O'Brien warns Luxembourg will 'improve plenty' for comeback run after injury

Saturday: 4.05 Curragh
Fitzdares Royal Whip Stakes (Group 3) | 1m2f | 3yo+ | RTV

Aidan O'Brien and the Ballydoyle team look to have identified an ideal landing spot for Luxembourg to get his promising career back on track with this Group 3 prize.

Given the immense promise last season's Vertem Futurity Trophy star showed when finishing third in the 2,000 Guineas on his 2022 comeback, it was disappointing to see him ruled out of a tilt at the Derby as 7-4 favourite.

A setback in his Epsom preparation linked to a muscular issue was said at the time to have required up to six weeks of box rest to allow the problem to heal, with connections eyeing an autumn campaign.

Luxembourg appears to have read that script just fine as he warms up at the Curragh for a crack at next month's Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes, potentially leading on to the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.

Luxembourg: a top-priced 5-1 for the Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes next monthCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Saturday's assignment is his first step on to greater targets, and he should take all the beating, even allowing for some rustiness.

An official mark of 117 for last season's runaway Beresford Stakes winner puts him 10lb clear of nearest-rated rivals Georgeville and Insinuendo. The mount of Ryan Moore receives 8lb and 5lb respectively from the pair through weight-for-age allowances, so he can afford to run below his best and still get the job done.

He is proven at the track and shapes as though the step up to 1m2f should eke out further improvement. That is backed up by his pedigree as a Camelot half-brother to Group 2 Mooresbridge Stakes scorer Leo De Fury (by Australia), whose four wins have ranged from 1m2f to 1m4f.

Stablemate Anchorage was ridden prominently when fourth in the Listed Lenebane Stakes over 1m4f at Roscommon last time, so could be expected to adopt similar tactics here. Ballydoyle's other representative, Realism, a maiden making just his third start, set the fractions when third in a 1m5f maiden at Navan on his latest outing.

Group 2 and Group 3-winning mare Insinuendo is a classy operator when at her best and has proved effective at the Curragh, but she's probably entitled to come on for this run after a 140-day absence.

Luxembourg (number 9): third to Coroebus (number 4) in the Qipco 2,000 GuineasCredit: Mark Cranham (racingpost.com/photos)

Georgeville, a regular in Listed and Group 3 races, needs to improve on what he's shown in four starts this season to cause an upset, so the most likely runner-up to Luxembourg could be Point Gellibrand, representing Joseph O'Brien.

A three-year-old fresh from opening his account in a Leopardstown maiden last month, he could prove well suited by the tempo of a strongly run and decent quality Group race and run much better than his mark of 93 suggests.

O'Brien: 'There should be plenty of improvement in Luxembourg after this'

Aidan O'Brien believes Luxembourg will progress from his first start in 105 days prompted by a training setback.

Unbeaten at two and third on his three-year-old bow in the 2,000 Guineas, the high-class colt is a general 5-1 chance for the Irish Champion Stakes and 16-1 for the Arc.

O'Brien said: "Luxembourg is in good form. He's ready to start. We're delighted to get him back and there should be plenty of improvement after this. It's nice to get him back."

On his other representatives, O'Brien said: "Anchorage has some decent Group form. He seems well and is a solid horse.

"Realism is still a maiden but he has some nice maiden form and seems to be in good shape."

What they say

Colin Keane, rider of Georgeville
He's a rock-solid horse. When things fall right he'll pop up again, but I suppose he needs things to go his way. You have to give him a chance to warm up into races and they need to go a gallop. The ground wouldn't want to be too quick for him, but if they water it well he should be fine.

Willie McCreery, trainer of Insinuendo
She's a lovely filly and seems to be in good form ahead of her first start back. She had a little muscle issue that kept her out. Hopefully, the ground will be safe and this will help to leave her spot on for the Blandford Stakes on Irish Champions Weekend.

Joseph O'Brien, trainer of Point Gellibrand
We're hoping for a good run from him. He won well last time at Leopardstown and will have taken confidence from that.

More Saturday previews:

1.55 Newbury: 'I'll be disappointed if he doesn't win' - which trainer is ultra-confident?

2.30 Newbury: Zechariah takes on his seniors in trial for St Leger in staying feature

2.50 Ripon: Who has the luck of the draw this time in the Great St Wilfrid?

3.18 Newmarket: Who doesn't love a grey? Trainer quotes for the Grey Horse Handicap

3.35 Newbury: Richard Birch examines a Hungerford with more depth than the market suggests

4.40 Curragh: Irish St Leger and Melbourne Cup clues as Search For A Song and Raise You clash

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