3.45 Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby (Group 1) 1m 4f

Boundless Ocean: Talented colt who has just a maiden win to his name after eight runs but has endured several unlucky defeats at Group 3 level. A decent showing wouldn’t come as a shock, but he will have to better his recent second to Cairde Go Deo in a mile-and-a-half listed event at Leopardstown.

French Claim: Impressed with a wide-margin conditions race victory on his comeback at Cork in the spring before running a respectable third to Stone Age in the Derby Trial at Leopardstown last month. Easy ground looks to suit him well and any rain that falls will bolster his prospects, but he has to step forward.

Glory Daze: Won a useful 10-furlong maiden at this track in April before chasing home Stone Age in the Derby Trial at Leopardstown. Didn’t make an impact at Epsom where he finished well down the field, but back on home turf it wouldn’t shock if he outran his odds.

Hannibal Barca: Emerged as a juvenile of some promise when beaten less than two lengths into fourth by Luxembourg in the Futurity at Doncaster last October and subsequently joined his current trainer for whom he made a bright start when landing the Group 3 Gallinule Stakes here last month. Can do better still and looks a player.

Lionel: Intriguing British raider who shed his maiden tag at the third attempt when landing a one-mile–three-furlong listed event at Goodwood last month. Will need to progress further but looks sure to do so with this longer trip and track both likely to play to his strengths.

Piz Badile: Shaped with lots of promise in just two starts last season and made a very taking start to his three-year-old career when edging out Buckaroo in the Ballysax Stakes in early April. Proved a major disappointment in the Derby but wouldn’t be the first horse to bounce back with a vastly better effort at this track, so he isn’t one to underestimate.

Westover: Won the Sandown Classic Trial on his comeback in late April but took his form to a new level in the Derby where he ran a fine third to Desert Crown, and he would have gotten much closer to the winner but for meeting trouble in running at a vital stage. That last run marks him out as the one to beat and he could easily progress further.

Tuesday: Quality filly who began her campaign with a maiden win at Naas before reaching the frame in both the 1000 Guineas and Irish 1000 Guineas and then took her form to a new level with a short-head success in the Oaks. After just five runs she can certainly progress further, and that Oaks win makes her a huge player, but tackling colts at this distance is no easy task.

Conclusion

Westover would certainly have been closer in the Derby with a clear run. That showing would suggest that he can win a Group 1 at this trip and he gets the verdict over the Oaks heroine Tuesday who has progressed so well throughout the season. Hannibal Barca made a taking start to his career with Joseph O’Brien by landing the Gallinule Stakes here last month and looks another leading contender.