Irish Derby 2016

tryfix

Bit of a disappointing field for the Irish Derby with Harzand being left with a penalty kick as USAR was pulled out ( probably to vanish until next year IMO when his stout pedigree won't be fast enough to strike in the very best races but he'd still be able for the likes of The Coronation Cup at Epsom which masquerades as a top race ).


Any chance Idaho has improved enough to turn the tables? I don't think he's got that kind of improvement in him.

Red Verdon is an interesting contender who was well beaten at Epsom but who clipped heels and met further trouble in running at Epsom. The Curragh should be a much better track for him and it's significant that the owners have come back for another crack at Harzand.

Moonlight Magic is another who flopped at Epsom finishing last and who has already beaten Idaho this year. Wouldn't be a total shock but there's been no indications coming from Coolcullen that they expect a win tomorrow.


The O'Brien outsiders such as Port Douglas, Shogun and Claudio Monteverdi could easily place at a much bigger place price than Idaho's win odds.

Opinions?

Tsssst

Moonlight Magic nicely priced

Francie Barrett

Port Douglas seems the very obvious choice here considering it's been badly messed about.

Peintre Celebre

The race makes limited punting appeal without USAR which was at least making the outsiders a backable price. 10/1 on Moonlight Magic is a poor price given his run at Epsom, he was backable at 25/1 earlier in the week. It's disappointing if Harzand isn't good enough to win this despite the reports coming out about him all week. He's also a very fair price

Wicklow Brave

Haven't had a proper look yet but probably one of the Ballydoyle outsiders.

diomed

I back Moonlight Magic in the English Derby and he finished last of 15.
The ground is a bit softer for the Irish Derby than I would like so I've bet small at 16s.
The only hope is he didn't like the ground or the track, had an easy race, and all the others had a hard race at Epsom. Not much to ask.

tryfix

Shogun (IRE) 33/1 3 9-0 A P O'Brien 109 * * Donnacha O'Brien

"In touch in midfield, stuck behind struggling rival and shuffled back to rear on downhill run 4f out, 13th straight, soon behind and lost touch 2f out, tailed off and eased inside final furlong (tchd 40/1)"

Shogun has valid excuses for his disappointing run at Epsom and now has Colm O'Donoghue in the saddle. Colm was in the saddle for Shogun's full sister Qualify's 50/1 Epsom Oaks win.

He looks the best outside hope or will Shamie ride Port Douglas to win today?

longshotvalue

All over shogun here on decent ground in a fairly crap race . 50/1 Ew + 25/1 w w/o.

racso1975

Jesus nasty crash there in curragh

Harry Angstrom

Such a boring and uncompetitive race in recent years. Camelot and Australia both unbackable and proving nothing by winning. Same situation today - if Harzand wins it won't be any surprise. If he gets beat, Weld has a ready-made excuse with him being on antibiotics after Epsom.

Itziger

Thought Harzand did very well to get back up. The second has run two good races to be fair. Maybe drop back to 10 furlongs?

tryfix

Hmm.... He could have been beaten today if USAR the 2nd at Epsom had turned up, as it was he'd a bit up his sleeve today despite the close finish but with Stellar Mass not too far back in 3rd you'd have to think that Harzand was below par today.