Three contenders for O'Brien at National Stakes

Aidan O'Brien fields three of the six contenders for Saturday's ladbrokes.com Vincent O'Brien National Stakes at the Curragh.

The juvenile heat has been renamed in honour of the legendary Irish trainer, who died earlier this year, and the Ballydoyle team are evidently keen to claim the prize.

The unbeaten Alfred Nobel, winner of the Phoenix Stakes, heads the team and he will be joined by Air Chief Marshal, who finished second in that race.

Beethoven also takes his chance after breaking his maiden at Leopardstown last time.

Jim Bolger sends out the promising Chabal, who made a winning racecourse bow last weekend, while Kevin Prendergast runs Kingsfort.

Edward Lynam's Senior is the final runner.

Lynam admits he is throwing Senior in at the deep end following a promising debut third to the O'Brien-trained Black Quartz in a Curragh maiden two months ago.

"Obviously it's a big step up for him. He's a very nice horse and he'll be a better one next year," said the County Meath trainer.

"Jamie Spencer rode him on his debut and was very pleased with him, and thought a lot of him.

"He'll run a nice race, but it's a big ask for him. When you have a race for that much money and there's only a handful of runners you have to take your chance.

"He's the nicest horse we have. Where that puts him, I don't know.

"We are under no illusion about the task he faces, but we like the horse a lot."