There was some terrific Irish racing on ATR last Sunday, from Navan and Limerick, but for many of us the real highlight came at the end of the programme when Gary O’Brien interviewed Robbie McNamara.

Karakontie will be aimed towards this weekend’s Prix du Jockey Club at Chantilly rather than the Investec Derby at Epsom.

Ante-post betting has never held any great attraction for this observer, but have to say the 25-1 on offer with some of the firms about Leading Light for next weekend’s Prix de L’Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp was crying out to be taken.

Investec Derby fourth Battle Of Marengo features in a list of 15 confirmations for the King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot on Friday.

Aidan O’Brien has hailed Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby favourite Camelot as “unique” as he bids to conquer unfavourable ground and maintain his unbeaten record at the Curragh on Saturday.

Camelot will face just six rivals in his bid to become the 16th horse tocomplete the Epsom and Irish Derby double at the Curragh tomorrow.

Camelot will face just six rivals in his bid to become the 16th horse to complete the Epsom and Irish Derby double at the Curragh on Saturday night.

Champion jockey Davy Russell dominated proceedings at Gowran Park yesterday with a double initiated by Discoteca, who had to work hard to win the opening two mile conditions hurdle.

A WORD APART is the nap to land a tricky little five-runner Irish Stallion Farms’ EBF Race at Navan this afternoon.

YOU have good weeks in racing and in life but the last few days have been right up there, the undoubted highlight being meeting Queen Elizabeth at the Irish National Stud on Thursday.

JOHNNY Murtagh is convinced Jan Vermeer, his mount in today’s Derby, is the ideal type for Epsom.

THE absence of St Nicholas Abbey takes some of the intrigue from today’s Investec Epsom Derby but, for all that the Ballydoyle team will miss the horse they believed ‘could walk on water’, the stable dominated the major trials and appears to hold all the aces today.

FINALLY, we can get down to business this afternoon, leaving all the St Nicholas Abbey drama behind us, and concentrate on the most exciting flat race in the world, the Epsom Derby.

IN a routine act of Gallic indifference, the French – having mopped up Newmarket’s 2000 Guineas with Makfi – have turned their backs on Epsom in favour of keeping their equine blue bloods at home for Sunday’s equivalent colts’ classic at Chantilly.

ADDRESS UNKNOWN, with his sights lowered, can land the nap in the Listed Silver Stakes at the Curragh tonight.

AIDAN O’BRIEN is a firm favourite to land his third Investec Derby at Epsom tomorrow.

ST NICHOLAS ABBEY, as expected, will miss next Saturday’s Investec Derby at Epsom.

JAN VERMEER has been the subject of an almighty gamble for Saturday’s Investec Derby.

IT is looking increasingly likely that the much-hyped St Nicholas Abbey will miss the Investec Derby at Epsom next Saturday.

CNOCANDANCER may join her stablemate Lolly For Dolly in the Irish 1,000 Guineas following her recent debut success.

Connections of Noll Wallop are mapping out an ambitious plan for the colt following his impressive victory in the Leopardstown 2,000 Guineas Trial.

WINCHESTER will be fancied to earn a crack at the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby by winning tonight’s Nolan & Brophy Auctioneers Silver Stakes at the Curragh.

FOR the third time in his career, Aidan O’Brien completed the Irish Guineas double when Halfway To Heaven added the 1000 at the Curragh yesterday to the success of Henrythenavigator in the 2000 on Saturday.

Dermot Weld has made a great start to the season but the Master of Rosewell House is realistic about their hopes for the rest of the campaign. Pat Keane reports.

IT may be a long way from a maiden in Cork to a Classic, but Dermot Weld's Nightime bridged the gap in emphatic style in the Boylesports Irish 1000 Guineas at the Curragh yesterday.

Irish Derby runner-up Scorpion was today supplemented for Thursday’s Juddmonte Grand Prix de Paris at Longchamp.

Pat Keane

George Washington got the Virginia Waters team off to a winning start at the Curragh today.

ORATORIO is a hopeful choice to land the Boylesports’ Irish 2000 Guineas at the Curragh this afternoon.

AIDAN O’BRIEN reported Yeats to be “fine” after the Vodafone Derby favourite worked at Ballydoyle yesterday partnered by his big-race jockey Jamie Spencer.

Kevin Darley is “likely” to partner Percussionist in the Vodafone Derby, according to the colt’s trainer John Gosden.

Cairdeas, an easy winner at Naas earlier this month, was the subject of a huge ante-post gamble for the Vodafone Derby today.

Dermot Weld has predicted a bright future for Cairdeas after the colt’s impressive victory at Naas on Wednesday.

DALAKHANI is as short as 4-9 favourite with Paddy Power (4-6 with Cashmans) for the Budweiser Irish Derby at the Curragh on Sunday.

The feature race this weekend is the Group Three Patrick P O'Leary Memorial Gallinule Stakes at the Curragh on Sunday, which has attracted a competitive looking six runner line up.