Frankie Dettori (centre) and John Gosden (left) hope to secure more big-race success with Cracksman at the Curragh on Saturday.

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CRACKSMAN showed signs of inexperience when third in the Investec Derby and can benefit from that run to land the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby at the Curragh on Saturday.

The John Gosden-trained son of Frankel was sent off favourite in the Investec Derby and led inside the last two furlongs, only to be run down by Aidan O’Brien’s 40-1 winner, Wings Of Eagles and his Ballydoyle stablemate Cliffs Of Moher.

The margins between the first three were three quarters of a length and a neck and Gosden and jockey Frankie Dettori believe that Cracksman – who won the Investec Derby Trial but missed the Dante Stakes – may still have been a little bit immature on Derby day.

“I think Frankie found that the horse was still a bit immature mentally about the whole thing,” the trainer said. “A couple of times, Frankie had to galvanise him, particularly at the top of the hill – you could see his elbows moving a little, it was even picked up by the commentator.

“He was running a bit babyishly – maybe he could have done with that other race beforehand – but he has run a grand race, he was just caught out for experience and wasn’t beaten far.

“We knew there was going to be a lot of pace, but the pacemakers were rather ignored, they were allowed to go and they took a bit of catching.

“They are obviously a solid, even bunch of colts and we’d be happy for a rematch.”

Dettori, speaking immediately after the Derby, added: “Cracksman is a bit raw and immature. He was on and off the bridle but came home good.”

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