No Minding but O'Brien relies on three in Curragh Group 1

Tattersalls Gold Cup (Group 1) | 1m2½f | 4yo+ | ATR & RTE

The prospects of going toe-to-toe with Minding may well have scared off a number of potential challengers for this year’s Tattersalls Gold Cup.

Aidan O’Brien’s multiple Group 1-winning star was an intended runner but was ruled out on Friday with a setback.

Ballydoyle instead rely on Deauville, Somehow and Johannes Vermeer, all of whom would struggle to cope with Minding but in what looks an open renewal they each have claims.

Deauville was just shading Godolphin's Moonlight Magic for favouritism on Saturday off the back of winning the Huxley Stakes at Chester last time, while the busy Somehow – for whom this will be a fifth race since the end of March – found the Lockinge a bit too hot last weekend, finishing fourth.

Johannes Vermeer was last of four behind Minding in the Mooresbridge on his seasonal reappearance at the start of the month.

With a rating of 116, the Jim Bolger-trained Moonlight Magic sets the standard. He showed great promise in the early parts of his career, and after a largely disappointing three-year-old campaign followed home Minding in a Group 2 at Naas earlier this month.

One man who will not want the rain to stop is Ken Condon as his Success Days loves soft ground and has the ability to run a big race when conditions are in his favour.

Easier pickings

The average winner’s rating for this race in the past decade has been 121. Noble Mission (2014), Al Kazeem (2013) and Casual Conquest (2009) all managed to win with a rating of 117 and are the joint lowest-rated winners in that time. No horse has a rating as high as 117 this year, and that speaks volumes.

What they say

Aidan O’Brien, trainer of Deauville, Somehow and Johannes Vermeer
We had a rethink about running plans when Minding was ruled out and decided to run three. Deauville came out of his Chester win well and has been in good form since. If the ground doesn't change too much he should be fine. Somehow has been busy and it's only eight days since she ran fourth in the Lockinge. She came out of Newbury very well so we decided to give her a shot at a Group 1. We think the longer trip will suit her. Johannes Vermeer has done little racing since his Group 1 win in France as a two-year-old and missed most of last season. We think he has come forward since his run behind Minding at Naas a few weeks ago.

Roger Charlton, trainer of Decorated Knight
It's been lashing with rain and ideally he wants fast ground and a fast pace. I hope he has a crack of getting in the first three; Minding out of the way opens it up a bit.

Ken Condon, trainer of Success Days
Ratings would suggest there's not a lot between the top horses and I'm hoping he can run well. The softer the ground the better his chance. I am very happy with him.