Horse Racing: Mob-handed O'brien Has Five in Irish Derby

Aidan O'Brien was the trainer responsible for five of the 12-strong field at yesterday's confirmation stage for Sunday's Budweiser Irish Derby at the Curragh.

Odds-on favorite Eagle Mountain, runner-up to Authorized in the Derby at Epsom, may be joined in the final line-up by Yellowstone, Soldier Of Fortune, Alexander Of Hales and Spanish Harlem.

Royal Ascot winner Boscobel, trained by Mark Johnston, has as expected been supplemented for the race following his victory in the King Edward VII Stakes.

"He's very well and is in great shape. I'm very pleased with him and quite amazed how's he come out of Ascot," said Johnston yesterday.

Peter Chapple-Hyam, who won the Epsom Derby with Authorized, relies on Striving Storm, while the Sir Michael Stoute-trained Al Shemali completes a three-strong British contingent.

Meanwhile, today's scheduled meeting at Worcester was abandoned following an early-morning inspection, while the fixtures at Leicester tomorrow and at Market Rasen on Friday are in doubt.

Officials at Leicester are giving the meeting every chance of going ahead due to a favourable forecast, although the course is described as waterlogged in places.

Prospects are not so bright at Market Rasen, however, after the River Rase that flows close to the track overflowed onto the course, prompting an inspection for 1pm today. "We had 56 millimeters from midnight Monday through to last night," said clerk of the course Nick Patton.

Ron Cox's tip of the day


Apply Dapply 4.10 Salisbury

An impressive winner on her return at Folkestone, this filly can get back on the winning trail today following two defeats. The first of those losses was a highly creditable second to subsequent Royal Ascot runner-up Heaven Sent, before a slowly run race caught her out around Epsom. Dropped back down in grade here, she finds herself at the right end of the weights to take advantage.