JOHN Oxx, trainer of Budweiser Irish Derby favourite Sinndar, will be three-handed in the big race at the Curragh on Sunday. “I will probably run two others in addition to Sinndar. I don’t know which ones yet. I have to discuss this with the Aga Khan,” said the Currabeg trainer who added that Sinndar is in great form following his Vodafone Derby victory. “Sinndar came out of Epsom well and is in good shape. He has cantered from last Tuesday onwards and we are very happy with him.”

Oxx’s decision increases the likelihood that the Budweiser Irish Derby field will reach at least eight runners, the minimum required for the million dollar bonus to be payable if either the Epsom of French Derby winners goes on to win the Irish Derby. Oxx has five left in the race: Sinndar, Ezbek, Korasoun, Raypour, and Takali; all five owned by the Aga Khan.

Michael Jarvis reports that Ela Athena who was second beaten only 1 1/4L by the brilliant Ramruma in last years Yorkshire Oaks, is an intended runner in the Group 2 Hunston Financial Pretty Polly Stakes on Saturday. She has only run once this season finishing behind Blueprint in the Jockey Club stakes.

Kevin Prendergast who won this contest last year with Polaire, will run the very consistent Yara. She was the best maiden in the country until she won at the Curragh this month and Prendergast indicated in a post race interview after that victory, that Yara is a better filly than Polaire and she has been placed in the best of company. Michael Grassick reports that Preseli is in great form and he expects a much improved effort from the filly who was in season when she finished unplaced behind Crimplene in the Group 1 Entenmann’s Irish 1,000 Guineas.

Lady in Waiting second in the corresponding race last year is also a possible contender from the Paul Cole stable in England. Aidan O’Brien has five fillies to choose from including Ameythyst and the well regarded Elegant As Always. Dermot Weld has the choice between Theoretically, Catherina and Tobaranama.

Most observers see Sunday’s big race as a match between Sinndar and Holding Court. However, it would be wise to consider the claims of the Ballydoyle pair as well, especially as Aristotle was clearly well below his best at Epsom.

Let’s look at the claims of the Derby principals: Sinndar....will try and become the first horse to win both the English and Irish Derby’s in the same year since Generous achieved the feat in 91, when he bids for the $1 million dollar bonus on offer at the Curragh in the Budweiser Irish Derby.

The colt ran out a very game winner of the Espom Derby and in the process became the first Curragh trained winner of the Epsom Derby since Santa Claus won in 1964.

Sinndar won both his two year old races at the Curragh last season culminating in a fine victory in the Aga Khan Studs National Stakes. His jockey John Murtagh never lost faith in Sinndar who he rated as ‘better than an each way chance’ at Epsom.

There were a few each way thieves on at 25/1 for the English Derby after his battling victory over Bach in the Derrinstown Derby Trial at Leopardstown, a race in which he had to carry his 71b Group 1 penalty. He showed terrific battling qualities that day and the step up to a mile and a half was always going to bring out the best in him.

Sinndar is not over big and is a handy horse who was well suited by the undulations of Epsom. He is a very versatile colt who seems to handle any conditions but is possibly best suited by an ease in the ground.

Regardless of what happens at the Curragh he is a very valuable stallion proposition and will probably join the Aga Khan’s growing band of quality stallions to stand at Giltown Stud. Indeed the last colt to win the Irish Derby for his Highness the Aga Khan–Kahyasi, is one of the resident stallions at Gilltown.

The Vodafone Derby victory was a fantastic achievement for trainer John Oxx. He took over the licence from his father John in 1978. He has enjoyed terrific success abroad with the brilliant filly Ridgewood Pearl who won the Breeders Cup, Coronation Stakes and the Irish 1,000 Guineas in 1995. He has won the Irish Oaks with Ebadaiya, 1997, and Winona, 1998, and the Irish St. Leger with Eurobird in 1987 and Petite Ile in 1989. He is very popular amongst his peers and public alike as is his stable jockey John Murtagh.

Murtagh was having his fourth ride at Epsom on Saturday, and he was very humble in interviews with the press after his moment of glory. He has been stable jockey to John Oxx since the late 1980’s and was champion apprentice in 1989 and champion jockey in 1995. He regained his title in 1987 and finished runner up to Mick Kinane last year.

He has with Oxx enjoyed big race winners at home and abroad in the 1990’s and his biggest win before Saturday would have been on Ridgewood Pearl in the Breeders Cup Mile in 1995.

Aristotle....a strong, good auctioned colt possibly best suited by an ease in the ground, who won with plenty in hand when he made a winning debut at Galway last year. Home bred by John Magnier, he was the stable outsider when ridden by George Duffield when he ran on well to score by 1 1/4L over stable companion Lermontov, in the Group 1 Racing Post Trophy at Doncaster 1 leaving the impression that he would make a smart middle distance performer this season.

He travelled to France in April, for the Group 2 Prix Greffulhe at Longchamp when he finished first past the post, beating Rhenium by two lengths, but the Stewards ruled that he hampered a rival and he was demoted to third place. Ran below par in the Epsom Derby finishing 10th, but he was eased by Michael Kinane when his chance was gone. Kinane remarked that “he never travelled” and if he lines up at the Curragh, a much improved performance is expected.

Glyndebourne–Developing into a smart colt and won his second race from three starts, when he ran out an impressive winner of the Group 3 Gallinule Stakes at the Curragh in early June.

A strong type who is well suited by an ease in the ground, he ran a race full of promise on his debut, when he chased home the smart Media Puzzle at Cork. He then won a fast run maiden at the Curragh when digging deep when challenged by Narrateur to run on well to beat that rival (who has since won) by 1 1/2L. If he runs, he could be a ‘dark horse’, as he is a rapidly improving sort who is effective at 10 and 12 furlongs. Aristotle and Glyndebourne are both trained by Aidan O’Brien. It’s remarkable to think that he is still only 30 years of age. He has been phenomenally successful since he took out a licence to train in 1993. Equally at home with training National Hunt horses he was champion trainer in that sphere for five years. Trained Istabraq to win three Champion Hurdles, the last of those victories was achieved in March and it is hoped he can gain his fourth successive victory next year.

O’Brien began to concentrate his efforts on the flat and in 1997 only three years after his move to Ballydoyle, made famous by the legendary Vincent O’Brien, he trained the winners of the Irish 1,000 (Classic Park), Irish 2,000 Guineas and Budweiser Irish Derby (Desert King).

He won the English 2,000 Guineas in 1998 with King of Kings, his first runner in an English classic and he won the English Oaks in the same year with Shahtoush.

42 year old Michael Kinane is generally regarded as one of the best flat jockeys in the world. He was champion apprentice in 1978 and champion jockey in Ireland no less than 11 times. Joined the Ballydoyle team in 1999 where more big race success seems inevitable, but he was very successful in the 1980’s and 90’s when stable jockey to Dermot Weld for whom he won any amount of big races including the Melbourne Cup on Vintage Crop in 1993 and the Irish 2,000 Guineas on Flash of Steel in 1986. He won the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe in 1989 on Carroll House and again in 1999 with a brilliant ride on Montjeu. Kinane, a former champion boxer, has won the English 2,000 Guineas on Entrepreneur in 1997 and the Epsom Derby on Commander in Chief in 1993. He has yet to win the Irish Derby but that’s one statistic he is determined to put right–sooner rather than later.

Holding Court....a remarkable horse who has shown dramatic improvement this season. Last year, he was beaten 15 1/2L in the Group 1 Racing Post Trophy by Aristotle at Doncaster after winning a maiden at Haydock in October on heavy ground in October.

Made his seasonal debut in April at Haydock when he won a 7 runner handicap by an easy 3 1/2L in heavy ground. He ran in a Group 3 event at Longchamp when he was bounced out by Olivier Preslier and none of his four rivals got in a serious blow when he made all and won eased at the finish to score by 3L.

Holding Court was supplemented at a coat of $25,000 to run in the Group 1 Prix du Jockey Club at Chantilly on May 18 and made the transition from Group 3 to Group 1 company look very easy when ridden into the ground to win by a remarkable 6L, with several Group performers well in behind.

He will be supplemented at a cost of $85,000 to make a bold bid for the £1 million dollar bonus on offer at the Curragh on July 2, when he lines up against Sinndar in what looks like being the best race of the year. The result will determine who will be the best middle distance 3yo colt this season.

Holding Court is a resolute galloper who will be well suited by the stiff galloping track at the Curragh. His jockey Philip Robinson has enjoyed a fantastic season, having won the Irish and German 1,000 Guineas on Crimplene. Prior to that, in 1993 he steered Bob’s Return to victory in the English St. Leger. He also won the English and Irish 1,000 Guineas in 1984 with Pebbles at Newmarket and Katies at the Curragh a few weeks later.