'We've always thought the world of them' - 2023 Derby favourites go head-to-head

Saturday: 2.40 Leopardstown
KPMG Champions Juvenile Stakes (Group 2) | 1m | 2yo | RTE2/RTV

Aidan O'Brien has used this race as a launchpad to Group 1 success for the likes of Zoffany (2010), Australia (2013), Johannes Vermeer (2015) and Mogul (2019) in the past, and his team for this year's running has the potential to produce another star.

Despite just five runners going to post, there appears to be every chance the market for next year's Derby will be impacted after Ballydoyle colts Auguste Rodin and Tower Of London go head to head. They are currently 14-1 joint-favourites with bet365 for the Epsom highlight.

Ryan Moore has opted to stick with Auguste Rodin, who produced a classy display to win at Naas in July.

Bred in the purple as a son of three-time Group 1 winner Rhododendron, herself a sister to the mighty Magical, the Deep Impact colt was a major eyecatcher when a luckless second on debut.

"We've always thought the world of both horses," said O'Brien.

"Auguste Rodin is one we've always liked. He didn't win on his debut but he ran a very good race. The plan was always to be easy on him and bring him back for this race. Everything has went very well since then."

Tower Of London: ante-post favourite with some firms for next year's DerbyCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Tower Of London also has strong bloodlines as a brother to Irish Derby and St Leger winner Capri.

The Galileo colt showed bundles of natural talent to defy greenness when making a winning introduction at Leopardstown in July, hanging markedly right in the closing stages.

Even if he does manage to come up short against his stablemate, beaten runners in this race often go on to better things.

The O'Brien-trained Broome and Kew Gardens were beaten here before going on to score at the highest level, as did Irish Derby winner Trading Leather and Prince of Wales's Stakes scorer Free Eagle.

O'Brien said: "Tower Of London won very nicely on his first start at Leopardstown. He was green but did it well."

Alder, a recent Killarney maiden winner for Donnacha O'Brien, and Jim Bolger's Galway festival scorer Serious Challenge, remain open to any amount of improvement, while Joseph O'Brien is aiming for black type with course-and-distance maiden winner Caroline Street, who disappointed last time in a Curragh Group 3.

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