Swinburn to ride Saratoga Springs

Walter Swinburn will attempt to win his third Irish Derby on Saratoga Springs at the Curragh on Sunday.

Walter Swinburn will attempt to win his third Irish Derby on Saratoga Springs at the Curragh on Sunday.

Aidan O'Brien announced Swinburn as the rider for his Group 1 winning colt yesterday. The Ballydoyle trainer will also run Risk Material (Christy Roche) and possibly Desert Fox in a bid to follow up his Derby victory with Desert Prince last year.

Swinburn's previous successes in Ireland's premier classic came with Shareef Dancer in 1983 and on Shahrastani in 1986. He missed out on Shergar in 1981 through suspension leaving Lester Piggott in for the winning ride. Swinburn's previous biggest success for O'Brien came with Desert Prince in the 1996 National Stakes. The Irish Derby will be Saratoga Springs' fourth race this season.

Brian O'Connor

Brian O'Connor

Brian O'Connor is the racing correspondent of The Irish Times. He also writes the Tipping Point column