White Birch has defending his Tattersalls Gold Cup crown as the primary objective for the start of the new Flat turf season.

The Curragh Group 1, which John Murphy’s stable star impressed in when downing Auguste Rodin 12 months ago, will be the centrepiece of White Birch’s early-season plans as the five-year-old seeks to make up for time lost last season.

“He’s wintered very well and looks superb and we couldn’t be happier with how he’s training,” said George Murphy, assistant to his father.

“We’ll more than likely start off at the Curragh, we’ll probably skip the Group 3 (Alleged Stakes, April 12th) and head to the Mooresbridge (Stakes, Curragh, May 5th) and then we’ll go on to the Tattersalls Gold Cup (May 25th), that I think will be the plan.

“Hopefully he gets there in one piece, but he’s in good shape at the moment anyway.”

White Birch started 2024 in imperious form, winning his first three starts before a setback curtailed his progress, missing an intended assignment at Royal Ascot and also having to sit out the Eclipse and Juddmonte International before connections eventually called time on his season in early September.

Back in action

However, the grey is back in full training with his team fully confident he is firmly over any issues and now eyeing further Group 1 riches with the high-class son of Ulysses.

“He’s got no issues at all, thank God, and we’re very pleased with how he is,” continued Murphy.

“I think we’ll probably follow the 10-furlong Pattern and he’s a Group 1 winner at that distance. But I wouldn’t see why we wouldn’t explore a mile and a half also – he’s got plenty of options so we’ll aim at the Tattersalls Gold Cup, regroup and then make a further plan with the owners.”