Irish Derby preview: It's odds on with the bookmakers that the French will emerge victorious in tomorrow's Budweiser Irish Derby but a general 5 to 1 looks a much more attractive bet about Best Name becoming the Gallic successor to Hurricane Run in Ireland's most valuable race.
Normally paying attention to race records is little more than a nostalgic exercise but that may not be the case at the Curragh this time. In fact the Derby's roll of honour looks to provide a significant hint.
Admittedly it's not immediately obvious since of the three French-trained colts taking on a trio from Britain, and a triple-handed assault from Ballydoyle, only Best Name cannot boast a Derby victory to his name already.
Instead it will be the Prix du Jockey Club winner Darsi who will attempt to become the first since Montjeu seven years ago to complete the French-Irish Derby double while the other 100,000 supplementary entry Gentlewave will try and break new ground by adding to May's Derby Italiano success.
Since four French horses have been successful in the €1.5 million Curragh feature since 1995, the depth of the attack is significant especially since both Montjeu and Dream Well (1998) completed the double.
But the Derby challenges at Chantilly and the Curragh are now very different beasts and when it comes to the history books it looks like last year's race is the vital indicator.
That conclusive victory for Hurricane Run came on the back of his unlucky second in the French Derby which was being run for the first time over 10 furlongs. The extra quarter mile was enough for Hurricane Run to turn into a world champion and it won't be the biggest surprise in the world if Best Name also shows significant improvement for the new trip.
Just three parts of a length separated Darsi at Chantilly, and even allowing for Christophe Soumillon losing his whip on the winner, it was impossible not to notice how the runner-up came from nearly last on the turn in to finish best of all.
Darsi had already won over 13 furlongs before that, and his apparent new found speed was impressive, but for a colt having just his third start, it was easy to side with Best Name's trainer Robert Collet who has always insisted his colt is "an outstanding prospect".
Gentlewave's only career blot to date was due to another example of Soumillon losing his whip in the Hocquart last April.
His win in Rome was impressive but it doesn't banish the nagging worry about him needing softer ground than is likely at the Curragh.
Dragon Dancer is not in love with fast ground either and still has to win his first contest while Dylan Thomas looked to have the run of the race at Epsom.
Both Best Alibi and Mountain are held on the form anyway although the latter could run well at a big each way price. But whether that's up to beating Best Name et al is debatable.
1 - Best Name. 2 - Darsi. 3 - Mountain.
