Classic clues on offer as Aidan O'Brien bids for Beresford win number 19

Beresford Stakes (Group 2) | 1m, 2yo | RTV

Perhaps we’ll look back on this race in the years to come and say we saw a future star in the making. It’s happened plenty of times in the past.

In fact, few juvenile races have a more illustrious roll of honour. The most famous Beresford winner is Nijinsky in 1969.

Sadler's Wells, another legend of the turf, was successful for Vincent O'Brien in 1983 while modern day superstar Sea The Stars secured victory in 2008 for John Oxx before becoming a champion at three.

Big reputations have been forged and others destroyed in one of the last key races in the juvenile programmes in Ireland.

There may only be five colts for this year’s running, and only a handful of those hold realistic claims, but past performances suggest we could see the coronation of a new king in the making.

It usually takes something brilliant to bag the Beresford. Speaking of which, Aidan O'Brien's record in the race is just that. Brilliant. An amazing 18 Beresfords have gone the way of O'Brien, including the last eight.

Among them, St Nicholas Abbey (2009), Saxon Warrior (2017) and last year's hero Japan stand proud.

Bidding to make it win number 19, O’Brien saddles Innisfree following the withdrawal of Cormorant and Royal County Down.

Innisfree (right): “We've been delighted with him,' said Aidan O'BrienCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Speaking about Innisfree, O’Brien said: "We've been delighted with Innisfree. He's had two runs, and won the second time at Galway, but we've always thought that he'd stay further than seven [furlongs]."

Among O'Brien's dangers is the Ger Lyons-trained Camorra, who rates as an interesting challenger given he arrives off the back of a debut win at Killarney and therefore has an unblemished CV.

Meanwhile, Dermot Weld's Shekhem, who likely favourite Innisfree got the better of at Galway, reopposes.

The field is completed by Jessica Harrington's Gold Maze and the Andy Oliver-trained Silvertown.

What they say

Dermot Weld, trainer of Shekhem
Maybe we're being ambitious but he's been very consistent and it's a good opportunity for him to get some black-type.

Andy Oliver, trainer of Silvertown
We made a preliminary entry and when we saw there weren't many declared we said we'd take our chance. He's a horse we've always liked and is sure to improve with age.

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