Mars lives up to the hype

The Aidan O’Brien-trained Mars is as low as 10/1 favourite (with Boylesports) for the 2013 Investec Derby in Epsom following his convincing debut success in Dundalk yesterday, second leg of a two-year-old double for Aidan and Joseph O’Brien.

A son of Galileo, Mars (4/7 favourite) had been the subject of plenty of hype and speculation in recent weeks.

The chestnut colt produced a workmanlike performance, making most of the running and, when shaken up by Joseph, stretching clear to beat stable-companion The Ferryman by four and three-quarter lengths.