WINGS Of Eagles, Cracksman and Waldgeist dominate the betting for next Saturday’s Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby.

Aidan O’Brien has confirmed that the Epsom winner Wings Of Eagles will lead his Curragh squad. Speaking from Royal Ascot, the trainer said: “At the moment it is so far so good with Wings Of Eagles and the plan would be to bring him back to the Curragh and go for the Irish Derby with him.

“We’ve been happy with him since Epsom and we are looking forward to the race. We have other horses in the race and we’ll take a look at it closer to the weekend.”

Epsom runner-up Cliffs Of Moher is also trained by O’Brien but is thought more likely to wait for the Eclipse Stakes at Sandown a week later.

The Derby form continues to be franked – Benbatl and Permian won at Royal Ascot this week – and Epsom third Cracksman will have plenty of supporters at the Curragh.

Trained by John Gosden, the Frankel colt was having just his third lifetime start at Epsom and hit the front briefly over a furlong out. However, Cracksman was withdrawn from the Dante due to soft ground and there is an unsettled forecast for the first half of next week.

Waldgeist, the French Derby runner-up, has been ear-marked for the Irish Derby all season. Trained by Andre Fabre, the Galileo colt has a similar profile to Hurricane Run, who won the Irish Derby in 2005.

Like Hurricane Run, Waldgeist races in the colours of Dietrich von Boetticher’s Gestut Ammerland and is part-owned by Coolmore. The horse was beaten by only a short-head by Brametot in the 10 and a half-furlong Prix du Jockey Club and is expected to be better suited by the longer distance at the Curragh.

RAILWAY STAKES

Beckford, Commander Grigio and De Bruyne Horse are expected runners in the Group 2 Gain Railway Stakes on the same card.

Gordon Elliott trains auction maiden winner Beckford, who has been sold by Nick Bradley Racing to Newtown Anner Stud. The trainer reported: “He was our first two-year-old runner, so we went to the Curragh a bit in the dark but Declan [McDonagh] was happy with him and he did it well the first day.

“He is a course and distance winner, so we know he handles the place, but it’s a Group 2 and a step up in class for him. I’m sure it’ll be a good race.”

Eighth in this week’s Coventry Stakes, the Richard Hannon-trained De Bruyne Horse is understood to be on track for the Curragh. The Showcasing colt is part-owned by Middleham Park Racing, who won the Railway in 2014 with Kool Kompany following an unplaced Coventry run.

Commander Grigio was an impressive Curragh maiden winner for trainer Fozzy Stack on Guineas weekend.

GATSBY DEBUT

Multiple Group 1 winner The Grey Gatsby could make his debut for trainer Dermot Weld in the International Stakes. Formerly trained by Kevin Ryan, the six-year-old has been off the track since finishing fifth in the Champion Stakes at Ascot last October.

Weld said: “I feel the International would be a nice starting point for us to learn about the horse. He’s had a lot of hard races and I’m looking forward to getting him started.”

Sunday’s feature race is the Group 1 Pretty Polly Stakes and the supporting card includes the €100,000 Rockingham Handicap. That five-furlong handicap is the target for last year’s winner Sors and recent listed winner Hit The Bid.

Andy Slattery, trainer of Sors, said: “This has been his aim all year we hope we get a good draw. Killian Leonard rides him again.”

Darren Bunyan, trainer of Hit The Bid, said: “It is a very, very nice pot and it would be hard not to go there if the ground was good or faster. He is very fresh and well in himself since Sunday and we know he acts at the Curragh.”

IRISH DERBY

Current betting: 5/2 Cracksman, Wings Of Eagles, 4 Waldgeist, 7 Cliffs Of Moher, 12 bar.