Race Preview: 4:25 Curragh Amateur Riders Derby

This is the feature race of the day, the Amateur Riders’ Derby, run over a mile and a half on very testing heavy ground. This is not a handicap; the horses run off set weights, which is a crucial factor. Class and stamina will be at a premium in these conditions, and the ability of the amateur jockeys to judge the pace will be severely tested.

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Analysis of the Main Contenders

• Layfayette: The veteran is the class act of this field and looks perfectly placed by the race conditions. As a multiple Group-race winner with an official rating of 100, he isn’t penalised for his superiority. He’s a four-time winner at the Curragh and is proven on soft ground. His second place in a Group 3 here in June is a standout piece of form. Dropping into this class, he is the one they all have to beat.
• Olympic Man: You can never discount the combination of trainer Willie Mullins and jockey Mr. P.W. Mullins in a race like this. This horse won his only Flat start in France on very soft ground, so today’s heavy going will be absolutely perfect for him. He’s a useful chaser who should have the stamina reserves needed and looks like the main danger to the favourite.
• Mont St Michel: Representing the powerhouse Aidan O’Brien stable, this four-year-old gets a handy 7lb weight allowance from the older horses. He’s already a winner in amateur company, having scored over a longer trip at Killarney. While he was outclassed in a Group 2 last time, this is a much more suitable target and he should be involved in the finish.
• Sirius: The second runner for Willie Mullins, this mare won a big amateur handicap at the Galway Festival in 2024, so she is proven in this sphere. She should be sharper for her recent run in the Irish Cesarewitch and will be staying on strongly when others have had enough. The trip is perhaps a little short of her absolute best, but the heavy ground will make it a real test of stamina, bringing her into play.

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Verdict

It’s very hard to look past LAYFAYETTE (Nap). The race conditions are overwhelmingly in his favour, allowing a high-class Group performer to compete off level weights. He loves the course, handles the ground, and represents the pinnacle of quality in this line-up.

The biggest threat will likely come from Olympic Man, whose trainer-jockey combination is lethal in these contests and who will relish the attritional conditions. Sirius is another who will be finishing strongly and can pick up the pieces to hit the frame.

1. Layfayette
2. Olympic Man
3. Sirius