WHITE ON TIME
Arrival of rain & heavy ground suits Murphy-trained grey
THE John Murphy-trained White Birch, third to Auguste Rodin in the Betfred Derby in Epsom last June, sets the standard in today’s Curragh feature, the Group 3 Tote.ie Alleged Stakes, if today’s action survives an inspection.
The towering grey has coped with all sorts of ground conditions, recording his maiden success on Dundalk’s polytrack before winning the Ballysax at Leopardstown in heavy ground last April, when getting up late to beat Up And Under.
He then handled good to firm when beaten a neck by The Foxes in the Dante at York before taking his chance in the Epsom Derby.
There, having lost ground at the start, White Birch was doing his best work in the closing stages, staying on to fill third spot, beaten over five lengths behind Auguste Rodin and King Of Steel without threatening the dominant duo.
Strongly-fancied for the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby on the strength of that Epsom effort, John Murphy’s charge was struggling when hampered turning for home and trailed in last of the eight finishers.
We only saw White Birch once more last season, when he finished a close fourth behind Adelaide River in a Group 3 at Leopardstown, a half-length behind Layfayette and ahead of Mashhoor, who reoppose today.
Although worse off at the weights with Layfayette, winner of this event in 2022, White Birch might have improved sufficiently from three to four to land the spoils here before stepping-up in trip and class.
Aidan O’brien relies on Greenland while arguably the most interesting runner is Crypto Force, now trained by Adrian Murray and having his first outings since winning the 2022 Beresford when trained by Michael O’callaghan.
Today’s card includes four maidens in which the ability to handle the testing ground conditions will prove crucial.
The Joseph
O’brien (inset) trained Evening Blossom, a daughter of Australia, makes plenty of appeal in the Irish EBF Spring Series Median Auction Fillies Maiden.
This filly made an encouraging debut when third to Porters Place in a seven-furlong Curragh maiden in October from which four winners have emerged.
Evening Blossom looks a promising middle-distance prospect and should take plenty of beating here.
Winner of the race in 2022, Stag Night bids to follow-up last week’s Cork success (five furlongs) in the Tote Never Beaten By SP Handicap.
The gelding’s three previous wins have come over today’s trip, six furlongs. And, with Danny Power again claiming 10lb, having ridden his first winner on the six-year-old last week, he should prove a tough nut to crack.
Two Stars, beaten a neck by the selection in Cork, is 2lb better off and is an obvious threat, along with Laugh A Minute.