In Wrote and Daddy Long Legs, O’Brien has the perfect runners to give him the winning edge

Dubai: Wrote and Daddy Long Legs will provide Aidan O'Brien with an excellent chance of avenging last year's narrow defeat by Master Of Hounds in the USA Derby.

The pair are both lightly raced but have already proven themselves to be high-class youngsters. So far Wrote has had five starts for three wins while Daddy Long Legs has raced four times for two victories. A son of super sire High Chaparral, Wrote completed his two-year-old season with a very strong win in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf [1,600 metres] at Churchill Downs in November.

Daddy Long Legs demonstrated his undoubted ability by winning Group 1 Royal Lodge Stakes at Newmarket but there is a slight question mark over him following his 12th in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile. That race was on dirt but the track was wet and sloppy and it probably does not mitigate against his prospects on the tapeta.

With five UAE Derbies to his credit, Mike De Kock certainly knows what is required to win the blue riband event and he goes into tonight's race with a live chance in Mickdaam. In each of the three runs with De Kock, Mickdaam has shown a steady improvement. This culminated in his last start victory in the Al Bastakiya, a traditional Derby prelude.

The brilliant but erratic Helmet has three Group 1's on the board in Australia, but his latest efforts leave him under a question mark. He faded after setting a blistering pace in Cox Plate at Moonee Valley on October 22 so there were excuses for him on that occasion however his two subsequent efforts have left something to be desired. After a lacklustre 5th over 1,400 metres at Flemington when resuming he missed the start and showed little enthusiasm when down the course in the Australian Guineas. If he was on his game he would take running down, but it is worth remembering he will have to concede 4.5kg to Wrote, Daddy Long Legs, Mickdaam and Co.

The Mahmoud Al Zarouni-trained Falls of Lora will be attempting to become the second successive filly to win the UAE Derby, On her seasonal debut, she was a dashing winner over the course and distance and has obviously been set for the race.

Another with claims is the American entry Lucky Chappy, who races in the same ownership at Dubai Duty Free winner Ipi Tombi.

Interestingly, Lucky Chappy, who is also by High Chaparral, finished fourth behind Wrote at Churchill Downs.