Aidan O'Brien double-handed in bid for fourth Caravaggio Stakes in a row

3.40 Tipperary
Coolmore Caravaggio Stakes (Listed) | 7½f, 2yo | RTV

Aidan O'Brien was out of luck in his bid for a 17th Keeneland Phoenix Stakes at the Curragh on Friday night but Sunday's Listed feature at Tipperary is another race in which the Ballydoyle handler has excelled.

O'Brien is double-handed as he aims for a fourth win in a row in the Coolmore Caravaggio Stakes, first run in 2003 as the El Gran Senor Stakes.

Interestingly, Donnacha O'Brien, who partnered both Ballydoyle runners – Harpocrates and Royal County Down – to victory on their most recent starts, now takes the ride on his brother Joseph's Vitalogy, an impressive winner on debut at Naas last month.

Joseph O'Brien said: "He was very good when winning on his first start and we think the step up in trip will suit him.

Vitalogy (nearest left) finished off strongly over 6f on debut to get the better of Harpocrates (centre), who finished thirdCredit: Patrick McCann

"The ground is a little bit of a worry but he seems in good shape and we're looking forward to it."

The going at Tipperary is already described as soft following 15mm of rain and heavy showers are forecast through Saturday before clearing on Sunday morning.

The pair which Donnacha O'Brien has passed over to ride in favour of Vitalogy arrive in fine form, with Harpocrates getting off the mark in decent style at Naas on Monday and Royal County Down fresh from landing a Down Royal maiden and Galway nursery.

Harpocrates, the mount of Seamie Heffernan, was previously third to Vitalogy in maiden company at Naas.

Ger Lyons and Colin Keane head to Tipperary on the back of Siskin's successful strike in the Phoenix Stakes and have a quality bullet to fire in the shape of Justifier, a smart Leopardstown maiden winner on debut in June.

Justifier (outside) created a good impression when winning at Leopardstown on debutCredit: Patrick McCann

The field is completed by Richard O'Brien's Killarney scorer Lougher, who is stepping down in trip, the Andrew Slattery-trained Rebel Tale, rated 85, and John Murphy's Cap D'antibes, a well-beaten third to Innisfree in a Galway maiden.

What they say

Richard O'Brien, trainer of Lougher
She's done well and won nicely at Killarney last time but this is obviously a step up in class. She's very well though and sneaking some black type is a lovely incentive to run here. While I don't think that she necessarily wants soft ground by any means, I have a feeling that she'll handle it and the fact that some of these won't should play to her strengths. Going up in trip in time won't be any problem to her.

Andrew Slattery, trainer of Rebel Tale
His attitude should stand him in good stead for this and I'm not too concerned about the ground, albeit he has an American pedigree. He worked particularly well on soft ground at the Curragh in March, he actually did his best piece of work on soft ground. We had a look at a winners' race recently for him but there didn't look to be a major difference in the sort of opposition we're facing here, so we'll let him take his chance.

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