Stars out at the Curragh

John Oxx’s brilliant colt Sea The Stars features among 17 entries for the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby at the Curragh on Sunday following the confirmation stage.

The son of Cape Cross already has two Classics in the bag this season having become the first horse since Nashwan in 1989 to claim the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket and the Derby at Epsom.

Many of those who took him on at Epsom could try their luck again, including the runner-up Fame And Glory, third home Masterofthehorse and fifth home Golden Sword, all of whom are trained by Aidan O’Brien.

The Ballydoyle handler has also left in Byzantine, Drumbeat, Freemantle, Hail Caesar, Malibu Bay, Rockhampton and Set Sail giving him no less than 10 contenders.

The Jim Bolger-trained Gan Amhras could bid to bounce back from a disappointing effort at Epsom and may be joined by stablemate Ard Na Greine, while Oxx also has two chances having left in Mourayan.

Loch Long, Recharge and The Bull Hayes complete the possibles.

Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby

Paddy Power bet: 4-6 Sea The Stars, 11-4 Fame And Glory, 4-1 Masterofthehorse, 12-1 Gan Amhras, 16-1 Mourayan, 16-1 Recharge, 50-1 Drumbeat, 50-1 Freemantle, 5-1 The Bull Hayes, 100-1 Ard Na Greine, 200-1 bar.