As always, the Curragh will play host to exhilarating top-class racing this weekend, with the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby the highlight on Sunday, 30th June.
The famous Group 1 Classic is routinely one of Europe's most prestigious Flat contests and this year carries a purse that totals €1,237,500 as a quality field go in search of Irish Derby glory at the County Kildare track.
Adrian Wall provides his analysis on the big race on the final day at the Curragh's marquee meeting, where they race from 1.10-5.50, with the Irish Derby itself due off at 4.05.
4.05 – Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby (Group 1, 1m4f)
Ballydoyle confirmed their frightening team for this year's Irish Derby during the week and they look set to unleash four runners at the weekend's feature courtesy of Los Angeles, Grosvenor Square, Euphoric and The Euphrates.
The most likely winner is LOS ANGELES, who will bid to hand Ryan Moore back-to-back victories in the race following in the footsteps of Auguste Rodin who led an Aidan O'Brien-trained first four home last year.
A son of Camelot, the selection won a 1m1f Tipperary maiden last September on his debut before landing a 1m2f French Group 1 next time up at Saint-Cloud in testing conditions.
On his return to action this year, Los Angeles saw off Euphoric in the Derby Trial at Leopardstown in May. The form of that race is questionable at best, but he ran a cracker in the Derby at Epsom. Fairly keen throughout, he took up the running three furlongs out but was a sitting duck for City Of Troy in the closing stages.
Obviously the big danger to Los Angeles has to be Ambiente Friendly, who finished in front of the O'Brien runner in the Derby. An impressive winner of the Derby Trial at Lingfield in May, Rab Havlin must have thought he was riding a certainty when he breezed up to Los Angeles' quarters but he clearly didn't spot Moore going up the inside on City Of Troy.
I've no doubt Havlin would love to ride that race again and if he could he would have pushed the button a lot sooner. It might not have made any difference to the result but he probably would have been closer.
With Ballydoyle having three potential pacemakers in the field here, different tactics will be employed and that's why I feel Los Angeles will turn the form on Ambiente Friendly. Moore might ride him cold and play for a late rattle, while Havlin should track Moore hoping to take him once they turn for home.
The big advantage O'Brien's runner has here is jockeyship. Moore knows this place like the back of his hand, whereas Havlin has limited experience riding in Ireland. There could also be teamwork at play where the other O'Brien runners make life as difficult as possible for Havlin and that's why Los Angeles gets the vote.
