Auguste Rodin Moving Forward Into Tattersalls Gold Cup

We're at a familiar juncture with dual Derby winner Auguste Rodin  as he seeks to put an uninspiring effort in the Dubai Sheema Classic (G1T) in March behind him in the May 26 Tattersalls Gold Cup (G1) at Curragh.

The Deep Impact colt bounced back from a below-par effort in last season's Two Thousand Guineas (G1) to run out a sensational winner of the Derby (G1) at Epsom and Irish Derby (G1), then finished a tailed-off last of 10 in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes (G1) at Ascot before landing the Irish Champion Stakes (G1) on his next start.

His ability is indisputable after two Derby victories, an Irish Champion Stakes and a Breeders' Cup Turf (G1T), an extraordinary haul for a 3-year-old, but he again ran way below his capabilities on his first start of this campaign.

Ryan Moore rode him patiently in the Sheema Classic and the front three built up a handy break on the field before they entered the straight and no rival made any real impression from the rear, least of all Auguste Rodin, who was beaten 22 lengths with his rider accepting his fate from a long way out.

"Auguste Rodin is in good form and we think he has come forward nicely from Dubai," said trainer Aidan O'Brien. "We're very happy with him since."

We can be sure he will bounce back and he's one of the best colts in training when on song, but he does have some extremely talented rivals to contend with.

White Birch  ran a belter in last year's Derby to finish third, beaten just over five lengths by Auguste Rodin, and he seems much more the finished article this season.

His behavior has been impeccable in two starts and his quarrel with the gates seems to have been resolved, which has allowed him to be ridden more prominently than last season, when he was invariably held up off slow gallops owing to his issues at the start.

After landing the Alleged Stakes (G3) on his reappearance in gutsy style, he took a big step forward when running out a hugely impressive winner of the Mooresbridge Stakes (G2), powering 3 3/4 lengths clear of the reopposing Lord Massusus . That looked a real coming-of-age display and he has an enormous amount of talent, which he is beginning to harness properly.

Elegant Man  has been very progressive for Adrian Murray and put in an excellent performance to win a fiercely competitive handicap at Newcastle when last seen. The Kentucky-bred son of Arrogate looked very smart that day as he lumped top weight in a £200,000 handicap on just his fourth start and ran out an authoritative winner.

All his four starts have come on the all-weather, so turf is a slight question mark.

"It's a bit of fact-finding mission with Elegant Man to see how he'll handle the grass, but he worked well on it at Naas on Monday," said Murray. "We probably would be hoping the rain stays away for him."