Former Derby contender Innisfree set to return from 651-day absence on Friday

Innisfree is not a name you have heard in a while – the last time he was seen in action was November 2019 – but the one-time leading fancy for the 2020 Derby is set to return to action at the Curragh on Friday in the Group 3 Fitzdares Royal Whip Stakes.

Last seen chasing home Kameko in the Group 1 Vertem Futurity Trophy, which was redirected to Newcastle from a waterlogged Doncaster, Innisfree missed his entire Classic campaign through injury.

Despite the lengthy absence, Innisfree still holds some fancy entries this autumn. He is entered in the Irish Champion Stakes, the Arc and the Qipco Champion Stakes at Ascot and Aidan O'Brien is looking forward to seeing him back on a racecourse.

Innisfree and Shekhem battle it out in the Beresford StakesCredit: Patrick McCann

O'Brien said: "We're thinking of running Innisfree at the Curragh on Friday and it will be great to get him back. He's been off a long time.

"He got a little injury at the start of last season and then another niggly problem popped up just as he was getting ready to come back. He'll obviously be at a disadvantage given that he's been off for so long but we're looking forward to getting him started again."

Asked whether the brother to High Definition is still showing him all the right signs at home, O'Brien replied: "A lot of his work has been half-speed stuff and we've been building him up. Anything we have asked him to do he has done well and we're happy with him."

On potential targets, O'Brien said: "There are obviously a lot of races in the autumn which we will look at for him but it's a case of getting him started back at the Curragh on Friday first and seeing how he gets on. He's always been a lovely horse."

Watch: Innisfree finishing second to Kameko in the 2019 Vertem Futurity Trophy at Newcastle in 2019

Innisfree ran four times as a two-year-old in 2019. He chased home stablemate Year Of The Tiger at Naas on his debut before winning what is a traditionally hot Galway maiden later in July.

The son of Galileo justified odds-on favouritism to win the Group 2 Beresford Stakes on his third start before chasing home Kameko on the all-weather at Newcastle. He had Mogul (fourth) and Kinross (fifth) behind him that day.

Innisfree is a 33-1 shot for the Qipco Champion Stakes at Ascot in October.

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