THE epic conclusion to last week’s Derby at Epsom, where just over half a length covered the first five home, will surely pave the way for an intriguing edition of the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby at the Curragh later this month.

Aidan O’Brien has already indicated that the Curragh classic will be next for the Epsom hero Anthony Van Dyck and presumably several of his stablemates who fought out the finish at Epsom could also turn out again.

The Irish Derby is also among the options open to the Derby runner-up Madhmoon.

Thus we have a situation where four or even five of the first six home from Epsom could line up at the Curragh which is just the sort of scenario that one would hope for every year.

Over the course of the various Derby trials and the race itself, it became apparent that there is a scarcely credible dearth of middle-distance talent in Britain. Indeed there is more than enough evidence to indicate that the lead-up to the Irish Derby shouldn’t focus on a lack of participation from across the Irish Sea.

English-trained colts

The victories of Bangkok and Telecaster were the only successes for English-trained colts in the recognised key Derby trials. That pair filled the last two placings at Epsom and, while this is no way a reflection of their abilities, it is hardly the springboard to an Irish Derby assault where they would be tasked with tackling virtually all of the leading lights at Epsom.

The highest placed colt from the home team last weekend was the 33/1 shot Humanitarian who ran a perfectly solid race to finish seventh as he stepped up from a Salisbury novice event.

The point of all this is to highlight the fact that any reference to a lack of English participation in the Irish Derby simply ignores the reality of the middle-distance three-year-old division in 2019.

Whether there will be any French participation remains to seen, but the shortening in distance of the Prix du Jockey Club coupled with the reinvigoration of the Grand Prix de Paris means that runners from that jurisdiction are likely to stay close to home.

However, it should be pointed out that there is quite an extensive and comprehensive programme of qualifying races for the Irish Derby.

The first four home in the Irish 2000 Guineas, the Derby and the Prix du Jockey Club are all entitled to free entry into the race. There are a further 10 races (six of which are split between England, France and Italy) which offer free entry to the winner of those contests.

In addition, the UAE Derby, the Derrinstown Derby Trial, the Dante Stakes and the Prix Greffuhle are also part of the scheme with the winners of those races being given free entry up to the second entry stage of the Irish Derby.

Irish Derby entry

So in all there are 17 races across Europe and beyond which offer a means of gaining entry to the Irish Derby.

This is quite an extensive roster of qualifying races and it couldn’t be disputed that every effort is being made to lure a top-class field to the Curragh in late June.

At this stage the indicators would point to the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby being a domestic affair, but if the first five or six home from Epsom were to turn up at the Curragh the potential is there for an excellent edition of the race.

International participation is always welcome but the recent weeks have offered compelling evidence as to where the all the best three-year-old middle-distance colts hail from.

Just because a race might be an all domestic affair isn’t necessarily a negative and might rather be a product of circumstance.