White Birch poised for comeback at Leopardstown

Derby Third White Birch Ready for Track Comeback

Intrigue surrounds the upcoming return of third-place Derby finisher, White Birch. Trained by John Murphy, this talented colt took a mid-season break but is now set to make his eagerly anticipated comeback on the track at Leopardstown during the Irish Champions Festival.

The son of Ulysses made quite an impression in the first half of the season, particularly with his win in the Ballysax Stakes on his seasonal debut at Leopardstown. He then went on to secure podium finishes in both the Dante and Derby at Epsom.

However, there was a slight hiccup when he misfired at Curragh in the Irish Derby prior to his break. But fear not! Reports state that White Birch is now back in excellent form and ready to showcase his true potential once again.

Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes or Paddy Power Stakes?

“He’s in super shape and he’s had a couple of weeks off,” said George Murphy, assistant trainer.

A decision awaits as connections mull over which race will serve as White Birch’s comeback outing. Amongst their options are Leopardstown’s Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes and Prix Niel at ParisLongchamp. However, it seems they are favoring a run in Group Three Paddy Power Stakes at Dublin track.

“There’s no concrete plan as to which race we will go for next, but he will definitely participate in one of those races,” confirmed George Murphy.

With the mile-and-a-half distance being a crucial factor in their decision-making process, White Birch is expected to drop back to Group Three company if he contests the Paddy Power Stakes. While competition on Champions Weekend won’t be easy, Murphy believes this trip suits him best.

A Glimpse into the Future

“He’s entered in the Grosser Preis von Bayern and there is potential that he may compete – that’s towards the end of year,” revealed Murphy. “They’re probably not going to over-race him this autumn. He has grown quite a bit and we’re already looking forward to next year with him,” added Murphy enthusiastically.

The possibility of taking on Munich’s prestigious Grosser Preis von Bayern in early November remains open for White Birch. Two years ago, Sir Mark Prescott’s Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe winner Alpinista triumphed at this Group One contest. As his training team already have an eye on his four-year-old campaign, his appearances are likely to be limited this autumn season.