Epsom Derby Festival: Top Irish horses to watch this weekend A big weekend lies ahead at Epsom as their Derby Festival brings forth the next pair of English Classics in the Derby and Oaks. There will be lots of Irish interest across the two days and we've picked out a quintet of horses heading to Epsom with success in their sights. Midnite Betting Offer If you already have a Midnite account, check out more of the best betting sites and casino bonuses Delacroix Aidan O'Brien is going for three successive wins in the Epsom Derby and his hand is strong, with star colts Delacroix and The Lion In Winter joining trial winners Puppet Master and Lambourn among his possible cast. Delacroix is 2-2 at Leopardstown this season and his form stands up to scrutiny. He has beaten plenty of good horses and deserves to head the Derby market, though all eyes will be watching his stablemate The Lion In Winter in the market after Auguste Rodin and City Of Troy both won this contest in recent times following poor reappearances. Al Riffa Joseph O'Brien rates Al Riffa a '50/50 chance' to line up in the Group 1 Coronation Cup on day one at Epsom on Friday. Winner of a Group 1 in Germany last summer, Al Riffa was held in the Prix Ganay at Longchamp on seasonal comeback in April sporting first-time blinkers and the trainer is targeting this race or the Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot. Wemightakedlongway One confirmed runner from his Piltown base is Wemightakedlongway in the Oaks. The daughter of Australia ran behind Delacroix in a strong race at Leopardstown on her comeback in March and has since stepped up on that to win the Group 3 Salsabil Stakes at Navan. She beat one of her potential Oaks rivals, Minnie Hauk, when winning her maiden at Cork last year by two-and-a-half lengths and Joseph O'Brien feels she merits a crack at the fillies' Classic. "Minnie Hauk was second to her in her maiden win and she is an impressive Oaks trial winner off the back of a good run against the boys, so if we decide to go there with her she is definitely a legitimate contender," he said. Jan Brueghel Questions may linger over Al Riffa but Jan Brueghel appears all set for the Coronation Cup and a clash with French ace Calandagan. The Ballydoyle inmate won all four starts last season including the St Leger at Doncaster and was second behind Galen in Group 3 company on his comeback in April. He could leave that well behind and the form looks reliable so Ryan Moore and Aidan O'Brien will fancy he can build on that now going back up in trip. Whirl Aidan O'Brien has won the Oaks seven times since 2012 and he has a strong contender now in Whirl, one of three possibles for the Ballydoyle chief alongside Giselle and Minnie Hauk. Giselle won Lingfield's Oaks Trial impressively last month, while Minnie Hauk finished strongly in bagging the Cheshire Oaks. Whirl was beaten over a mile on comeback at the Curragh in April in Group 3 company but has since bagged the Musidora Stakes at York by more than five lengths. Two of the last four Oaks winners won that key trial on the Knavesmire before heading to Epsom and this Wootton Bassett filly has the scope for further improvement now upped to the mile-and-a-half trip for the first time.
