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2024 Irish Derby Preview: Grosvenor Square The Dark Horse

This Sunday sees the Irish Derby take place at the Curragh. The race has a great tradition of producing many top-class winners, including Auguste Rodin, Capri, and Harzand in the last decade alone.
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Ambiente Friendly Sets The Standard

Looking at this year’s renewal, it’s Ambiente Friendly who finds himself at the top of the market for James Fanshawe. At the time of writing, he does need to be supplemented, but connections have said that he will take his chance.

The son of Gleneagles ran a mighty race to finish second in the Epsom Derby and would have been a good winner if he hadn’t bumped into City Of Troy. He’s a horse that has surprised a few people after he won the Lingfield Derby Trial. It was hard to know if that performance was a fluke, but it’s safe to say it wasn’t.

The form has also taken a boost as the second Illnois won the Queen’s Vase at Royal Ascot, and he could be a St. Leger candidate. As long as the ground doesn’t get too soft, he’s probably the one they’ve all got to beat.

Los Angeles Wants Rain

When it comes to the Irish Derby, Aidan O’Brien is usually the man to follow. He’s won it 15 times since 1997. His leading contender looks to be Los Angeles, who finished third in the Epsom Derby, behind Ambiente Friendly. I think he doesn’t quite stay 1m4f, and I also think he wants a bit of ease in the ground, which he looks unlikely to get. He’s currently 15/8, and I think that’s a bit too short.

Of the rest of the Ballydoyle battalions, Grosvenor Square is probably the most interesting of them. He swerved Royal Ascot and comes here fresher the majority of his stable mates. He was last seen running at Chester where he was well-beaten in third in the Chester Vase Stakes. Though he was disappointing I think you can forgive him that run as it was his first-run of the season and he should strip fitter here which a few of Aidan’s have done. Furthermore his half-brother Santiago won this race in 2020, so it’s in his pedigree. I think he is the dark horse in this year’s Irish Derby.

The Maturing Matsuri

On the other hand one horse that has probably gone under the radar for the Irish Derby is Matsuri for Roger Varian. He won at Leicester last month with ease and connections were clear to point out that they think he would be suited by the Curragh. It’s hard to know how this good son of Sea The Stars is, but he would be a fascinating runner. I have a feeling though he was flattered that day, and will probably come up short here.

We might not get a big-field for the Irish Derby, but it’s a race that I am looking forward to watching.

Irish Derby Selections

Ambiente Friendly (5/4)

Grosvenor Square EW (9/1)

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This Sunday sees the Irish Derby take place at the Curragh. The race has a great tradition of producing many top-class winners, including Auguste Rodin, Capri, and Harzand in the last decade alone.
Read also...