O'Brien family make up all the numbers in sizzling St Leger Trial

6.15 Curragh
Comer Group International Irish St Leger Trial Stakes | 1m6f | Group 3 | 3yo+ | RTV

Now this is what you call keeping it in the family. A Group 3, worth €100,000 in prize-money, and only the O'Briens are involved. Joseph is responsible for two thirds of the field and his father, Aidan, has the remaining third.

This is officially a trial for the Irish St Leger and it has done exactly what it has said on the tin in recent years with three of the last four winners going on to win the real thing the following month – Order Of St George [2015, 2017] and Flag Of Honour [2018].

You would not bet against this year's winner repeating the feat on the big stage during Irish Champions Weekend as three of the six runners are rated 112 or higher.

Master Of Reality comes into the race on the back of a terrific third to Stradivarius in the Gold Cup at Ascot, while the fact Donnacha O'Brien is on the hat-trick-seeking Downdraft speaks volumes.

Joseph O'Brien said of his runners: "Downdraft is improving all the time and this is the next step up the ladder. I wouldn't want the ground to get too soft for him. Master Of Reality ran really well at Ascot and stepped up hugely on what he had shown previously. He's done well since and is in good form.

Master Of Reality (navy silks, white cap) fends off the reopposing Southern France in the Vintage Crop StakesCredit: Caroline Norris

"Eminent Authority ran a nice race at Ascot but just met traffic in running so was a bit unlucky, while it would be great if Cimeara could pick up a bit of black type."

It is rare Aidan O'Brien is outnumbered in Pattern races but he still has two solid chances in the shape of Capri and Southern France.

The form of the 2017 St Leger isn't working out too badly, is it? That was the edition in which Capri bravely saw off the attentions of Crystal Ocean and Stradivarius. Should he return to that form, he would be a tough nut to crack but Ryan Moore is on stablemate Southern France.

"Capri is in good form and ran well for a long way at Ascot, while Southern France seems in good form since Goodwood too," O'Brien snr said. "They are two nice stayers."

This has been a terrific race for favourites in recent years with the last five market leaders all obliging. All five were trained by Aidan O'Brien.

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