Aidan O’Brien has won the Irish Derby a record 17 times and believes Benvenuto Cellini can put behind him his Epsom Derby no-show to bolster that success.
O’Brien first won the contest in 2001 with Galileo. His Grandson, Benvenuto Cellini, was a disappointing favourite when tailing off in the Epsom Derby. However, he was controversially deemed a non-runner as his hind-leg was caught on the stalls shelf prior to the start.
Having failed to handle the softer conditions too, Aidan O’Brien believes he can bounce back this weekend.
Speaking to the Press Association, via the Racing Post, O’Brien discussed his Irish Derby team: “The plan is to run four in the Irish Derby – Benvenuto Cellini, Christmas Day, Pierre Bonnard and Action.
“I would say Causeway will wait for the Grand Prix de Paris instead, so he won’t go to the Curragh. That’s the way we’re thinking, but nothing is set in stone just yet
“Benvenuto came out of the Derby very fresh and well in himself. And that’s why we were contemplating taking him to Ascot for the King Edward VII. But we decided that might come a little too soon so we waited for the Curragh instead.
O’Brien continued: “The Derby was a non-event for him really, given the soft ground and what happened to him. We knew from last year, when he ran at the end of the season at Doncaster, that bad ground wasn’t really his thing.
“He’s a beautiful mover and moves so much better on nicer ground. We think he’s a lot better than what he showed at Epsom. We’re all going to learn plenty about him on Sunday.”
‘Very possible, but not definite’ – O’Brien coy on jockey bookings
When asked as to whether Ryan Moore will ride Benvenuto Cellini, O’Brien said: “That’s very possible, but not definite yet. It won’t be an easy decision for him, but I do know Ryan has always been a big Benvenuto fan.”
His other three runners are not without a chance though, including Epsom Derby winner Christmas Day. He bids to follow in the footsteps of Lambourn, Auguste Rodin, Australia, Camelot, High Chaparral and Galileo in landing the double.
“Christmas Day is good,” said O’Brien. “He’s a very unassuming horse who stays well and everything has gone well for him since Epsom. The plan was always to go to the Curragh next.”
On Pierre Bonnard, he said “It just didn’t happen for Pierre on the day, and I wouldn’t judge him too harshly on that. He got caught a long way back, and nothing really got into the race from that far back.
Action can also better his effort at Epsom suggested O’Brien, stating: “He’s a solid horse. Like a few of the others, we do think he’s a lot better than what he showed at Epsom. He should prefer this nicer ground and seems in good nick.”