June 28 / 16.35 Curragh

16.35

Good To Firm

Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby (Group 1) (No Geldings)

  • Prize money: £619565.22
  • 1m 4f 0y
  • 8 runners
RTE1
View Course
Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby (Group 1) (No Geldings)

Runners: 8 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

OUR TIP

13/8 (Won)

  • Win: £2.75
  • Place: £1.01

Form: 113-1V D

Last run: 22 days

W: 9st 2lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 114

Form & Verdict
Killarney maiden winner last July; impressed in a five-runner Group 2 at Leopardstown (1m) in September; only third behind stablemates Hawk Mountain and Action on heavy ground in the Group 1 Futurity at Doncaster (1m) in October; stylishly won the Chester Vase, and led the four-strong Ballydoyle team at Epsom; never featured from off the pace after a controversial stalls incident; soft ground all against him then, and retains status as the selected of an unchanged Ballydoyle squad.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

9

(9)

25th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

1m 3f 211y

Class 1

15:35 Ascot

Benvenuto Cellini

8st 12lb

J: Ryan Moore

T: A P O’Brien

Favourite in the rain-affected Derby at Epsom last month, when he finished tenth past the post but was deemed to be a non-runner having got his leg caught in the stalls; subsequently justified favouritism in the Irish Derby at the Curragh (1m4f, good); this is a tougher test of his credentials but he brings star potential and he's Ryan Moore's mount of the Ballydoyle four; he may well be up to the task.

5/1

1st

2

(8)

28th Jun 2026

Good To Firm

1m 4f 0y

16:35 Curragh

Benvenuto Cellini

9st 2lb

J: Ryan Moore

T: A P O’Brien

Killarney maiden winner last July; impressed in a five-runner Group 2 at Leopardstown (1m) in September; only third behind stablemates Hawk Mountain and Action on heavy ground in the Group 1 Futurity at Doncaster (1m) in October; stylishly won the Chester Vase, and led the four-strong Ballydoyle team at Epsom; never featured from off the pace after a controversial stalls incident; soft ground all against him then, and retains status as the selected of an unchanged Ballydoyle squad.

13/8

7

(12)

6th Jun 2026

Good To Soft

1m 4f 6y

Class 1

16:00 Epsom

Benvenuto Cellini

9st 2lb

J: Ryan Moore

T: A P O’Brien

Frankel colt who was dominant in a maiden last July, a Group 2 at Leopardstown (1m) in September and Group 3 Chester Vase (12.5f, good) one month ago; his free-flowing, long-striding action was seen to good effect in those races, but not on heavy ground when third in the Group 1 Futurity at Doncaster (1m) in October; soft ground would also introduce something for him to prove but otherwise he brings strength of stamina and among the best form; if the ground is okay, a bold show looks assured.

2/1

9/2

  • Place: £1.65

Form: 11-131 D

Last run: 22 days

W: 9st 2lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 118

Form & Verdict
Maiden success was on heavy going and Group 3 Leopardstown win last October was on good-to-yielding; same going description when landing Group 3 Ballysax at Leopardstown, with James J Braddock back in fifth; outpaced on better ground when third in the Dante, 1 3/4l behind runner-up Action; rose to the occasion when prominently ridden in the Derby, with soft ground evidently in his favour; different conditions now, but his established stamina is a significant positive.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

4

(6)

28th Jun 2026

Good To Firm

1m 4f 0y

16:35 Curragh

Christmas Day

9st 2lb

J: Ronan Whelan

T: A P O’Brien

Maiden success was on heavy going and Group 3 Leopardstown win last October was on good-to-yielding; same going description when landing Group 3 Ballysax at Leopardstown, with James J Braddock back in fifth; outpaced on better ground when third in the Dante, 1 3/4l behind runner-up Action; rose to the occasion when prominently ridden in the Derby, with soft ground evidently in his favour; different conditions now, but his established stamina is a significant positive.

9/2

1st

8

(5)

6th Jun 2026

Good To Soft

1m 4f 6y

Class 1

16:00 Epsom

Christmas Day

9st 2lb

J: Ronan Whelan

T: A P O’Brien

Maiden success was on heavy going; Group 3 Ballysax at Leopardstown (1m2f, good to yielding) on April reappearance made it three wins in a row and his Dante third at York (10.2f, good) next time was at least as good on form; while lacking anything like the same dash as winner Item at York, and also unable to get to grips with stablemate Action, he did plug on as if 1m4f could help; it clearly needs to.

16/1

3rd

3

(6)

14th May 2026

Good

1m 2f 56y

Class 1

16:05 York

Christmas Day

9st 2lb

J: Ryan Moore

T: A P O’Brien

Won a heavy-ground maiden on third 2yo start and led on the post in Group 3 at Leopardstown (1m1f, yielding) in October; 11-1 with three of his stablemates among those at shorter odds when he reappeared in nine-runner Group 3 Ballysax at Leopardstown (1m2f, good to yielding) last month but it was him who asserted in the final 1f to win by half a length; will stay further but looks firmly in the mix.

2/1

12/1

  • Place: £2.65

Form: 11-727

Last run: 22 days

W: 9st 2lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 108

Form & Verdict
Asserted late on to finish firmly on top last October in two 1m2f Pattern events, the Group 3 Zetland Stakes at Newmarket (good to firm) and Group 1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud (very soft); 3yo campaign got off to a low-key start behind Christmas Day in the Ballysax at Leopardstown; much more like it when second to James J Braddock in the Derby Trial at the same venue; jury is out following a short-lived Derby challenge.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

6

(1)

28th Jun 2026

Good To Firm

1m 4f 0y

16:35 Curragh

Pierre Bonnard

9st 2lb

J: Wayne Lordan

T: A P O’Brien

Asserted late on to finish firmly on top last October in two 1m2f Pattern events, the Group 3 Zetland Stakes at Newmarket (good to firm) and Group 1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud (very soft); 3yo campaign got off to a low-key start behind Christmas Day in the Ballysax at Leopardstown; much more like it when second to James J Braddock in the Derby Trial at the same venue; jury is out following a short-lived Derby challenge.

12/1

7th

12

(8)

6th Jun 2026

Good To Soft

1m 4f 6y

Class 1

16:00 Epsom

Pierre Bonnard

9st 2lb

J: Christophe Soumillon

T: A P O’Brien

Asserted late on to finish firmly on top last October in a Group 3 at Newmarket (good to firm) and Group 1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud (very soft) and they were over 1m2f; 3yo campaign got off to a muted start but he briefly hit the front in Derby Trial at Leopardstown before James J Braddock swooped and Aidan O'Brien has stressed that he went gently with him at home until after that race; his sire and dam's sire were Derby winners (dam won 1m2f Group 1 Nassau) and he now moves up from 1m2f; he looked every inch a serious Derby contender last term and that's probably still the impression to go with.

6/1

2nd

3

(1)

10th May 2026

Good

1m 2f 0y

15:40 Leopardstown

Pierre Bonnard

9st 5lb

J: Wayne Lordan

T: A P O’Brien

Beat Shaihann in a 1m Dundalk maiden last August; looked smart on his final two juvenile starts; asserted strongly when beating stablemate Endorsement in the Zetland Stakes (1m2f, good to firm); readily beat A Boy Named Susie on very soft ground in the Criterium de Saint-Cloud; now needs to rebuild his reputation after tame eclipse in the Ballysax

4/6

9/4

Form: 1-1

Last run: 65 days

W: 9st 2lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 112

Form & Verdict
Sea The Stars colt has strong pedigree credentials as a brother to Baaeed and Hukum; showed strong promise in justifying favouritism at Ascot (7f, soft) on only juvenile outing; made an excellent start to the season when landing the Classic Trial at Sandown, with the disappointing odds-on favourite Action well held in fourth; fascinating as the relative unknown quantity here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

7

(3)

28th Jun 2026

Good To Firm

1m 4f 0y

16:35 Curragh

Raaheeb

9st 2lb

J: Rossa Ryan

T: Owen Burrows

Sea The Stars colt has strong pedigree credentials as a brother to Baaeed and Hukum; showed strong promise in justifying favouritism at Ascot (7f, soft) on only juvenile outing; made an excellent start to the season when landing the Classic Trial at Sandown, with the disappointing odds-on favourite Action well held in fourth; fascinating as the relative unknown quantity here.

9/4

1st

4

(1)

24th Apr 2026

Good

1m 1f 209y

Class 1

15:35 Sandown

Raaheeb

9st 3lb

J: Rossa Ryan

T: Owen Burrows

Smartly bred, being a brother to Baaeed and Hukum; duly showed strong promise in justifying favouritism at Ascot (7f, soft) in sole 2yo outing; held a Royal Lodge entry at the time and currently holds three major entries, including the Derby; should be suited by middle distances; bright prospect.

7/2

6

(1)

5th Sep 2025

Soft

0m 7f 0y

Class 3

14:20 Ascot

Raaheeb

9st 7lb

J: Jim Crowley

T: Owen Burrows

By Sea The Stars; ninth foal; brother to superstar Baaeed (1m-1m2f including multiple Group 1; RPR 136) and King George hero Hukum (1m-1m6f including 2yo/AW/Group 1; 128), half-brother to three winners including Naqeeb (1m4f AW/1m6f turf; 111); dam French 1m2f winner (including Listed; 101) from excellent family; surely one of the best-bred juveniles to hit the track this season and he's a fascinating newcomer who already holds a Group 2 entry.

2/1

Form: 24-143 C

Last run: 36 days

W: 9st 2lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 103

Form & Verdict
Improved from his debut when chasing home Pierre Bonnard over 1m at Dundalk last August; found the competition too hot in the Beresford Stakes; made a fine start to the season when winning a good 1m2f maiden at this venue; got upset in the stalls when failing to build on that in the Derby Trial at Leopardstown; better when third behind the subsequent King Edward VII Stakes winner Causeway in the 1m2f Gallinule Stakes here; first Group 1 attempt now, should stay 1m4f.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

6

(2)

30th Jul 2026

Good

1m 3f 218y

Class 1

15:00 Goodwood

Shaihaan

9st 3lb

J: Tom Marquand

T: Donnacha Aidan O’Brien

Sole win from seven races was a 1m2f maiden in March but he's also contested four Group events; best form when third in the Group 3 Gallinule at the Curragh (1m2f, good; unraced on firmer) in May, before weakening to a 13l defeat when fifth there in the Irish Derby (1m4f); that leaves his stamina unproven but his dam was suited by the trip.

11/2

5th

8

(2)

28th Jun 2026

Good To Firm

1m 4f 0y

16:35 Curragh

Shaihaan

9st 2lb

J: Tom Marquand

T: Donnacha Aidan O’Brien

Improved from his debut when chasing home Pierre Bonnard over 1m at Dundalk last August; found the competition too hot in the Beresford Stakes; made a fine start to the season when winning a good 1m2f maiden at this venue; got upset in the stalls when failing to build on that in the Derby Trial at Leopardstown; better when third behind the subsequent King Edward VII Stakes winner Causeway in the 1m2f Gallinule Stakes here; first Group 1 attempt now, should stay 1m4f.

50/1

3rd

4

(3)

23rd May 2026

Good To Yielding

1m 2f 0y

16:15 Curragh

Shaihaan

9st 5lb

J: Chris Hayes

T: Donnacha Aidan O’Brien

Improved from his debut when chasing home Pierre Bonnard over 1m at Dundalk last August; found the competition too hot in the Group 2 Beresford Stakes; made a fine start to the season when beating two subsequent winners in a C&D maiden; got upset in the stalls when failing to build on that in the Derby Trial at Leopardstown.

13/2

Form: 21-513 C

Last run: 22 days

W: 9st 2lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 111

Form & Verdict
Second start at two yielded a 6l course 1m win on heavy; never able to challenge on return in the Group 3 Ballysax won by Christmas Day; stepped up on that when staying on strongly to beat Pierre Bonnard in the Derby Trial over the same course and trip; coltish in the preliminaries at Epsom; did well in the circumstances to finish third (second-best of the Irish contingent); seems ground-versatile and likely to appreciate this stiff test.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

5

(7)

28th Jun 2026

Good To Firm

1m 4f 0y

16:35 Curragh

James J Braddock

9st 2lb

J: Dylan Browne McMonagle

T: Joseph Patrick O’Brien

Second start at two yielded a 6l course 1m win on heavy; never able to challenge on return in the Group 3 Ballysax won by Christmas Day; stepped up on that when staying on strongly to beat Pierre Bonnard in the Derby Trial over the same course and trip; coltish in the preliminaries at Epsom; did well in the circumstances to finish third (second-best of the Irish contingent); seems ground-versatile and likely to appreciate this stiff test.

6/1

3rd

10

(13)

6th Jun 2026

Good To Soft

1m 4f 6y

Class 1

16:00 Epsom

James J Braddock

9st 2lb

J: Dylan Browne McMonagle

T: Joseph Patrick O’Brien

Second start as 2yo was a 6l win in Curragh maiden (1m, heavy); never able to challenge on return in the Group 3 Ballysax won by Christmas Day and couldn't have left it any later in the Derby Trial back over Leopardstown's 1m2f (good) four weeks ago, but upstaging Pierre Bonnard so dramatically in the latter reinforces the feeling that 1m4f will suit him well; his sire's sole Group 1 win was at this trip; each-way player for trainer and jockey who won the Oaks yesterday.

8/1

1st

2

(3)

10th May 2026

Good

1m 2f 0y

15:40 Leopardstown

James J Braddock

9st 5lb

J: Dylan Browne McMonagle

T: Joseph Patrick O’Brien

Promising Navan debut when strong-finishing 1/2l second over 1m, despite rider losing an iron close home; impressed in beating two stablemates in testing conditions in a 1m Curragh maiden at the beginning of November; got outpaced in the Ballysax on reappearance, kept on late in fifth, around 3l behind Endorsement.

8/1

20/1

Form: 32-420

Last run: 22 days

W: 9st 2lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 111

Form & Verdict
Closely related to Derby/Irish Derby winner Lambourn; Galway maiden winner; graduated to Pattern company with two solid displays, third to the excellent Bow Echo in the Royal Lodge, in front of Benvenuto Cellini when second in the Futurity at Doncaster (1m, heavy); tame effort when fourth behind Raaheeb on reappearance at Sandown; better when a front-running second in the Dante; dropped away tamely after making the running in the Derby; cheekpieces are left off now.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

8

(8)

25th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

1m 3f 211y

Class 1

15:35 Ascot

Action

8st 12lb

J: Sean Levey

T: A P O’Brien

Runner-up in the Group 1 Futurity Trophy at Doncaster (1m, heavy) last October and filled the same position in the Group 2 Dante at York (10.2f, good) in May; however, he's been well beaten in the Derby and Irish Derby on his last two starts, having made the running; hard to fancy.

100/1

7th

1

(4)

28th Jun 2026

Good To Firm

1m 4f 0y

16:35 Curragh

Action

9st 2lb

J: Declan McDonogh

T: A P O’Brien

Closely related to Derby/Irish Derby winner Lambourn; Galway maiden winner; graduated to Pattern company with two solid displays, third to the excellent Bow Echo in the Royal Lodge, in front of Benvenuto Cellini when second in the Futurity at Doncaster (1m, heavy); tame effort when fourth behind Raaheeb on reappearance at Sandown; better when a front-running second in the Dante; dropped away tamely after making the running in the Derby; cheekpieces are left off now.

20/1

12th

1

(11)

6th Jun 2026

Good To Soft

1m 4f 6y

Class 1

16:00 Epsom

Action

9st 2lb

J: Wayne Lordan

T: A P O’Brien

Closely related to 2025 Derby winner Lambourn; carries his head high but ended last season with a close, battling second in the Group 1 Futurity at Doncaster (1m, heavy) and front-running second in the Dante at York (10.2f, good) last month was of a similar order, albeit no match for Item in the final 1f; a disappointing, sluggish display on reappearance was his only start with tongue tied; likely to stay 1m4f, with a possible place role but it's unlikely to be more unless the new cheekpieces have a major positive effect.

14/1

40/1

Form: 3-11

Last run: 27 days

W: 9st 2lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 102

Form & Verdict
Finished third of eight, beaten 3l, when the well-backed favourite for a soft-ground maiden at Newbury last October (winner finished fourth in the Greenham); made all for 7f Doncaster win on seasonal debut; confirmed reputation as a progressive colt when landing a valuable conditions event over an extended 1m1f at Gowran Park early this month; dam has a decent record at stud, but has tended to produce milers rather than middle-distances types; lacks Pattern race experience.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

18th

15

(11)

31st Jul 2026

Good To Firm

1m 0f 0y

Class 2

15:00 Goodwood

Bunyola Bay

9st 1lb

J: Ryan Moore

T: Richard Hannon

Record of 2-4 features a clearcut win from the front in valuable prize at Gowran Park, showing marked improvement; returns to a more suitable trip/grade after trailing home last in the Irish Derby, and interestingly his yard landed this race with 3yos in 2013 and 2019; one to bear in mind.

9/1

8th

3

(5)

28th Jun 2026

Good To Firm

1m 4f 0y

16:35 Curragh

Bunyola Bay

9st 2lb

J: Sean Levey

T: Richard Hannon

Finished third of eight, beaten 3l, when the well-backed favourite for a soft-ground maiden at Newbury last October (winner finished fourth in the Greenham); made all for 7f Doncaster win on seasonal debut; confirmed reputation as a progressive colt when landing a valuable conditions event over an extended 1m1f at Gowran Park early this month; dam has a decent record at stud, but has tended to produce milers rather than middle-distances types; lacks Pattern race experience.

40/1

1st

2

(1)

1st Jun 2026

Good

1m 1f 120y

16:19 Gowran Park

Bunyola Bay

9st 6lb

J: Sean Levey

T: Richard Hannon

Finished third of eight, beaten 3l, when the well-backed favourite for a soft-ground maiden at Newbury last October (winner finished fourth in the Greenham); made all for 7f Doncaster win on seasonal debut; should stay and could be progressive

12/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta €5.40
Straight Forecast €8.96
Tricast €47.80
Trifecta €33.90

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Benvenuto Cellini

RP RATINGS (IRE):

Christmas Day

TOPSPEED:

Benvenuto Cellini

POSTDATA:

Benvenuto Cellini

The Irish Sun:

Benvenuto Cellini