The weekend on which the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby falls in 2017 happens to be in July – usually the race is run towards the end of June. The vagaries of the calendar thus mean that this year’s renewal is set for Saturday, July 1^st at 5:20 p.m. local (9:50 p.m. in India) and like last year has drawn a field of nine three-year-old colts, all but one descended in the male line from Sadler’s Wells.

Five of those that will line up at The Curragh hail from the yard of Ireland's leading trainer, Aidan O'Brien, who holds the astonishing – and hard to even equal let alone surpass – record of eleven previous victories in the event, starting with Desert King exactly 20 years ago. That includes a purple patch of seven consecutive wins between 2006 and 2012!

Of the remaining quartet, two are trained in Ireland, which leaves just a pair of international challengers. Before dealing with the O’Brien juggernaut, it’s worth a glance to examine their chances. It’s significant that, barring one exception, no British trainer has won this race since the late (Sir) Henry Cecil sent Commander In Chief across in 1993. That notable exception came in 2015 when John Gosden shipped Jack Hobbs from Newmarket to annex the valuable prize. This time Gosden has pitched in his excellent prospect Cracksman (by Frankel), last seen when beaten only a length in the Investec Derby, where he was third on only his third career start.

Unfortunately the colt’s blossoming partnership with Frankie Dettori has had to be broken as the ace rider is nursing an injured arm, which thus sees him spending time with his parents in Italy rather than tackling the greensward of County Kildare. His replacement is the dependable Pat Smullen, who won this race last year and surely knows his way around the track blindfolded. What’s more Permian, beaten twice earlier this season by Cracksman, scored comprehensively at Royal Ascot last week to underline the form. Thus the colt, a 10 to 3 shot, can be said to have an excellent chance.

The solitary French victor this century, Hurricane Run, was schooled by the legendary Andre Fabre and it is that same consummate professional who throws the hat of Gallic pride in the ring on this occasion. His chosen missile is named Waldgeist (by Galileo) and he comes off a narrow defeat at the hands of Brametot in the French Derby in June. The chestnut, who has never been unplaced, has been accompanied on his journey by regular pilot Pierre-Charles Boudot and is quoted even shorter than Cracksman at 5 to 2. Sustained support might well see him start as the best-backed at the “off”.

Frankly it is hard to see either Mrs. Jessica Harrington’s Grandee (by Lope De Vega) or Jim Bolger’s Dubai Sand (by Teofilo) obliging as both are well exposed. Hence generous odds of 33 to 1 and 66 to 1 respectively can be had about them. A “place” might be their best chance.

Which brings us to the five-strong Ballydoyle contingent. Investec Derby runner-up Cliffs Of Moher has been selected to represent the stable in the Coral Eclipse Stakes and hence will wait another week to show off his talent, leaving Ryan Moore free to choose the Derby hero Wings Of Eagles (by Pour Moi) here. A surprise 40 to 1 shocker at Epsom, the colt has worked well and the wagering for the race suggests there was no fluke about that triumph. That said, Moore has yet to win this race and punters can get odds of 9 to 4. A strong pace would be essential for his chances. Followers of trends might make something of the fact that Epsom Derby winners have repeated in alternate years of late – Camelot (2012), Australia (2014) and Harzand (last year).

Second best-fancied of this quintet is the Seamie Heffernan-ridden Capri (by Galileo). The grey was sixth, beaten about 4 lengths, at Epsom and should he act better on the wide sweeping expanses of the Curragh could well bridge the leeway. The rider was seen to good effect on Idaho at Royal Ascot last week and already has a couple of Irish Derby winners on his resume. Should it turn soft, it would suit him. He seems fairly priced at 10 to 1 – although he may have to ensure a cracking pace for his stablemate, depending on how the race unfolds.

Aggressive tactics on Douglas Macarthur (by Galileo) saw him shine briefly early in the long Epsom straight before that effort took its toll. Should Donnacha O’Brien choose to ride more sedately here, the colt could well run into the places. The 14 to 1 chance races for a partnership between South African interests and the Coolmore team.

What wonderful naming possibilities there would be for a stud farm that stood Taj Mahal (by Galileo), should he prove good enough! However the colt, named after Shah Jahan’s masterpiece, has won only one of his dozen career starts and does not look as if he will be adding to that tally against the opposition that has assembled here. Wayne Lordan takes the reins on the 33-1 colt who is being wheeled back in just 9 days.

Last but not necessarily least is The Anvil (by Galileo). Whether he has improved from his 23-lengths defeat at Epsom or is here as a pacemaker under Ana O’Brien will be known only later. Not much is expected by the bookmaking fraternity who have him trading at 66 to 1.

Unfortunately no place has been found in the field for Padraig Beggy, who gave Wings Of Eagles a perfectly-timed ride at Epsom. Such are the vicissitudes that face those opting for a career in the saddle – heroes one day, and “out-with-the-washing” the next!

Three of the runners have that “touch of class” that often separates the men from the boys – and they are Cracksman, Waldgeist and Wings Of Eagles, who are fancied in that order.

The weekend on which the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby falls in 2017 happens to be in July – usually the race is run towards the end of June. The vagaries of the calendar thus mean that this year’s renewal is set for Saturday, July 1^st at 5:20 p.m. local (9:50 p.m. in India) and like last year has drawn a field of nine three-year-old colts, all but one descended in the male line from Sadler’s Wells.

Five of those that will line up at The Curragh hail from the yard of Ireland's leading trainer, Aidan O'Brien, who holds the astonishing – and hard to even equal let alone surpass – record of eleven previous victories in the event, starting with Desert King exactly 20 years ago. That includes a purple patch of seven consecutive wins between 2006 and 2012!

Of the remaining quartet, two are trained in Ireland, which leaves just a pair of international challengers. Before dealing with the O’Brien juggernaut, it’s worth a glance to examine their chances. It’s significant that, barring one exception, no British trainer has won this race since the late (Sir) Henry Cecil sent Commander In Chief across in 1993. That notable exception came in 2015 when John Gosden shipped Jack Hobbs from Newmarket to annex the valuable prize. This time Gosden has pitched in his excellent prospect Cracksman (by Frankel), last seen when beaten only a length in the Investec Derby, where he was third on only his third career start.

Unfortunately the colt’s blossoming partnership with Frankie Dettori has had to be broken as the ace rider is nursing an injured arm, which thus sees him spending time with his parents in Italy rather than tackling the greensward of County Kildare. His replacement is the dependable Pat Smullen, who won this race last year and surely knows his way around the track blindfolded. What’s more Permian, beaten twice earlier this season by Cracksman, scored comprehensively at Royal Ascot last week to underline the form. Thus the colt, a 10 to 3 shot, can be said to have an excellent chance.

The solitary French victor this century, Hurricane Run, was schooled by the legendary Andre Fabre and it is that same consummate professional who throws the hat of Gallic pride in the ring on this occasion. His chosen missile is named Waldgeist (by Galileo) and he comes off a narrow defeat at the hands of Brametot in the French Derby in June. The chestnut, who has never been unplaced, has been accompanied on his journey by regular pilot Pierre-Charles Boudot and is quoted even shorter than Cracksman at 5 to 2. Sustained support might well see him start as the best-backed at the “off”.

Frankly it is hard to see either Mrs. Jessica Harrington’s Grandee (by Lope De Vega) or Jim Bolger’s Dubai Sand (by Teofilo) obliging as both are well exposed. Hence generous odds of 33 to 1 and 66 to 1 respectively can be had about them. A “place” might be their best chance.

Which brings us to the five-strong Ballydoyle contingent. Investec Derby runner-up Cliffs Of Moher has been selected to represent the stable in the Coral Eclipse Stakes and hence will wait another week to show off his talent, leaving Ryan Moore free to choose the Derby hero Wings Of Eagles (by Pour Moi) here. A surprise 40 to 1 shocker at Epsom, the colt has worked well and the wagering for the race suggests there was no fluke about that triumph. That said, Moore has yet to win this race and punters can get odds of 9 to 4. A strong pace would be essential for his chances. Followers of trends might make something of the fact that Epsom Derby winners have repeated in alternate years of late – Camelot (2012), Australia (2014) and Harzand (last year).

Second best-fancied of this quintet is the Seamie Heffernan-ridden Capri (by Galileo). The grey was sixth, beaten about 4 lengths, at Epsom and should he act better on the wide sweeping expanses of the Curragh could well bridge the leeway. The rider was seen to good effect on Idaho at Royal Ascot last week and already has a couple of Irish Derby winners on his resume. Should it turn soft, it would suit him. He seems fairly priced at 10 to 1 – although he may have to ensure a cracking pace for his stablemate, depending on how the race unfolds.

Aggressive tactics on Douglas Macarthur (by Galileo) saw him shine briefly early in the long Epsom straight before that effort took its toll. Should Donnacha O’Brien choose to ride more sedately here, the colt could well run into the places. The 14 to 1 chance races for a partnership between South African interests and the Coolmore team.

What wonderful naming possibilities there would be for a stud farm that stood Taj Mahal (by Galileo), should he prove good enough! However the colt, named after Shah Jahan’s masterpiece, has won only one of his dozen career starts and does not look as if he will be adding to that tally against the opposition that has assembled here. Wayne Lordan takes the reins on the 33-1 colt who is being wheeled back in just 9 days.

Last but not necessarily least is The Anvil (by Galileo). Whether he has improved from his 23-lengths defeat at Epsom or is here as a pacemaker under Ana O’Brien will be known only later. Not much is expected by the bookmaking fraternity who have him trading at 66 to 1.

Unfortunately no place has been found in the field for Padraig Beggy, who gave Wings Of Eagles a perfectly-timed ride at Epsom. Such are the vicissitudes that face those opting for a career in the saddle – heroes one day, and “out-with-the-washing” the next!

Three of the runners have that “touch of class” that often separates the men from the boys – and they are Cracksman, Waldgeist and Wings Of Eagles, who are fancied in that order.