White Birch, the reigning monarch, has his eyes firmly fixed on retaining that coveted crown. Twelve months ago, you may recall, he strode with authority across the Curragh sod, lowering the colours of Auguste Rodin in that Group One centrepiece. And it is there, at the heart of those early-season skirmishes, that John Joseph Murphy's stable stalwart is set to reappear, eager to recoup ground lost to the vagaries of fortune last term.

White Birch is mightily impressive to beat Auguste Rodin in the Tattersalls Gold Cup under an excellent ride from Colin Keane for the John Joseph Murphy stable! 🥇 pic.twitter.com/IY0Wjv4VPl

— The Curragh Racecourse (@curraghrace) May 26, 2024

"He's wintered like a champion, hasn't he?" comes the word from George Murphy, ever the astute lieutenant to his father. "Looking a picture, they tell us, and the reports from the gallops are nothing but positive." The early engagements are being plotted with a measured hand, it seems. "More than likely, the Curragh will be our starting point," Murphy junior confirms, suggesting a swerve around the Alleged Stakes on April 12th in favour of a tilt at the Mooresbridge Stakes on May 5th. And then, the crescendo, the primary objective: "The Tattersalls Gold Cup on May 25th, that looks to be the route we're charting." A cautious note, ever present in this unpredictable game: "Hopefully he gets there sound and well, but the signs are certainly encouraging at this juncture."

Now, those with longer memories will recall White Birch's bright dawn to the previous campaign, a trio of victories suggesting a star firmly in the ascendant. But then, the cruel hand of fate intervened, sidelining him from intended engagements at the Royal meeting, the Eclipse, and the Juddmonte International, ultimately leading to an early curtailment of his season come September. But fear not, for the grey warrior is back in the thick of it, his team brimming with confidence that those ailments are firmly in the rear-view mirror, their sights now trained on further Group One glory for this talented son of Ulysses.

"Not a bother on him now, thankfully," Murphy continues with palpable relief. "And we're absolutely delighted with his progress." The immediate future appears to lie over ten furlongs, a distance at which he already boasts that coveted Group One success. But the horizons may well broaden. "I wouldn't rule out exploring a mile and a half down the line, you know," muses Murphy. "He's blessed with options, this fellow. But first and foremost, it's the Tattersalls Gold Cup, then we'll gather our thoughts and confer with the owners to map out the path ahead." So there you have it, the aspirations laid bare, the target clearly marked. White Birch, back in the fray, and the Tattersalls Gold Cup looms large on his early-season radar. The narrative is unfolding, and the anticipation is building.

The Tattersalls Gold Cup (Group 1)
€500,000 guaranteed, 4yo plus, 1m 2f 110y
37 entries
Going:

NO FORM HORSE AGE WGT TRAINER JOCKEY
1 6210-3 Al Riffa 5 9-5 Joseph O'Brien
2 11632- Almaqam 4 9-5 Ed Walker
3 /2813- Ancient Wisdom 4 9-5 Charlie Appleby
4 1/151- Anmaat 7 9-5 Owen Burrows
5 /1022- Botanical 5 9-5 George Boughey
6 3433/8 Bravais 5 9-5 G M Lyons
7 3009-3 Continuous 5 9-5 A P O'Brien
8 73644- Crypto Force 5 9-5 Adrian Murray
9 /1111- Crystal Black 7 9-5 Gerard Keane
10 /10-14 Dallas Star 4 9-5 Adrian Murray
11 241/4- Deepone 4 9-5 P Twomey
12 21- Duraji 4 9-5 D K Weld
13 48-465 Galen 4 9-5 Joseph O'Brien
14 44335- Ghostwriter 4 9-5 Clive Cox
15 42116- Goliath 5 9-5 F-H Graffard
16 12221- Illinois 4 9-5 A P O'Brien
17 1111- Jan Brueghel 4 9-5 A P O'Brien
18 2237-4 King's Gambit 4 9-5 Harry Charlton
19 11439- Los Angeles 4 9-5 A P O'Brien
20 3286-2 Maljoom 6 9-5 William Haggas
21 11/21- Okeechobee 6 9-5 Harry Charlton
22 73-112 Persian Bliss 4 9-5 Adrian Murray
23 6201-1 Royal Champion 7 9-5 K R Burke
4 54673- Royal Rhyme 5 9-5 K R Burke
25 63284- Sons And Lovers 4 9-5 Joseph O'Brien
26 /1151- Tower Of London 5 9-5 A P O'Brien
27 212-83 Trustyourinstinct 5 9-5 Joseph O'Brien
28 /1437- Wahdan 4 9-5 Joseph O'Brien
29 4/111- White Birch 5 9-5 John Joseph Murphy
30 /6351- Azada 4 9-2 D K Weld
31 46221- Beechwood 5 9-2 P Twomey
32 11720- Birthe 4 9-2 Joseph O'Brien
33 14579- Dare To Dream 4 9-2 Gavin Hernon
34 58131- Higher Leaves 4 9-2 Henry De Bromhead
35 23111- Kalpana 4 9-2 Andrew Balding
36 12533- Purple Lily 4 9-2 P Twomey
37 361/6- Tasmania 5 9-2 Sir Mark Prescott Bt