O'Brien: Churchill and Cliffs Of Moher have much more to offer

Aidan O'Brien is excited about the prospect of Churchill going beyond a mile for the first time in the Juddmonte International at York on Wednesday and believes he has the speed, tenacity and toughness to do himself justice over the new trip.

O'Brien has won the Juddmonte five times, most recently with Australia in 2014, and feels that both Churchill and Cliffs Of Moher are unexposed over a mile and a quarter and could have lots more to offer over the trip.

Ryan Moore has stayed loyal to dual Guineas winner Churchill, and O'Brien is willing to forgive his lacklustre effort in the St James's Palace at Royal Ascot, in which he failed to go through the gears and trailed home four and a half lengths behind Barney Roy, who reopposes at York.

"You can put a line through his run at Royal Ascot and we've been looking forward to this day for a while," said O'Brien on Monday about Churchill, who is a top-priced 3-1, behind Barney Roy at 11-4.

"His running style suggests he'll have no problem over a mile and a quarter and he has certainly not been wilting at the end of his races over a mile. He's been hitting the line hard.

"He's not soft and that toughness he shows at the end of his races will be a big asset over this trip. He's very relaxed in his races too and I'm looking forward to seeing how he gets on. He has so much speed, too.

"In an ideal world we would have liked a run between Royal Ascot and now but we felt running him in the Sussex on that ground was the wrong thing to do."

Cliffs Of Moher: 'Very lucky not to fall at Sandown,' says Aidan O'BrienCredit: Alain Barr

Cliffs Of Moher is the second string from Ballydoyle, according to jockey bookings, with supersub Seamie Heffernan coming in for the ride, but O'Brien warned not to underestimate the Derby runner-up.

"Cliffs Of Moher was very lucky not to fall at Sandown. It was a very severe piece of interference and Ryan [Moore] was delighted with the way he picked up after it.

"We obviously didn't see the best of him there and he's been in very good form of late. He's a very good colt and showed that in the Derby," O'Brien said.

Heffernan is delighted to pick up the scraps that Moore has left behind in the Juddmonte and expects a bold showing from Cliffs Of Moher.

Heffernan said: "Cliffs Of Moher looks great and has been working very well. He showed a lot of pace as a two-year-old and I think the trip will suit him. He was trained for the Derby and was only collared very late in that. He has lots of pace and we know he stays.

"He's a great ride to get. I've no doubt Churchill will stay the trip too and they're two very, very nice colts."

The stellar field of seven also includes Ulysses and Barney Roy, who were embroiled in an epic battle in the Coral-Eclipse at Sandown last month, and James Doyle is convinced York will suit the Godolphin colt much better than Sandown.

Doyle said: "He ran a fantastic race but my worry beforehand – him being an inexperienced horse on that track – was probably about right. Sandown is a very tough track, especially against older horses. York will be much more to his liking and you'll see a better performance from him."

Richard Hannon hailed Barney Roy as "probably the best" he has had, but stressed he will never win by a wide margin and will leave punters on the edge of their seats.

"He's probably the best I've trained. He hit a few of the undulations at Newmarket and Sandown. I think York will suit him immensely because it’s flat and will give him plenty of time to get going with his long stride.

"I’d love it if he was the type to go and win by four lengths but he’s not that sort of guy. He always makes it look like he’s struggling but the quicker they go, the quicker he goes. He keeps finding," Hannon said.

The line-up is completed by Decorated Knight, My Dream Boat and the sole filly, Shutter Speed.

Who would you ride?

Chris Hayes
It's incredibly tricky but, if you put a gun to my head I'd go for Barney Roy. He was only beaten a nose in the Eclipse and I'd say York will suit him much better than Sandown. I do think Churchill will stay, but he's on a retrieval mission.

Shane Foley
If Churchill came back to his best he'd take some stopping but I'd love a spin on Ulysses over 1m2f. I don't think he quite got home in the King George but he travelled into the race really sweetly. Stoute's horses are flying and he'd be my pick.

Declan McDonogh
I'd love to ride Barney Roy. He'd have got up in one more stride in the Eclipse and surely York will play more to his strengths. I think he's a lovely colt and will take some stopping. It's one hell of a race but he's my idea of the winner.