O'Brien sends three to Down Royal in bid for first Ulster Derby success

3.25 Down Royal

Magners Ulster Derby (Premier Handicap) | 3yo | 1m4f | RTV

Joseph O'Brien sends a team of three, including two last-time-out winners, to Down Royal for Northern Ireland's richest Flat race, with €59,000 on offer to the winner.

The trio is made up of King's Vow, an easy winner over a slightly shorter trip at Leopardstown last month and now racing off an 11lb higher mark, hat-trick-seeker A Wave Of The Sea and Millswyn, who has been gelded since his reappearance at Naas last month.

O'Brien, who is seeking a first win in the contest, said: "King's Vow is in good shape. He's progressive and the distance should suit him well.

"A Wave Of The Sea won over the course last time. He will be going the distance for the first time and is in good form. Millswyn was disappointing at Naas and we're hoping he'll improve on that run."

When the Noel Meade-trained Dadoozdart won over 1m2f at Naas last month he had South Pacific, winner of the King George V Stakes at Royal Ascot on Thursday, two lengths behind in second.

Meade said: "Dadoozdart is in good form. This will be a stiffer test for him over a new trip and the easier the ground is the more it will suit him."

Jim Bolger: wonderful record in the Ulster DerbyCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Jim Bolger has an excellent record in the race having sent out the last three winners and seven in total since 1990. This year the trainer will be represented by the Godolphin-owned Halimi, who has been second on his last two starts and makes his handicap debut.

Docklands Limo was the last British-trained winner in 1997 and on Saturday three attempt to break that 23-year drought. The Ralph Beckett-trained Future Investment, winner of his last two starts, and his fellow handicap debutants Hiroshima, who ran in the Investec Derby, and Kashagan, trained by Archie Watson, all travel across the Irish Sea.

Heading the weights is the Ger Lyons-trained Zander, who is blinkered for the first time for this step up in trip.

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