Cairdeas faces five in Gallinule

Cairdeas, an ante-post gamble for the Vodafone Derby, will face five rivals when lining up for the Airlie Stud Gallinule Stakes at the Curragh on Sunday.

Dermot Weld’s charge is now as low as 12-1 for the Epsom Classic after successfully stepping up to ten furlongs last time out to score by four lengths.

“He is an interesting horse,” said Weld of the Darshaan colt, owned by President Mary McAleese.

“He has won a very moderate maiden very easily. He is a progressive horse and Sunday will tell us all what we want to know.”

His rivals in the Group Three contest include the John Oxx-trained Barati who, after scoring on his debut at the Curragh last month, finished fourth in the Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial Stakes on his most recent start.

“It looks a good race and he ran well last time when he was fourth behind Yeats. He ran well and that was only his second start,” said the Currabeg handler.

“Hopefully he’s improved a bit since then but he would have to have a chance of finishing in the money here.”

Meath, runner-up to Grey Swallow and D’Anjou this term, is Aidan O’Brien’s sole representative with Danelissima, Lord Admiral and Akarem completing the field for the 10-furlong contest.