O’Brien backs Saxon Warrior after Epsom loss

Aidan O'Brien expects a better performance from Saxon Warrior in the Irish Derby than he produced in the Epsom Derby.

Saxon Warrior was heavily fancied ahead of the Epsom race but could only manage a fourth-place finish.

The three-year-old will now bid for the Irish equivalent on Saturday in the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby at the Curragh, and O'Brien is in confident mood.

“We think he will have grown up and learned a lot for that experience,” the Ballydoyle handler told the Irish Independent. “The track at the Curragh will be better for him. Epsom would be fine for him if he was to go back there again. He was just a little bit at sea and was still a bit of a baby last time.

“He had three soft runs at the back end last year and didn't learn an awful lot. The tracks were all easy he raced on. We think the experience at Epsom would have done him the world of good. His work is finished now and everything seems good.”