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Three of the first four horses home in the Epsom Derby are in line to clash once again in the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby at the Curragh this weekend.
Aidan O'Brien's European classic haul stands at 99 after the battling success of Auguste Rodin at Epsom and he heads the trainer’s five remaining entries in the €1.25 million race, the first Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby to be run on a Sunday since 2011 and the centrepiece on an eight-race card which is a Tote World Pool event for the first time.
Auguste Rodin would be bidding to give Ryan Moore his first win in the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby and if successful, would become the first horse to complete the Epsom-Curragh Derby double since Harzand in 2016. Among those standing in his way could be his own stable companions Adelaide River, Covent Garden, Peking Opera and San Antonio.
However, John Murphy's White Birch, a first ride in the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby for Dylan Browne McMonagle, and the Jessica Harrington-trained Sprewell, third and fourth respectively at Epsom a month ago, appear to be the biggest threats to O'Brien’s Epsom Derby hero.
Also standing their ground ahead of Friday's final declaration stage are the Dermot Weld-trained Knight To King, an impressive winner at Gowran Park on his debut, Joseph O'Brien's Leopardstown Derby Trial second Up And Under, the Donnacha O'Brien-trained Proud And Regal and the Ralph Beckett-trained Salt Bay.
Bookmakers make Auguste Rodin a general 1/3 shot to complete the Derby double. Sprewell and White Birch are widely available at 5/1 each, and Up And Under is 12/1 while Knight To King is 16/1.
Elsewhere on Sunday's card, the Jessica Harrington-trained Supersonic Man has been added to the field in the Group 2 Gain Railway Stakes which also includes Adrian Murray's Royal Ascot winner Valiant Force who could renew rivalry with Aidan O'Brien's His Majesty which finished fourth behind him in the Norfolk Stakes.
Pretty Polly
Meanwhile, at the Curragh on Saturday, a field of 14 horses, including last week's Ribblesdale winner Warm Heart, trained by Aidan O'Brien, Joseph O'Brien's Above The Curve, the Jim Bolger-trained Tattersalls Irish 1000 Guineas third Comhra, the George Boughey-trained Via Sistina and Hughie Morrison's Stay Alert are among the 14 horses remaining in the Group 1 Yulong Pretty Polly Stakes while nine, including Albany Stakes runner-up Matrika and the Ed Walker-trained Miss Roberts, go forward for the Group 2 Airlie Stud Stakes.
Joseph O'Brien’s Al Riffa, winner of last year's Group 1 Goffs Vincent O'Brien National Stakes, is set to reappear in the Group 3 Paddy Power International Stakes.
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