THE DUBAI Duty Free Irish Derby looks set to have an odds-on favourite for the 12th time since 2001 in a fortnight’s time.

News this week that Epsom winner Masar is to bypass the Curragh in favour of the Eclipse Stakes has seen 2000 Guineas winner and Epsom fourth Saxon Warrior promoted to clear favouritism at around 1/2 in most lists.

His trainer Aidan O’Brien has won the Irish Derby 12 times, five of them starting at odds-on. Only once (Ruler Of The World, fifth in 2013) has he been beaten when saddling the favourite at less than even-money.

Speaking at Leopardstown on Thursday evening, O’Brien said: “We were very happy with Saxon Warrior’s run in the Epsom Derby. He never ran on a track like Epsom before and when he turned to come down the hill he was a little bit at sea. But he has come out of the race well and we are very happy with him since.”

The trainer believes that Saxon Warrior stays a mile and a half though the Curragh will be the real test. “Epsom was the first time for him to step beyond a mile but we were very happy that he kept coming at the end. Whether that was courage that made him keep going we’ll find out at the Curragh. We always thought last year that he would be a middle-distance horse yet what he did in the Guineas was very impressive. It’ll be interesting and we’ll learn an awful lot about him.”

SUPPLEMENTARY FEE

Epsom runner-up Dee Ex Bee is set to be supplemented for the race at a cost of €100,000. The Mark Johnston-trained colt carries the colours of Sheikh Mohammed’s son, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum.

Charlie Johnston, assistant to his father, said: “Jono Mills (Godolphin bloodstock manager) has been up to the yard this morning and I think if Masar is going to the Eclipse, that would make Ireland a strong favourite for Dee Ex Bee. He is in great order and we could even have gone to Royal Ascot as he came out that race (Derby) that well. The Irish Derby and the Grand Prix de Paris were the two options on the table and, if Masar is skipping Ireland, it makes us more likely to go there.”

Mick Halford is dreaming of a first Irish Derby winner with just his second-ever runner in the race.

Halford will be represented in the €1.5 million race by the improving Platinum Warrior.

The Zhang Yuesheng-owned son of Galileo was victorious at the Curragh on Guineas weekend in the Group 3 Airlie Stud Gallinule Stakes and therefore qualifies for free entry for the Irish Derby.

Halford said; “We are delighted with him and he’s a horse that is getting better with racing. Physically he is strengthening all the time and a mile and a half might bring more improvement from him.

“Shane (Foley) said that he came to win his race (Gallinule Stakes) at the Curragh and he just took off a bit to his left but I think that is a sign that there was plenty more in the tank. I think he was just idling but he’ll have plenty to follow in the Irish Derby so it wouldn’t worry me unduly.

“Shane sat on him Thursday morning at the Curragh and he thought he felt terrific and has come forward from his run.”

Platinum Warrior provided Halford with his 1,000th winner as a trainer when winning the Gallinule Stakes and the runner-up, Latrobe, has since booked his place in the Derby for Joseph O’Brien and Australian Lloyd Williams by winning at the Curragh last weekend.

Halford said of Platinum Warrior: “He has got a good profile, he is a horse going forward and we think the step up in trip could bring about more improvement. It’s all about on the day. He loves the track and he’s entitled to be there. We are looking forward to running him.

“He’s a horse with a good temperament and he has a good routine at home and we’ll just treat it like any other race.” In the initial aftermath of the Derby at Epsom, trainer Charlie Appleby hinted that the Irish Derby was the likely target for Masar but connections have had a change of heart.

Appleby reported this week that the Godolphin colt will drop back to 10 furlongs for the Eclipse at Sandown on July 7th. The son of New Approach won at the track as a juvenile and will be supplemented for next month’s race.

“Sheikh Mohammed and I discussed Masar’s programme at length and have reached the conclusion that the Eclipse will suit him best,” Appleby said. We will leave him in the Irish Derby, just to keep all options open. But the intention is to run in the Eclipse.

“Masar has won at Sandown (the Solario Stakes), showing that he acts well on the track and dropping back in trip will be no problem; he won the Craven Stakes and finished third in the 2000 Guineas. He’s got plenty of speed.”