Ridden by Michael Kinane, the 4-11 favourite, won in effortless fashion by four lengths at The Curragh.

He beat the Italian Derby winner Morshdi, a 20-1 chance, and the Sir Michael-Stoute trained Golan, 4-1 second favourite, to land the �500,000 first prize.

Remarkably it was Kinane's first Irish Derby victory in 18 races.

Kinane then unleashed Galileo's power and the colt stormed home in the 12-horse race to the delight of the fans.

He said afterwards: "I knew we would go a fair pace and that Golan and Exaltation would struggle with it.

"It just played to our strengths. Galileo has got speed and stamina in abundance.

"We were always in control."

Golan, the 2000 Guineas winner, came from nowhere to grab third place but all eyes were on Aiden O'Brien's Galileo, which has now won all its five races.

Long-term objectives for the horse include the Breeders' Cup in New York in late October.

Galileo follows Sinndar, the last English Irish Derby double winner, who was victorious in 2000.