Aidan O’Brien is confident his brilliant filly Minnie Hauk will take a significant step forward when she headlines Sunday's Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh.

The undisputed queen of the mile and a half division last season, she captured three Group Ones and finished a narrow second to Daryz in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe. She recently proved her versatility by winning the Mooresbridge Stakes on her seasonal bow, and O'Brien is delighted with her condition ahead of another crack at ten furlongs. The Ballydoyle handler confirmed she has trained beautifully since her winning return and expects the trip to suit perfectly once again.

Meanwhile, George Scott is brimming with confidence ahead of Bay City Roller's bid for top-flight glory. The four-year-old pushed dual Derby winner Lambourn all the way in the Huxley Stakes at Chester last time out, coming up just a neck short despite conceding five pounds.

Scott believes his robust colt has progressed significantly since that run and expects the stiff Curragh track to play to his strengths. With Oisin Murphy booked to ride, connections are planning a positive, attacking approach for a race that has been mapped out for a long time.

Ed Walker saddles Almaqam, who makes his highly anticipated seasonal reappearance after a dirty scope forced him to miss his intended prep run. Walker reports his charge is fully fit and training exceptionally well, though he acknowledges the immense challenge posed by Minnie Hauk and Almaqam's progressive younger brother Saddadd.

Roger Varian’s Gordon Richards Stakes winner Saddadd forms part of a formidable British raiding party alongside Karl Burke’s six-year-old Royal Rhyme. The elite eight-runner field is completed by O’Brien’s second string Edward Hamilton, Jessica Harrington’s Green Impact and Robson De Aguiar’s Tiberius Thunder.

Image: Focus On Racing