FOUR Irish horses feature in the entries in the valuable Saudi Cup undercard, with Joseph O’Brien sending three to Riyadh, while Continuous is set to be the sole representative for Ballydoyle.

Both Al Riffa and Trustyourinstinct have been confirmed to take part in the $2 million Neom Turf Cup, where they are set to face last year’s winner, the Richard Fahey-trained Spirit Dancer.

Yutaka Take will take the ride on Al Riffa, having partnered the bay on his last start in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, when the dual Group 1 winner appeared unsuited by the very soft ground.

Saturday’s Group 2 is run over 10 and a half furlongs, the same trip as the Prix Ganay, in which Al Riffa was beaten three-parts of a length last April, while his length defeat to City Of Troy came over a similar distance in the Coral-Eclipse.

Dylan Browne McMonagle’s mount Trustyourinstinct has placed in three group races over 10 furlongs, while his career-best performance came over a mile and a half.

Changing connections

The mile trip of the Group 3 Saudi Derby isn’t a concern for Apples And Bananas, who runs on dirt for the first time in the $1.5 million contest. McMonagle will don the colours of Prince Faisal Bin Khaled Al Saud, who has purchased the Goffs Million victor and Criterium International third.

Antelope Canyon got within a head of Apples And Bananas in the Goffs Million and the group performer featured in the likely fields for the Saudi Derby. He has now been scratched, but his entry highlighted a move from Aidan O’Brien to the Roger Varian stable.

His former stablemate at Ballydoyle, Continuous, holds an entry in the Longines Red Sea Turf Handicap over a mile and seven furlongs, which will be run as a Group 2 for the first time. The 2023 St Leger victor could face last year’s St Leger fourth Deira Mile in the $2.5 million contest, along with John and Thady Gosden’s Group 1 performer Gregory, who has been gelded since his last start.

Trading places

Trafalgar Square is another notable entry, as he makes his first start for Bhupat Seemar, having sold for €1.15 million after finishing second in the Group 2 Prix Chaudenay for Patrice Coittier.

Tom Clover is the sixth trainer, who has been responsible for Al Nayyir and the now seven-year-old made a smart start for his new yard, when narrowly denied by Vauban in the Lonsdale Cup. He subsequently impressed with an eight-length win in the Listed Rose Bowl Stakes, before disappointing at Ascot’s British Champions fixture.