O’Donoghue eyes Longchamp Treasure
The Aidan O’Brien trained colt almost pulled off a 25-1 surprise in the Derby at Epsom when just denied by Pour Moi, but proved that was no fluke by going one better in the Irish equivalent at the Curragh.
Stablemate Seville, an Epsom disappointment, looked the likely winner of the Irish Derby before tiring close home and the pair clash again. The eagerly-awaited contest also contains a third O’Brien runner in Marksmanship and the French Derby winner Reliable Man.
“Obviously it was a massive run at Epsom – he ran a brilliant race – and it was great to see him come out and frank the form at the Curragh,” said jockey O’Donoghue.
“He’s come out of the Irish Derby really well so I’m looking forward to tomorrow night.
“Some horses take a while to recover after Epsom, but it just shows how solid and tough he is and how genuine and completely reliable he is.
“He’s got a pedigree that suggests that he should keep on improving and he’s much better at three than he was at two, so hopefully he improves with age.
“The ground won’t worry him.”
Seamie Heffernan rode Seville at the Curragh and keeps the partnership intact in France.
“I was very happy with his run at the Curragh. I took it (the running) up, but he just got a little bit tired close home,” said Heffernan, fresh from his win in the Eclipse on So You Think.
“Cut in the ground won’t be a worry, he genuinely goes on all sorts of ground so that won’t be a problem.
“It’s a small field but it looks to be strong.”
