White Birch hopes to build on his strong start to the new campaign by winning his first Group One race in either the Coronation Cup at Epsom or the Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh.
The grey son of Ulysses, who finished third in the Derby last year behind Auguste Rodin, seems to have improved as a four-year-old based on back-to-back spring victories at the Curragh in the Alleged and Mooresbridge Stakes, respectively.
Though Epsom the next week is also being considered, White Birch may head back to the home of Irish Flat racing for the Tattersalls Gold Cup on May 26.
“He’s been very good, it’s been a lovely start and we’re looking forward to the rest of the year,” said trainer John Murphy’s son, George. “We’re not certain where we’ll go yet, we’re just going to see how he is. He came out of his last race well and we’ll just play it by ear, but he’ll be left in plenty of races and we’ll see how his form is coming up to them. The Tattersalls Gold Cup would be an obvious one, or if he needed a bit longer then maybe he’d go to Epsom for the Coronation. He’s won a couple of Group Threes now and a Group Two so he’s definitely entitled to have another crack at a Group One, I think.”