Epsom Winner Wings of Eagles Looking for Derby Double in Ireland

Wings of Eagles will be bidding to complete a Classic double next month when he lines up in the Irish Derby at the Curragh for trainer Aidan O’Brien, who has dominated the contest in recent years. The 3-year-old colt got up late at Epsom to cause a huge upset at odds of +4000 and deny his stablemate, Wings of Moher, who was fancied to prevail but had to settle for second place.

The Epsom winner will be joined in Ireland by Cracksman, who was third in the Derby, while Prix Du Jockey Club runner-up Waldgeist is also expected to line up in what could be one of the best turf races in Europe so far this season.

If you are having a bet on the Irish Derby, then it may be worth taking a look at all the odds and free bets on Oddschecker for the winner of the race, where Cracksman and Wings Of Eagles can’t be separated at the top of the market at +350. The Andre Fabre-trained Waldgeist is available at +333.33, while Capril can be backed at +1000.

Only three horses in the last ten years have completed the Derby double in England and Ireland: Camelot was successful in 2012, in a year where he also won the 2000 Guineas and finished second in the St Leger to fall just short of the Triple Crown in the UK. Australia prevailed at Epsom and then at the Curragh in 2014. More recently, Harzand did the same for his trainer, Dermot Weld, last year.

A victory in Ireland for Wings of Eagles would prove his success at Epsom was no fluke and could lead to the horse running in some of the biggest middle distance races in Europe later in the year. The Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe is likely to be on his schedule in October at Chantilly, while O’Brien may even consider one of the turf races at the Breeders’ Cup meeting at Del Mar in November.

If the son of Pour Moi does not shine in Ireland, he is likely to step up in trip again, with the St. Leger a possible target at Doncaster in September. O’Brien may also have the Ascot Gold Cup on his mind as a race his horse could be suited to.

The 2017 Irish Derby will take place on July 1 and it is part of a three-day meeting at the Curragh, which also features the Group Two GAIN Railway Stakes, Corner Group International Curragh Cup, and Finlay Volvo International Stakes.