O’Brien Primed For Biggest Success To Date

BoyleSports ambassador Joseph O’Brien could be about to land the biggest success of his fledging training career on day three of Irish Derby weekend at the Curragh.

Curragh Cup Could Be Piltown Bound
O’Brien’s first ever Epsom Derby attempt ended in disappointment as Rekindling failed to handle the unique undulations of the Epsom Downs, but having been minded on that occasion by Wayne Lordan, the three-year-old will step up to take on the older horses in the Curragh Cup on Sunday and it could be a race that is made for him.

While it is a drop in class for Rekindling, he is both stepping up in trip and is against older rivals for the first time which are questions he’ll have to answer. But the trip looks ideal and because of his age the Derby trial winner will be in receipt of a stone from the older horses like Forgotten Rules and Wicklow Brave. At 9/2 he is a decent looking bet.

Irish St Leger winner Wicklow Brave has been to America and there’s every chance that this could come up a week or so too soon for him, while Forgotten Rules hasn’t really developed into the leading stayer that it looked like he would once upon a time.

Big Day for Condon
There’s no doubt that the pick of the form in the International Stakes is that of The Grey Gatsby having won the Irish Champion Stakes a few years ago.

But while he could be a horse of interest later in the season it is probable that he will come on for this run.

That leaves it open for Success Days to add a second course and distance win at the Curragh for Ken Condon. The son of Jeremy is a horse that appreciates an ease in the ground so the bit of rainfall at HQ during racing on Saturday will do him no harm and he is also fitted with a tongue tie for the first time.

On the basis of his run here in the Tattersalls Gold Cup, Success Days should be good enough to land the spoils.

Second chance for Round Two
I tipped up Round Two when he ran at the Curragh last month and although he never got going that day, I’m retaining the faith in Jim Bolger’s four-year-old.

The colt stayed on that day when never really travelling under Kevin Manning and he wasn’t beaten all that far in the end. Off a mark of 97 he definitely has the ability to win and hopefully the application of cheek pieces will have the desired effect. At his very best he’d be capable of conceding weight to all his rivals in Sunday’s finale and he might just be a decent enough price to do so.

Recommended Bets:
Success Days (9/2) – 3.15 Curragh
Rekindling (11/2) – 4.50 Curragh
Round Two (11/1) – 5.25 Curragh

*Prices correct at time of publication.