Mick Kinane’s Irish Derby Preview – Betting, Runners & Previous Winners

In this post you can find our Irish Derby preview from Mick Kinane plus all you need to know about the betting, runners and previous winners.

Irish Derby Betting Odds 2023

Irish Derby Favourite

Auguste Rodin is the Irish Derby betting favourite for 2023 at odds of 2/5. The Brown Colt will look to complete a unique double on Sunday as the Aidan O’Brien-trained star bids to complete the Epsom/Irish Derby double.

Auguste Rodin will face eight rivals on Sunday at the Curragh, many of whom he beat in the Classic six weeks ago on British shores, and Ballydoyle maestro O’Brien has five in the race.

While there is no reason not to believe that those other four horses will fall in line to help Auguste Rodin become just the fourth horse in the past 20 years to complete the Double, as we saw at Royal Ascot, the second-string from Tipperary cannot be ruled out in their own right.

Irish Derby Contenders

The joint-second favourite in the betting for the Irish Derby going into the weekend is Sprewell at odds of 11/2. This Mrs J Harrington-trained horse has a 40% win rate over his career on the flat.

The other joint-second favourite in the betting for this year’s Irish Derby is White Birch also at odds of 11/2. This grey colt arrives to the Curragh in good form having a 2nd and 3rd place finish in his two outings on the flat this season. White Birch, third to Auguste Rodin at Epsom, showed big improvement in the Derby and has good market support.

Next up in the betting is Up And Under who comes into this race at 12/1 in the betting. The J P O’Brien trained horse will be bidding to go one better on Sunday having finished 2nd in his last two outings.

Auguste Rodin is of course Aidan O’Brien’s best chance in this race but he also has four more horses who will be bidding for Irish Derby glory this Sunday. Those horses are Adelaide River (33-1), San Antonio (50-1), Peking Opera (66-1) and 100-1 outsider Covent Garden.

The big each-way chance could perhaps arrive in the shape of Peking Opera, who is stepping down in trip, finishing halfway down the field to the impressive Gregory in the Queen’s Vase at Royal Ascot just last week and is turned out again quickly here holding fairly solid claims at a big price.

Legendary Irish jockey Mick Kinane, twice a winner of the Irish Derby on board superstar Galileo in 2001 and High Chapparal in 2002, believes Auguste Rodin can be taken on despite his incredibly short odds this weekend.

Irish Derby Preview From Mick Kinane

It’s a tough ask for any horse to win the Irish and Epsom Derby double and Auguste Rodin has a chance, of course he does.

He bounced back well from his dreadful run at Newmarket where he flopped badly in the 2000 Guineas to win at Epsom and while he is probably the right favourite for the Irish Derby, he can be taken on, for sure.

White Birch ran a big race at Epsom behind Auguste Rodin so he can compete at a good price, plus there’s others that were at Epsom also showing up here like Adelaide River.

Aidan O’Brien’s second string were good at Royal Ascot and Adelaide River is a massive price at 40/1, he’d be in with a great chance I think.

It’s a shame there’s not more British interest. But it’s a brilliant race and it seems highly likely one member of the O’Brien family will be celebrating come Sunday afternoon!

Irish Derby Runners & Riders

No. 1 – Adelaide River @ 33/1

Jockey: J A Heffernan | Trainer: A P O’Brien

No. 2 – Auguste Rodin @ 2/5

Jockey: R L Moore | Trainer: A P O’Brien

No. 3 – Covent Garden @ 100/1

Jockey: D P McDonogh | Trainer: A P O’Brien

No. 4 – Peking Opera @ 66/1

Jockey: Tom Marquand | Trainer: A P O’Brien

No. 5 – Proud And Regal

Jockey: G M Ryan | Trainer: Donnacha O’Brien

No. 6 – San Antonio @ 50/1

Jockey: W M Lordan | Trainer: A P O’Brien

No. 7 – Sprewell @ 11/2

Jockey: S Foley | Trainer: Mrs J Harrington

No. 8 – Up And Under @ 12/1

Jockey: M P Sheehy | Trainer: J P O’Brien

No. 9 – White Birch @ 11/1

Jockey: D McMonagle | Trainer: J J Murphy

Click Below For All Our Irish Derby Odds

Irish Derby Previous Winners

2022 – Westover | Jockey: Colin Keane, Trainer: Ralph Beckett

2021 – Hurricane Lane | Jockey: William Buick, Trainer: Charlie Appleby

2020 – Santiago | Jockey: Seamie Heffernan, Trainer: Aidan O’Brien

2019 – Sovereign | Jockey: Padraig Beggy, Trainer: Aidan O’Brien

2018 – Latrobe | Jockey: Donnacha O’Brien, Trainer: Joseph O’Brien

2017 – Capri | Jockey: Seamie Heffernan, Trainer: Aidan O’Brien

2016 – Harzand | Jockey: Pat Smullen, Trainer: Dermot Weld

2015 – Jack Hobbs | Jockey: William Buick, Trainer: John Gosden

2014 – Australia | Jockey: Joseph O’Brien, Trainer: Aidan O’Brien

2013 – Trading Leather | Jockey: Kevin Manning, Trainer: Jim Bolger

*Prices subject to fluctuation

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