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Cape Blanco 5-2 Favourite for Irish Derby – 11 Declared 25/06/10

A field of 11 will line up for this Sunday’s Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby at Curragh.

Aidan O’Brien, who will be looking to win his eighth Irish Derby, has left five horses in the Group 1 race including the new favourite Cape Blanco.

Cape Blanco, the 5-2 favourite with William Hill, heads the Ballydoyle challenge for the Irish Classic, whilst Jan Vermeer (7-2), Midas Touch (5-1), At First Sight (20-1) and Bright Horizon (100-1) complete Aidan O’Brien’s quintet.

Monterosso (11-4 2f), the winner of the Group 2 King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot, heads the opposition to the strong Ballydoyle team. The Mark Johnston trained three-year-old was supplemented for the race at a cost of €150,000, and connections will be hoping to recoup their big outlay on Sunday.

Other leading contenders for the race include the Godolphin runner Chabal (14-1), and Jim Bolger’s Ballysax Stakes winner – Puncher Clynch (16-1).

Coordinated Cut (12-1), Carraiglawn (25-1), and Dubawi Phantom (50-1) complete the entries.

‘We originally gave Cape Blanco a 9-2 quote for the race,’ said William Hill spokesman Tony Kenny ‘but the strength of money behind him forced us to slash his odds to 5-2 favourite, and it came as no surprise when Johnny announced he would ride the Dante winner.’

‘Monterosso has also been strong in the betting, and he looks like the only one capable of challenging Cape Blanco for favouritism.’

Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby: (William Hill bet)

5-2 Cape Blanco, 11-4 Monterosso, 7-2 Jan Vermeer, 5-1 Midas Touch, 12-1 Coordinated Cut, 14-1 Chabal, 16-1 Puncher Clynch, 20-1 At First Sight, 25-1 Carraiglawn, 50-1 Dubawi Phantom, 100-1 Bright Horizon – EW (¼ 1,2,3)