'The Curragh will suit him better' - Piz Badile on course for Irish Derby

Donnacha O’Brien believes the Curragh will play more to the strengths of Piz Badile than Epsom did when he tackles the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby on Saturday.

The trainer said his son of Ulysses did not show his true colours in the Derby at Epsom, where he was beaten more than 16 lengths in 12th behind Desert Crown under Frankie Dettori. Gavin Ryan, who has ridden Piz Badile in all his Irish starts, takes over again at the Curragh.

Piz Badile is a general 10-1 chance to land the Irish Classic but those odds will likely change at the supplementary stage on Tuesday, particularly if Cazoo Oaks winner Tuesday is added to the big race at a cost of €75,000.

O'Brien said: “He’s come out of Epsom well. I think the Curragh will suit him better, it’s a bit more of an even track.

“We didn’t really get a proper feeler for a mile and a half at Epsom because he didn’t seem to run his race. We’ll get more of a guide at the Curragh. You never know, we might end up going up or back down in trip afterwards.”

The Ballysax Stakes winner is likely to reoppose several rivals from Epsom, with third-placed Westover, Stone Age, Changingoftheguard, Star Of India, Nahanni and Walk Of Stars all entered.

Lingfield Derby Trial winner United Nations, Sandown Classic Trial runner-up Cash and Dante third Bluegrass are among the other potential challengers.

Piz Badile: a general 10-1 shot for Saturday's ClassicCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

It will be only the second time an unrestricted crowd is allowed at the new Curragh for the Irish Derby, after just 1,000 racegoers watched Hurricane Lane mow down Lone Eagle last year.

Curragh chief executive Brian Kavanagh said: “We're really looking forward to it. We were under temporary facilities before 2019, so it’s the first straightforward Derby weekend since 2016 in many ways.

“We’re not focusing on crowd numbers. We want to make sure people enjoy their day and we have good racing. It should be a cracking Derby and hopefully it’ll deliver a good contest.”

The going at the Curragh is good, good to firm in places on the Derby and straight course, where watering began last Wednesday and will be an option later in the week once the forecast clears up.

It is expected to remain dry for the coming days, with a threat of showers on Thursday and Friday.

Kavanagh said: “We’ll play it by ear. If we have to water, we will. But we’ll wait for the forecast to decide what way to go.”

Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby (3.45 Curragh, Saturday)

Ladbrokes: 11-10 Westover, 4 Stone Age, 8 Changingoftheguard, 10 Bluegrass, Lionel, Piz Badile, 12 Buckaroo, El Bodegon, Hannibal Barca, Nations Pride, United Nations, 14 bar

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