‘If we can leave Epsom behind us, he’ll run a big race’

If you listen to bookmakers today’s Irish Derby is a one horse race.

The only thing seemingly in doubt is how far Epsom Derby hero Australia will win by. Five of the six horses (the odd one out is the John Oxx-trained Ponfeigh) that trailed in behind Australia at Epsom earlier this month re-oppose at the Curragh today. Of that quintet only Kingston Hill kept the Ballydoyle superstar honest at Epsom.

One of those to disappoint that day was the Dermot Weld-trained Fascinating Rock, who finished eighth, 11½ lengths in arrears of Australia. A forlorn hope today, then? Not so, says jockey Pat Smullen of a horse who went to Epsom quietly fancied having first won the Ballysax Stakes at Navan smoothly and then the Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial at Leopardstown in the stewards’ room after the demotion of Ebanoran.