Irish Derby tips from our horse racing experts for Saturday’s 3.45 at the Curragh

Tuesday? Westover? Any of the others?

*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change

Tuesday attempts to become the first filly in 28 years to win the Irish Derby… but do any of Paddy’s pundits fancy the Epsom Oaks heroine to scoop another Classic?

Aidan O’Brien’s sole representative faces seven colts in Saturday’s 3.45pm at the Curragh including Epsom Derby third Westover, who was finishing like a train behind Desert Crown in the biggest race on the UK calendar.

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Group 3 winners Hannibal Barca and Piz Badile plus Listed scorer Lionel are fancied to provide further competition to Tuesday.

You’ll find Irish Derby tips from Paddy Power’s horse racing experts including Matt Chapman and Ruby Walsh below.

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Irish Derby tips

Fran Berry: I’m siding with TUESDAY over Westover. I feel the Aidan O’Brien filly could be a fast progressor and she could kick on from her win in the Oaks at Epsom. Westover’s form is opposable and he was never going to beat Desert Crown in Derby at Epsom. Lionel and French Claim could also be two long shot shouts.

Matt Chapman: Tuesday was good for this column in the Oaks but I’m all over Derby third WESTOVER here for Ralph Beckett. The stayer was very strong at the finish at Epsom after not having the speed to take gaps at a crucial stage and he should be too strong here for Colen Keane and Ralph Beckett. Keane is a class act but I’m gutted Rob Hornby – Westover’s regular partner – has been taken off the horse. He deserved this huge chance.

Mick Fitzgerald: This will be a tough one to take for Rob Hornby. He is replaced on WESTOVER by Colin Keane after an unlucky run through in the Derby. The experience of the three-time Irish champion is the reason behind the switch. It’s a tough call but when you engage a local rider in a big race the other jockeys are definitely easier on a local rider than they would be on an outsider coming in. It is a tough school riding in Ireland and Colin has won three championships because he knows the way it works over there. Westover was flying at the finish of the Derby and he was a little unlucky but Desert Crown was a good winner. When you see Westover in the flesh he is bound to have improved for the experience of the Derby and ground conditions will not be a problem for him. Tuesday was supplemented for this contest and is the danger. She won a great battle with Emily Upjohn for the Oaks but the Gosdens’ filly was unlucky. She is rock solid and is trying to do what mighty mare Balanchine did.

Timeform: While it would be pushing it to suggest WESTOVER was unlucky not to win at Epsom he would have been a clear second but for meeting trouble over 2f out and can prevent Oaks-heroine Tuesday becoming the first filly to win this since Balanchine in 1994. Lionel looks best of the remainder.

Ruby Walsh: Tuesday and Westover are at the top of the betting but I’m going with LIONEL for David Menuisier and Jamie Spencer. He was really good on his last start at Goodwood and he impressed at Newbury before that. I feel sorry for the Curragh that they haven’t got the top horses in this race to sell it.

Jason Weaver: WESTOVER was unlucky in the Derby and with a clear run he surely would’ve gone very close. They have a switch in rider for the local champion Colin Keane too. He did get a little warm in the preliminaries at Epsom so keep a close eye on him in the build up but surely he’s going to prove too good and can gallop these into submission.

*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change

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