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The staying colts head across the sea for the running of the Irish Derby at Curragh on Saturday.

Aidan O'Brien has won this race a phenomenal 13 times. It was an upset last year as he won the race with his outsider Sovereign . So can he do it again in the 2020 Irish Derby (2414m) at Curragh on Saturday?

2020 IRISH DERBY - RACE HISTORY AND BACKGROUND

The Irish Derby is a Group 1 race run under Set Weight conditions for three year old colts and fillies at the Curragh conducted by the Curragh Racecourse for Horse Racing Ireland.

The Irish Derby is run over a mile and a half. It was first run in 1866 and was won by Selim.

Many three year olds run in the Derby at Epsom then run a month later in the Irish version at the Curragh.

There were earlier versions of the Irish Derby but they were discontinued until regal intervention in 1866.

In 1907, Orby was the first horse to do English Derby/Irish Derby double. Another 17 have achieved that feat with the most recent being Harzand.

There were dead heats in 1924 and 1934.

Many great staying sires won the Irish Derby in their racing days. High Chaparral, Galileo, Montjeu and Desert King were in a six year span.

Morny Wing holds the record of riding six Irish Derby winners while Aidan O'Brien has won an incredible 13 runnings as trainer. In fact O'Brien won seven in a row from 2006 onwards. He trifectad the race in 2019. His son Joseph won it with Latrobe in 2018.

Due to being part owned in Australia, Latrobe was sent south for the Spring carnival in Melbourne but didn't make it to the Melbourne Cup. Instead he was a close second in the Mackinnon Stakes.

The Irish Derby was reduced to £750,000 in 2020 due to the coronavirus.

Notable winners of the Irish Derby include Harzand (2016), Jack Hobbs (2015), Australia (2014), Camelot (2012), Fame And Glory (2009), Dylan Thomas (2006), Hurricane Run (2005), High Chaparral (2002), Galileo (2001), Sinndar (2000), Montjeu (1999), Desert King (1997), Commander In Chief (1993), Generous (1991), El Gran Senor (1984), Shergar (1981), Troy (1979), Shirley Heights (1978), The Minstrel (1977), Nijinsky (1970), Santa Claus (1964), Ragusa (1963), Ballymoss (1957) and Orby (1907).

The 2019 Irish Derby was won by Sovereign from Anthony Van Dyck and Norway.