st 12lb J: Daniel Tudhope T: William Haggas	8yo finished second in this race two years ago and better form in recent years, now a winner of eight races at Group 3 level, including this term at Sandown (1m2f) and most recently last month's Glorious Goodwood Stakes, producing a tidy turn of foot in softish ground to win it for second consecutive year; sets a high standard.	6/4

Place /
No / Draw

Date / Going /
Distance / Class

Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer

Verdict

Starting price

2nd

3

(5)

18th Apr 2026

Good

1m 4f 0y

Class 1

9st 2lb

Held up; eight Group 3 wins are already in the bag, including this race in 2021 (his only appearance in it); has a slightly mixed reappearance record but he was almost as good as ever with his two wins last term, including first time out, and a return to that level would make this 9yo the one to beat.

5/2

9th

1

(4)

25th Oct 2025

Good To Soft

1m 4f 0y

Class 1

9st 9lb

4-8 at Newbury but he was a below-form third in this race last year on heavy going (acts on soft); Sandown in April and Glorious Goodwood in August made it eight Group 3 wins now in total; held up as usual in Ireland last time but he did not get run of the race; the chance of heavy ground is far more of a concern but he has a leading form chance if the ground is okay.

11/2

5th

1

(6)

13th Sep 2025

Soft

1m 4f 0y

9st 12lb

8yo finished second in this race two years ago and better form in recent years, now a winner of eight races at Group 3 level, including this term at Sandown (1m2f) and most recently last month's Glorious Goodwood Stakes, producing a tidy turn of foot in softish ground to win it for second consecutive year; sets a high standard.

6/4

3rd

2 (5)

Layfayette

J: Colin Keane

T: Noel Meade

12/1

Place: £4.80

Form: 341441 D

Last run: 20 days

W: 9st 12lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 109

Form & Verdict

Nine-time winner, including in the Group 3 Royal Whip at the Curragh last month; previously below his best when fourth in a Naas event in which Valiant King was second; acts on good ground but best suited by an ease.

Place / No / Draw	Date / Going / Distance / Class	Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer	Verdict	Starting price
2nd 4 (1)	29th May 2026 Good 2m 0f 0y	18:50 Down Royal Layfayette 9st 6lb J: Colin Keane T: Noel Meade	Winner of ten races, most recently last month's seasonal return in good-class Curragh conditions event, coming late in testing conditions (first attempt at 1m6f); never able to land a blow later same month on quicker ground in Saval Beg; first attempt at 2m.	13/2
6th 6 (7)	25th Apr 2026 Yielding 1m 6f 0y	15:05 Navan Layfayette 9st 5lb J: Colin Keane T: Noel Meade	Winner of ten races; last of six stakes race wins was in 2023 Royal Whip over 1m2f at the Curragh; however, he proved that he retains considerable ability and enthusiasm when winning a conditions event over this trip at the Curragh on seasonal debut; (Dallas Star third, Emit fourth), that was his first 1m6f attempt, on his 47th outing.	10/1
1st 7 (2)	3rd Apr 2026 Soft 1m 6f 0y	17:27 Curragh Layfayette 9st 5lb J: Colin Keane T: Noel Meade	Winner of nine races; last of six stakes race wins was in 2023 Royal Whip over 1m2f at this venue; best run last season when runner-up to an odds-on chance in 1m2f Group 3 event here in June; first try at this trip.	8/1

Place /
No / Draw

Date / Going /
Distance / Class

Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer

Verdict

Starting price

2nd

4

(1)

29th May 2026

Good

2m 0f 0y

9st 6lb

Winner of ten races, most recently last month's seasonal return in good-class Curragh conditions event, coming late in testing conditions (first attempt at 1m6f); never able to land a blow later same month on quicker ground in Saval Beg; first attempt at 2m.

13/2

6th

6

(7)

25th Apr 2026

Yielding

1m 6f 0y

9st 5lb

Winner of ten races; last of six stakes race wins was in 2023 Royal Whip over 1m2f at the Curragh; however, he proved that he retains considerable ability and enthusiasm when winning a conditions event over this trip at the Curragh on seasonal debut; (Dallas Star third, Emit fourth), that was his first 1m6f attempt, on his 47th outing.

10/1

1st

7

(2)

3rd Apr 2026

Soft

1m 6f 0y

9st 5lb

Winner of nine races; last of six stakes race wins was in 2023 Royal Whip over 1m2f at this venue; best run last season when runner-up to an odds-on chance in 1m2f Group 3 event here in June; first try at this trip.

8/1

4th

4 (1)

J: Shane Foley

4/1

Form: 1-1238 C

Last run: 69 days

W: 9st 4lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 114

Form & Verdict

Dundalk maiden winner last October; made a winning reappearance on heavy ground over C&D in the Ballysax Stakes; confirmed progressive profile when second in the Dante at York; handled quick ground when coming from a long way back to finish third in the Derby; failed to do himself justice in the Irish Derby and now faces a rematch with runner-up Adelaide River.

Place / No / Draw	Date / Going / Distance / Class	Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer	Verdict	Starting price
5th 4 (5)	13th Sep 2025 Soft 1m 2f 0y	17:30 Leopardstown White Birch 9st 9lb J: Dylan Browne McMonagle T: John Joseph Murphy	Third in 2023 Derby after Dante second; in rear in the Irish Derby and not at best here on final start at three; progressive in a hat-trick of Pattern wins at the Curragh early last season, culminating in an impressive Group 1 victory over Auguste Rodin; setbacks later, returned with a fine effort against Los Angeles; excuses behind the same horse in Tattersalls Gold Cup.	13/2
8 (4)	25th May 2025 Good 1m 2f 110y	15:05 Curragh White Birch 9st 5lb J: Colin Keane T: John Joseph Murphy	Third behind Auguste Rodin in 2023 Derby after Dante second; in rear in the Irish Derby and not at best at Leopardstown on final start at three; progressive in a hat-trick of Pattern wins at this venue early last season, culminating in an impressive victory over August Rodin in this event; setbacks later, returned with a fine effort against Los Angeles; every chance he can reverse the form.	11/4
8 (4)	25th May 2025 Good 1m 2f 110y	15:05 Curragh White Birch 9st 5lb J: Colin Keane T: John Joseph Murphy	Third behind Auguste Rodin in 2023 Derby after Dante second; in rear in the Irish Derby and not at best at Leopardstown on final start at three; progressive in a hat-trick of Pattern wins at this venue early last season, culminating in an impressive victory over August Rodin in this event; setbacks later, returned with a fine effort against Los Angeles; every chance he can reverse the form.	11/4

Place /
No / Draw

Date / Going /
Distance / Class

Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer

Verdict

Starting price

5th

4

(5)

13th Sep 2025

Soft

1m 2f 0y

17:30 Leopardstown

J: Dylan Browne McMonagle

9st 9lb

Third in 2023 Derby after Dante second; in rear in the Irish Derby and not at best here on final start at three; progressive in a hat-trick of Pattern wins at the Curragh early last season, culminating in an impressive Group 1 victory over Auguste Rodin; setbacks later, returned with a fine effort against Los Angeles; excuses behind the same horse in Tattersalls Gold Cup.

13/2

8

(4)

25th May 2025

Good

1m 2f 110y

15:05 Curragh

9st 5lb

J: Colin Keane

Third behind Auguste Rodin in 2023 Derby after Dante second; in rear in the Irish Derby and not at best at Leopardstown on final start at three; progressive in a hat-trick of Pattern wins at this venue early last season, culminating in an impressive victory over August Rodin in this event; setbacks later, returned with a fine effort against Los Angeles; every chance he can reverse the form.

11/4

8

(4)

25th May 2025

Good

1m 2f 110y

15:05 Curragh

9st 5lb

J: Colin Keane

Third behind Auguste Rodin in 2023 Derby after Dante second; in rear in the Irish Derby and not at best at Leopardstown on final start at three; progressive in a hat-trick of Pattern wins at this venue early last season, culminating in an impressive victory over August Rodin in this event; setbacks later, returned with a fine effort against Los Angeles; every chance he can reverse the form.

11/4

5th

6 (3)

J: Oisin Murphy

15/2

Form: 4-2122

Last run: 33 days

W: 9st 1lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 109

Form & Verdict

Began the season as an 83-rated handicapper suffering an unlucky defeat over 1m2f at this venue; hacked up in a maiden at Navan before a fine second to the subsequent Gordon Stakes winner Desert Hero in the King George V Stakes at Royal Ascot; confirmed progression with second to Vauban at Naas, giving him a clear edge over Layfayette.

Place / No / Draw	Date / Going / Distance / Class	Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer	Verdict	Starting price
5th 6 (3)	9th Sep 2023 Good 1m 4f 0y	16:30 Leopardstown Valiant King 9st 1lb J: Oisin Murphy T: Joseph Patrick O’Brien	prominent, soon went third, outpaced under 2f out, no extra final furlong	15/2
2nd 8 (3)	7th Aug 2023 Soft 1m 3f 202y	16:35 Naas Valiant King 8st 13lb J: Dylan Browne McMonagle T: Joseph Patrick O’Brien	in touch with leaders, headway on outer and went second over 2f out, hung left 1f out, kept on, no match for winner	8/1
2nd 11 (8)	22nd Jun 2023 Good 1m 3f 211y Class 2	15:05 Ascot Valiant King 8st 11lb J: Oisin Murphy T: Joseph Patrick O’Brien	Entered in Irish Derby and Irish St Leger; showed promise on good ground last summer and stayed on strongly from off the pace, but a fraction too late, in handicap at Leopardstown (1m2f, heavy) on reappearance; no difficulty when 4-9 in maiden at Navan (1m2f, soft) on his only start since; into a hot race but he's a striking candidate for 1m4f.	10/1

Place /
No / Draw

Date / Going /
Distance / Class

Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer

Verdict

Starting price

5th

6

(3)

9th Sep 2023

Good

1m 4f 0y

16:30 Leopardstown

9st 1lb

J: Oisin Murphy

prominent, soon went third, outpaced under 2f out, no extra final furlong

15/2

2nd

8

(3)

7th Aug 2023

Soft

1m 3f 202y

16:35 Naas

J: Dylan Browne McMonagle

8st 13lb

in touch with leaders, headway on outer and went second over 2f out, hung left 1f out, kept on, no match for winner

8/1

2nd

11

(8)

22nd Jun 2023

Good

1m 3f 211y

Class 2

15:05 Ascot

8st 11lb

J: Oisin Murphy