Irish Derby Festival: Harzand to deliver double capture in featured Curragh contest

David Metcalf | June 24, 2016

Harzand hard to oppose in Irish Derby

Investec Derby hero Harzand looks a worthy favourite to land the Irish equivalent at The Curragh in the centrepiece of the Festival there on Saturday (17:20).

Trained by Dermot Weld, the three-year-old made it three out of three this season when beating US Army Ranger by 1 1/2 lengths at Epsom earlier in the month.

After being held-up in mid division by Pat Smullen, Harzand made stealthy headway three from home to take up the running a furlong out.

Form looks solid

The son of Sea The Stars then dug deep and found plenty when pressed by the eventual runner-up to win going away at the line.

It was a most taking display, and Harzand has nothing to fear with the re-opposing Idaho who finished a further 1 1/4 lengths behind in third.

The front three also pulled five lengths clear of the field to give the form a solid look so, providing this race doesn’t come too quick, the Irish Derby looks Harzand’s for the taking.

Moonlight Magic capable of bouncing back

Moonlight Magic finished tailed-off last at Epsom but didn’t seem to handle the track and ran too bad to be true.