Curragh | Race 1: 2yo Fillies Maiden

In the opener, I ride a well-bred filly called ALPHA for the Niarchos family.

She ran well on debut at Leopardstown where she finished off her race really nicely. Hopefully she’ll have come forward from that run and be tough to beat.

Aidan [O’Brien] runs two other exceptionally well-bred fillies.

I rode Ibelieveicanfly on her debut where she finished just behind Alpha, but still ran a nice race, and she should improve for that run.

Exceptionally is City Of Troy’s half-sister and makes her debut here. She’s been going well and it wouldn’t be the biggest surprise if either she or Ibelieveicanfly won.

This is usually a very strong maiden. Livenka also looked good on her debut behind one of Aidan’s and she might be the main danger, but there are other newcomers in here that could be anything as well.

Curragh | Race 5: G3 International Stakes

ISAAC NEWTON won a nine-furlong (1800m) Listed race at Navan a couple of weeks ago.

He’s stepping back up in trip here, and this is a slight step back up in class too. He’s drawn in stall eight of eight, but hopefully that’s not an issue.

Purview was an impressive winner at the Guineas meeting at the Curragh and sets the standard.

Hotazhell, who Isaac Newton just beat last time at Navan, also runs and he could come improve, with last time being his seasonal debut.

William Haggas is bringing Crown Of Oaks over and he is another of interest.

Curragh | Race 6: Listed Celebration Stakes

I’m on ACCREDITED here.

He won at the start of the season at Naas and then finished fifth when stepped up to a mile (1600m) at the same course next time.

He’s wearing first-time blinkers here and they probably need to have an effect as he looks to have a bit to find on ratings.

He’s up in class and he will probably need to step forward to trouble the likes of Alcantor, Tokenomics and Zodiac Bear.

Curragh | Race 7: G1 Irish Derby

There’s only eight in this year’s Irish Derby, but I think it’s quite a deep race, and there aren’t really any that you can’t make a case for.

I’m going to ride BENVENUTO CELLINI again. Obviously, there was a lot of controversy around him being deemed a non-runner at Epsom.

He’s going to be back on nicer ground and that will make a significant difference to him. He’s had two disappointing runs in his life and both of them were on slower ground, so hopefully he’ll be a lot happier on the quicker surface.

He’s a good moving horse that was impressive at Chester. I’m looking forward to riding him.

Christmas Day is the Derby winner. He obviously showed he stays very well, but this will ask a slightly different question of him. He’s an uncomplicated horse though and he should give himself every chance.

Aidan also runs Pierre Bonnard, who was also disappointing at Epsom. Again, the ground was perhaps slightly against him and before that run he had been improving. I could see him running a much better race this time from the inside stall.

The ground wouldn’t have been to Action’s liking at Epsom either. He ran a good race in the Dante and I could see him running a much better race on a quicker surface.

Outside of Aidan’s, the biggest danger would look to be Raaheeb. He was an impressive winner on debut and then looked good when he won the Sandown Classic Trial. He’s been off since then, but reports are he’s been working well, and he’s been trained for this race.

Joseph [O’Brien] runs James J Braddock, who was third in the Derby. He misbehaved that day, so maybe he can improve on his Epsom effort here.

Shaihaan was behind a few of these in one of the Derby trials and needs to step forward.

Richard Hannon runs Bunyola Bay, who has won two of his three starts. He won the Gowran Classic last time, which gave him free entry into this. He’s entitled to his chance but obviously needs to step up again.

Curragh | Race 8: Maddenstown Handicap

My final ride on Irish Derby Day is on ANTIGUA, in what looks a very competitive handicap.

He won his maiden at Fairyhouse a couple of weeks ago. He should stay this trip well and is hopefully on a competitive enough mark to give him a chance here.

There are plenty of other lightly raced handicap debutants in this contest, with the likes of Rolltight, Satoyama and King Of Earth all potential players.