Support comes for Matsuri but Ambiente Friendly and Los Angeles joint-favourites for Classic glory

Matsuri is being backed to enhance the recent record of British-trained runners in the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby (4.05) and give Roger Varian his first success in the Curragh Classic.

The son of Sea The Stars has raced only three times, with the highest class he has contested coming in novice company, but he has been popular with punters and is now 13-2, having been an 8-1 chance in the morning.

Varian earmarked a crack at the Irish Derby following an impressive eight-length romp at Leicester last time and he bids to give Britain a third Irish Derby win in the last four runnings.

William Hill's Lee Phelps said: "The Irish Derby narrative has been focused firmly on Ambiente Friendly and Los Angeles as they renew their rivalry following their second and third at Epsom, and it’s the James Fanshawe-trained runner who is the worst result on our book.

“However, Roger Varian’s Matsuri could be the fly in the ointment for the well-fancied duo, as he has been well supported throughout the morning and is now 13-2 having opened at 8-1."

Nothing can separate Ambiente Friendly and Los Angeles at the head of the market, with the pair joint-favourites.

The duo finished second and third in the Betfred Derby behind City Of Troy this month and face off again at the County Kildare track. Ambiente Friendly had been the clear market leader through the week, but the Aidan O'Brien-trained Los Angeles has been popular with punters since declarations were made.

He bids to give O'Brien his fourth Irish Derby success in the last six years, while Ambiente Friendly represents Newmarket trainer James Fanshawe. Two of the last three Irish Derbys have been won by British-trained runners.

Ambiente Friendly will once again be partnered by Robert Havlin, who rode him when a two-and-three-quarter-length runner-up at Epsom.

Updated at 2.00pm

Going update: mainly yielding at the Curragh

The going is mainly yielding at the Curragh and a dry day is forecast at the Kildare track.

Rain during racing yesterday saw the ground eased to yielding to soft, but conditions have improved slightly ahead of Sunday's nine-race card, with the Dubai Duty Free-backed Irish Derby the feature at 4.05.

Clerk of the course Brendan Sheridan said: "We have eight yards of fresh ground and it's yielding, good in places on there, but yielding on what we've raced on for the past two days.

"The rain hung over us a little bit longer yesterday and we got 12mm. It's a dry day with a chance of a passing shower. We're looking forward to today's racing and we're in a good place."

Posted at 8.35am

Non-runners:

1.40: 4. Red Evolution (Going)
2.15: 2. Dandyville (lame)
5.50: 9. Cellach (Going change)

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2.50 Curragh: will the British form come to the fore in ultra-competitive €100,000 Rockingham Handicap?     

4.05 Curragh: 'The track should be perfect' - analysis and key quotes as Epsom second and third clash again in Irish Derby     

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