Bolshoi to give O'Brien record 9th Epsom victory

Aidan O’Brien’s remarkable record in the Epsom Derby is set to be further enhanced on Saturday when the master of Ballydoyle saddles the hot-favourite Bolshoi Ballet.

This son of Galileo has been most impressive in his two prep runs this season with smooth victories in the P W McGrath Memorial Ballysax Stakes in April and the Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial Stakes last month.

The latter performance when Bolshoi Ballet routed the opposition by six lengths in the Leopardstown Derby Trial saw his odds contract and he is currently on offer at 11/10 with William Hill.

Rider Ryan Moore was particularly impressed with the colt’s performance at Leopardstown, saying on the day: "He's a very professional horse and he was always travelling beautifully through the race. He was very smooth.

"He ticks a lot of boxes and every run in his career he has improved from. He's in a good place. It was a proper test today and that will stand him in good stead.

"It's very windy and inexperienced horses are getting knocked around. He has a super attitude and is a straightforward horse."

If Bolshoi Ballet manages to win at Epsom it will be a record ninth victory in the Classic for Aidan O’Brien and the second occasion when he has trained three winners of the historic race in a row.

This is the first time since 2004 that O’Brien has relied on a sole representative in the one mile four furlong Classic.

Jim Bolger, is having a vintage season even by his own high standards and has definite chances of landing a third Classic of the season with Mac Swiney.

Mac Swiney held off the challenge of stablemate Poetic Flare in determined fashion in the Irish 2000 Guineas at the Curragh last time out.

Bolger, who famously landed the Epsom Showpiece with New Approach in 2008, has always felt that Mac Swiney will be suited by the unique test of the Epsom track and the home-bred colt certainly has the look of a horse that will improve for this step up in distance.

Rory Cleary said after winning the Irish 2000 Guineas on Mac Swiney: “The further we went, the better he was going under me, and he stayed at it so well. I think the ground, with it being a bit on the wet side, his stamina really came into play.”

William Hill go 7/1 about the Irish 2000 Guineas winner landing the biggest prize of them all at Epsom on Saturday at 4.30pm.

Frankie Dettori has been booked to ride the leading English-trained contender John Leeper. The son of Frankel looked far from the finished article when landing a Newmarket Listed contest last month. He is currently second favourite with William Hill at 13/2 to give the Italian rider a third victory in the race following his wins on Authorized (2007) and Golden Horn (2015).

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